Tell the EPA: Protect our waters from toxic coal ash

Re: Docket ID EPA-HQ-OLEM-2020-0107

Burning coal produces toxic waste in the form of coal ash. Safely storing this waste is critical: Otherwise, coal ash spills can contaminate our rivers, streams and groundwater with heavy metals like mercury and lead.

Coal ash has a history of devastating spills. When the coal ash pond at the Kingston Plant in Tennessee spilled in 2008, sediment samples taken from the area were completely devoid of life and fish were found with toxic chemicals in their bodies. Despite a massive cleanup effort, 500,000 cubic yards of ash remained in the river.

Given the danger that coal ash can pose to our health, and the difficulty of cleaning it up when it spills into our environment, we need the strongest possible regulations on coal ash storage. I strongly urge you not to roll back the regulations protecting our health and our water from coal ash.