Trump Administration Proposes Rollbacks to Coal Ash Regulations, Risking Waterway Contamination

Trump Administration Targets Biden-Era Coal Ash Regulations

After burning coal to generate electricity, utility companies produce coal ash—a hazardous waste containing heavy metals, toxic substances, and trace amounts of radioactive elements. Recognizing its dangers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Joe Biden introduced a rule in 2024 to regulate coal ash dumping for the first time.

Proposed Rollbacks Could Decimate Waterway Protections

Now, the Trump administration is seeking to dismantle these protections. According to the Associated Press, the EPA last week proposed a series of rollbacks that would weaken safeguards for the nation’s waterways.

Since Trump cannot immediately overturn the Biden-era rules, the EPA is pursuing a convoluted workaround. This includes:

• Allowing states to grant exemptions to federal 2024 regulations
• Relaxing groundwater monitoring and protection standards for energy companies
• Delaying enforcement and revising original regulations at the state level

EPA Justifies Changes as 'Restoring American Energy Dominance'

"The legal cajoling underscores the agency’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance, strengthening cooperative federalism, and accommodating unique circumstances at certain [coal] facilities." — Lee Zeldin, EPA Director

Biden-Era Rule Mandated Cleanup of 450+ Toxic Sites

The 2024 regulations required corporations to clean up at least 450 coal ash dump sites retroactively, with about 37 located directly on the banks of the Great Lakes. If the EPA adopts the proposed deregulations, these cleanup standards would effectively be eliminated, removing accountability for past pollution.

Environmental Groups Condemn Proposed Changes

"The Trump administration just took a sledgehammer to the health protections in place for toxic coal pollution. This is yet another handout to the coal power industry at the expense of our health, water, and wallets." — Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel at Earthjustice

Further Reading on Environmental Regulations

EPA Now Values Human Lives at $0