(RICHMOND, VA)—As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers changes to federal rules governing the disposal of coal ash, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) today filed written comments expressing concerns that the proposed revisions could increase risks from coal ash. CBF Virginia Assistant Director and Senior Attorney Peggy Sanner issued the following statement.
“Coal ash poses a major threat to clean water and public health, with the potential to send toxic pollutants into the rivers where we swim, boat, and fish. The EPA must implement the 2015 Coal Ash Rule, not weaken the requirements for the disposal of coal ash.
“This is especially critical as Dominion Energy prepares to close coal ash ponds on the James, Potomac, and Elizabeth rivers—all key tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. With the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint’s deadline looming, now is not the time to relax the rules on coal ash storage, which many of the proposed changes would do.”
