On May 18, 2023 EPA proposed a rule that would impose safeguards for the first time on coal ash impoundments at inactive facilities, including requiring proper closures and remediating any coal ash contamination in groundwater. Coal ash (also called coal combustion residuals or CCR) can cause serious public health risks and leak into groundwater, and these legacy impoundments tend to be concentrated in communities of color, low-income communities, and linguistically isolated communities. EPA released additional data on Nov. 11, 2023, and comments on these data were due Dec. 11, 2023. For more information on the proposal, read EPA’s Fact Sheet.
On March 12, 2025, EPA announced it planned to review the coal ash rule and issued guidance explaining the agency will prioritize imminent threats to human health at active facilities in its coal ash enforcement. To track ongoing EPA coal ash regulatory actions, see EELP’s Coal Ash Tracker Page.