Federal Environmental Justice Tracker

EJ Tracker Update

EPA Proposed Stricter Standards on Wastewater Discharge From Coal-Fired Power Plants

Last updated:

March 29, 2023

Authority

CWA

Agencies

EPA

Actions

Proposed Rule

EPA proposed a new rule to impose stricter standards on wastewater discharge from coal-fired power plants that disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color. Wastewater discharge from these plans often includes toxic heavy metals, including mercury and arsenic, as well as nutrient pollution and solids that can harm people and ecosystems. If implemented, EPA estimated the rule would remove about 584 million pounds of pollutants in wastewater discharge from coal-fired power plants each year.