Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Morgan Griffith have announced a hearing to discuss the potential benefits of coal ash, scheduled for June 26, 2025. The event will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and will be open to the public and press. The hearing aims to review congressional actions, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules, and opportunities for using coal ash beneficially.
“While coal has played a significant role in our nation’s energy sector, coal ash also holds untapped value,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. They emphasized the importance of exploring how coal ash can be used in construction materials and for extracting critical materials.
Lisa Evans from Earthjustice is set to testify before the Subcommittee on Environment. She plans to highlight several concerns regarding coal ash. “Coal ash is a hazardous substance that has harmed human health and the environment at hundreds of coal plants sites throughout the United States,” Evans said. She noted that groundwater contamination is a significant issue, with 91 percent of U.S. coal plants exceeding federal safe standards.
Evans argues that EPA regulation is crucial to protect health and the environment from coal ash pollution. She expressed concern over efforts to weaken existing regulations, which she believes could harm communities across the country by affecting water resources and economies.
Evans also pointed out issues with state permit programs approved during the Trump Administration, which she claims are less protective than federal rules. She stressed that using coal ash as soil substitute should be prohibited due to its arsenic and radioactivity levels.
The recycling of coal ash into encapsulated products was acknowledged as having merit by Evans but noted it cannot fully address damage caused by past dumping practices. She warned against burning new coal solely for creating concrete or extracting rare earth elements from coal ash.
Evans concluded by urging Congress to address ongoing health and environmental issues related to coal ash pollution.
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