A new report indicates that coal waste could be threatening the water supply in up to 21 US states.
While the US Environmental Protection Agency reviews new federal regulations for coal ash waste, it could be posing a bigger problem than has previously been documented. The study, which was run jointly by the Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice and the Sierra Club, shows that there are 39 sites spread across 21 states that have contaminated groundwater as a direct result of coal ash dumping by utility firms. In some areas, the coal ash waste has even affected surface water.
These figures are in addition to the dumpsites that had already been identified in a report earlier this year in February. The contaminated water included toxic metals like arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead and various other pollutants that are affecting water supplies being used by local householders.
Each year, the US requires one billion tonnes of coal to generate up to 48 per cent of the country’s electricity. The resulting waste is 125 million tonnes of coal ash from production.
The EPA has said it will commission seven hearings across the country, before reaching a decision on regulatory methods for coal ash as placed under federal control. Additionally, the states are currently left to their own regulation procedures to manage the remaining waste produced by coal-fired power plants. Electric companies are hesitant to see regulation placed under federal control and are battling to keep state-run agencies in charge of regulation.
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