DEPRESSING

Trump Administration Eases Coal Ash Pollution Rules

Another win for the coal industry at the expense of the environment.

The Trump administration has eased Obama-era rules for how hundreds of coal-fired power plants dispose of toxic coal ash, giving another win to the coal industry even as critics say the move will harm people’s health. Environmental Protection Agency acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the changes Wednesday, saying they would save utilities about $30 million a year. Under the new rules, coal-fired power plants will have more time to close dangerous ash dumps and state regulators will have more flexibility in how they decide to handle waste piles resulting from burning coal. Regulators will also be able to suspend monitoring requirements for ash dumps that don’t meet water quality standards. The move comes just a few months after data released by utilities revealed evidence of groundwater contamination near coal plants, including high levels of arsenic and radium in some areas.