Coal Waste Settlement Boosts Activists' Call For Epa Disposal Rule

摘要

Maryland activists say their $45 million settlement with a utility over claims that the utility's disposal of coal combustion waste (CCW) contaminated groundwater is a potentially precedential case that could spur many similar suits and pressure industry to seek EPA CCW disposal rules to limit such litigation. Environmentalists say the settlement with Constellation Power Source Generation Inc.highlights their claims that existing voluntary industry efforts and state regulations on the disposal of CCW do not provide sufficient environmental protection,boosting the need for EPA to issue first-time rules for coal waste disposal in landfills and surface impoundments that would set a minimum level of protective controls at the facilities.