Industry, Advocates Clash Over Authority EPA Uses to Regulate Coal Ash Storage

摘要

Industry and conservation groups sparred July 14 in new litigation filings over the Environmental Protection Agency's compliance with existing statutes in continuing to authorize its 2015 coal ash regulation (Utils. Solid Waste Activities Grp. v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 15-1219, briefs filed7/14/16). Power generators argued that the EPA has no authority under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to regulate inactive coal ash impoundments, claiming the statute authorizes regulation only of new disposal. Environmental groups, led by Earthjustice, said the EPA is failing to meet its statutory obligation of protecting the environment and public by allowing companies to continue to store ash in unlined impoundments.