Library Search

The John Amos Power Plant, a coal utility company located on the Kanawha River in West Virginia. (Joe Sohm / Getty Images)
Press Release: Victory March 8, 2023

EPA Proposes Improved Wastewater Treatment Standards for Coal-fired Power Plants

A legal victory decades in the making, the EPA will require modern wastewater treatment at all remaining coal-fired plants

Document February 3, 2023

Proposed Consent Decree Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment et al., Plaintiffs, v. United States Environmental Protection Agency et al., Defendants. Civil Action No. 22-cv-2562

The EPA will consider closing a loophole that exempts over half a billion tons of toxic coal ash in landfills from federal oversight. The proposed consent decree would require that EPA either complete a review of 40 CFR 257.50(d) and determine that no revision is necessary, or sign a proposed rule to revise it on or before May 5, 2023. If a proposal is issued, the EPA must take final action regarding the proposed revision no later than May 6, 2024.

Press Release: Victory January 25, 2023

EPA Moves to Reject Six Coal Plants’ Applications to Keep Toxic Coal Ash Dumps Open

EPA found that the six plants failed to prove that their coal ash ponds were not leaking and not contaminating groundwater

(Samantha Lee / Earthjustice)
Article January 20, 2023

How’s Biden Doing on the Climate Crisis?

Earthjustice’s attorneys and policy experts rated his administration’s progress.

Document January 17, 2023

Coal Ash Primer

An introduction to the serious threats to human health and the environment, particularly to water resources and clean air, posed by coal ash.

The devastating coal ash spill at Kingston, TN in December 2008. One billion gallons of toxic coal ash spilled from the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant, covering 300 acres, destroying homes, poisoning rivers and contaminating coves and residential drinking waters.
(Photo courtesy of TVA)
Press Release November 3, 2022

New Report: Most Power Plants Violating Federal Rules Mandating Cleanup of Toxic Coal Ash Dumps

Seven years after EPA Coal Ash Rule, 96% of coal plants are not planning any treatment of contaminated groundwater

Document November 3, 2022

Poisonous Coverup: The Widespread Failure of the Power Industry to Clean Up Coal Ash Dumps

In every state where coal is burned, the utility industry is violating a federal regulation known as the Coal Ash Rule. The result is widespread groundwater contamination that threatens our drinking water supplies and aquatic life. This report presents evidence of contamination at more power plants than previously documented – bringing the total to over 265 sites – and also describes the pervasive noncompliance that continues to prevent environmental restoration.

feature November 3, 2022

Mapping the Coal Ash Contamination

746 coal ash units in 43 states and Puerto Rico have reported information in compliance with federal coal ash safeguards since 2015. Here’s what the data said.

Press Release August 25, 2022

EPA Faces Lawsuit for Exempting Half a Billion Tons of Toxic Coal Ash from Health Protections

Environmental & civil rights groups say hundreds of landfills in 38 states risk sources of drinking water & air

Document August 25, 2022

EPA Coal Ash Complaint

This case challenges the U.S. EPA to review and revise regulations that are inadequate to protect human health and the environment from the unsafe disposal of coal combustion residuals.

Document August 24, 2022

Call for Rulemaking to Stop Pollution from Legacy Coal Ash Ponds and Inactive Landfills

Joint letter to EPA Administrator Regan calling for stronger coal ash rules.

Document August 24, 2022

Map Of Inactive Landfill Plants

This map reveals 292 inactive or abandoned landfills at 161 coal-fired power plants in 38 states.

Susan Wind stands behind her daughter Taylor, who was diagnosed with cancer five years ago.
(Courtesy of Susan Wind)
From the Experts August 15, 2022

The Club You Never Want to Be In

Families need protections from cancer clusters now.

Document June 29, 2022

Review of Sheet Pile Wall Assessments

Michigan City – CCR Management Area – Review of Sheet Pile Wall Assessments June 21, 2022

Map of coal plants closing coal ash ponds in place within 5ft. of groundwater and that have admitted contamination of groundwater with heavy metals and other toxins from coal ash but haven’t begun to address the mess.
()
feature June 14, 2022

101 Coal Plants with Toxic Sludge Threatening Our Drinking Water

The utility industry is skirting the federal coal ash rule to avoid cleaning up coal ash contamination.

Press Release January 31, 2022

Earthjustice Responds to AES-Puerto Rico Seeking Taxpayer Bailout

AES-PR has been working to transfer the ownership and expense of its coal plant to Puerto Rico's public utility PREPA.

In the News: Corporate Knights January 25, 2022

Could rare earth minerals give coal country a second life?

Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel, Coal Program, Earthjustice: “How do you extract [rare earth] in a way that doesn’t create more of an environmental hazard, that doesn’t endanger workers and that doesn’t leave toxic waste for the community? All these questions have to be answered.”