The Latest On: Coal Ash
Lauren Piette, Attorney, Coal Program, Earthjustice: “The corrective action plan didn’t really require Kentucky Utilities to do anything more than conduct a few years of studies on the pollution that we already knew was in the lake.”
Lauren Piette, Attorney, Coal Program, Earthjustice: “We know that groundwater contamination entering the lake is a problem. We know it’s bad. But we don’t know just how bad it is, because KU has refused to attempt to fully map out the contaminated water flows.”
Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel, Coal Program, Earthjustice: “Every day, hazardous coal ash is polluting drinking water, lakes, rivers and streams around the country. This is yet another time that the administration put the interests of lobbyists before the health of Americans. We’ll see the Trump administration in court.”
Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel, Coal Program, Earthjustice: "By our evaluation and I think any future evaluation by a court, these rules are not protective. They're protective of the industry pocketbook, but they need to be protective of human health and the environment."
Jenny Cassel, Attorney, Coal Program, Earthjustice: "We believe RCRA — the statute authorizing approval of state coal ash program and setting out public participation mandates — requires greater opportunity for public involvement in permitting of toxic coal ash dumps than Oklahoma's program provides. For some ash dumps that has been no involvement whatsoever."
Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel, Coal Program, Earthjustice: “Since the early 1900s, that site has been a cause of health hazards to the community. It’s blocked their access to the lake. It has emitted hazardous air pollution. It’s time that property be turned into something that’s beneficial to the community.”
Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel, Coal Program, Earthjustice: “Damage in Pines has not yet been remedied — everyone is not on clean water. And when coal ash is allowed to escape into the environment, it’s hard to get back."
