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Help stop the EPA from regulating coal ash as "hazardous".   We need your help!   Take action Now!

The electric industry is facing proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on coal-based generation that could have wide-ranging impacts on utilities whose electricity is generated by coal. These regulations may significantly impact electricity prices and system reliability nationally. Tri-State estimates that it will have to spend $200 million in capital costs to comply with these regulations, with no environmental benefits.

Coal ash is a byproduct of the coal electric generation process. Currently coal ash is required to be disposed of as non-hazardous manner, meaning it must be disposed of in a state-regulated monofill that is lined, has a leachate collection system, and groundwater monitoring system, and is permitted and periodically inspected by the state regulatory agency. A significant portion of this ash is recycled into construction materials such as concrete and used in road construction projects.

The EPA is considering proposed rules to redefine coal ash as "hazardous." If it does, these materials will no longer be able to be recycled. The increased regulations will require Colorado's electric generators to spend millions of dollars to transport and dispose of this material in a licensed hazardous facility. There is no environmental benefit to storing our coal combustion products differently than we do now. So, we would incur this expense without making any improvements to the environment.

A non-hazardous designation by the EPA will ensure coal ash is managed safely, while also protecting human health and the environment, jobs, and electricity consumers.

We are asking you to be the front line in sending comments on this very expensive proposed regulation. Thousands of messages need to be sent to EPA objecting to its proposal. Click on this TAKE ACTION link and send a message to the EPA objecting to this proposal.

Get the Facts About Coal Ash Here

On June 21, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed federal regulations for the management of coal ash and other Coal Combustion Residuals. Non-hazardous regulation will ensure that coal ash is managed safely, while also protecting human health and the environment, jobs, and electricity consumers. The EPA's other option - to regulate coal ash as hazardous - would impose staggering costs on power plan operations, increasing electricity prices and eliminating beneficial coal ash recycling.