First Major Study of Coal Waste Finds Widespread Water Contamination

FEATURING LISA EVANS – A report by a number of environmental organizations has found widespread contamination at the nation’s coal waste sites. An analysis of 250 coal-fired power plants around the country has found major toxic contamination into groundwater supplies including by such chemicals as arsenic, lithium, and chromium, at levels far higher than allowed by the EPA. More than 90% of coal waste sites that are required to monitor groundwater contamination were found to be releasing toxic chemicals at far higher levels than they are supposed to.

The analysis was based on data that was forced to be made public last year by legislation that passed in 2015 under President Obama. The EPA is currently headed by former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, who is unlikely to take action over the report’s findings.

Read the full report HERE, and for the map of coal ash contaminations, visit https://earthjustice.org/coalash/map.

Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel with Earthjustice.