EPA Given 60 Days to Finalize Coal Ash Regulations

Times Online reported that a federal judge has given the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 60 days to finalize federal coal ash regulations. The ruling was prompted by a suit filed against the EPA by a coalition of environmental groups — the members believe the agency has a “mandatory duty” to review and revise waste regulations every three years.

As quoted in the market news:

In 2010, the EPA proposed two options to regulate coal ash: One that would regulate it as hazardous waste under Subtitle C of RCRA; and one that would regulate it as non-hazardous waste, under Subtitle D of RCRA. But since then, officials say, little has been done.

‘EPA took public comments, held eight or nine public hearing across the country, received 450,000 comments and then did nothing,’ said Jared Saylor, campaign director for Earthjustice. ‘The lawsuit was intended to get them on a court-ordered deadline to finalize one of those options.’

Click here to read the full Times Online report.