coal

Cross-posted from an article by Sue Sturgis on Facing South

There was a big turnout for the Environmental Protection Agency's public hearing yesterday in Charlotte, N.C. on proposed coal ash regulations, with about 250 people delivering testimony in proceedings that lasted from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Held at a Holiday Inn, it was one of eight coal ash hearings planned nationwide, with others having already taken place in Arlington, Va., Denver and Dallas, and more planned for Chicago, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Ky., and Knoxville, Tenn.

The EPA is considering two basic alternatives for regulating coal ash, the toxic-laden material left over after coal is burned to produce electricity. The stricter approach would treat coal ash as a special hazardous waste under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act's Subtitle C with federally enforced regulations, while the other approach under RCRA Subtitle D governing nonhazardous wastes would simply set federal guidelines for how the material should be handled, leaving enforcement up to lawsuits by citizens and states. The EPA is also weighing what's being called a "Subtitle D Prime" approach, which would additionally exempt utilities from having to install protective liners at existing surface impoundments.

Appropriately enough, the hearing opened with testimony from a resident of Roane County, Tenn., where the catastrophic collapse of a coal ash impoundment at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston plant in December 2008 brought the issue of coal ash regulation to national attention and spurred EPA to take action. Steve Scarborough, who owns investment property along the ash-laden Emory River that he's now unable to sell, talked about how utilities' short-sighted efforts to cut costs by relying on risky ash impoundments have hurt him and his neighbors.

An environmental watchdog is challenging the federal government's oft-made claim that recycling power plants' coal ash waste into consumer products helps the climate by reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has filed a complaint under the Data Quality Act, also known as the Information Quality Act. The law charges federal agencies with "ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of information" that they disseminate.

"Coal is our biggest source of greenhouse gases," says PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "It is the height of absurdity to contend that the toxic wastes produced by coal combustion help our atmosphere."

Cross posted from from Facing South

Coal ash isn't just dumped; it's increasingly being recycled into building materials and other uses. But in states like North Carolina, the failure to adequately regulate one so-called "beneficial use" of the toxic-filled waste is putting communities at risk.

Cross-posted from Facing South, the blog of the Institute for Southern Studies.

Coal ash is one of the country's biggest waste streams and is full of toxic substances, yet it remains virtually unregulated. Can Washington overcome the fierce opposition of energy interests to protect communities and the environment?

Want to deny climate change? Then I have the perfect app for you.

Coal mining has played an important role in shaping the economy, environment and heritage of Appalachia. Unfortunately coal has also resulted in significant health risks for communities and ecosystems in the region. Most recently we've witnessed the destructive practice of mountain top removal. This process destroys surrounding environments and communities in an effort to easily and cheaply excavate coal seams. As of 2009, 470 mountain peaks have been leveled by the practice and over 1,200 miles of pure mountain streams have been buried or polluted. The method of extraction is simply unacceptable.

In North Carolina, 61 percent of our electricity is produced by coal-fired plants and a over 50 percent of our coal is extracted from mountain top removal operations. Basically we are supporting a practice that has devastating social and environmental consequences for Appalachia. Below you will find a tool that reveals your connection to mountain top removal mining.

Tomorrow afternoon the UNC Energy Task Force will convene for the first time. The task force was formed by Chancellor Thorpe in January, to review the University's carbon reduction plan. Although the force will likely consider a number of strategies, it's expected that the main focus will be on the University's coal-fired steam and power plant. The facility burns more than 100,000 tons of coal each year. To put that in perspective each ton of coal can release enough Co2 to fill 15, 40x20 ft swimming pools. Remember though, It's not just about greenhouse gas emissions, the plant also produces 35,000 tons of ash each year. Since coal ash is not regulated by the EPA it can potentially contaminate groundwater supplies.

Last December Senator Richard Burr co-signed a letter to the EPA requesting that they not designate coal ash as a hazardous waste material. The letter expressed that the costs of the reform would be a burden on utility companies and eventually the average consumer. The Senator seems to be ignoring the blatant dangers associated with coal ash ponds.

Duke is following through on its commitment of 2007 to reduce coal use by restoring and re-opening the 1929 steam plant on East Campus. To that end, the coal train has made its last delivery.

I wonder, will they re-name Coal Pile Drive?

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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