coal ash
December 21, 2012 -
Dec. 22 marks four years since a coal ash impoundment collapsed at a TVA power plant in Tennessee, inundating a community and two rivers. As EPA drags its feet over issuing federal coal ash rules, politicians backed by industry interests are maneuvering to block the agency's ability to protect people and the environment -- even though their states have been adversely affected by poor regulation.
October 15, 2012 -
A study by Duke University researchers has found toxic contamination far exceeding federal standards for safe drinking water and aquatic life in lakes and rivers located near coal ash waste sites at power plants -- including the main drinking water source for Charlotte. The scientists say they hope their findings will spur better regulation.
October 11, 2012 -
The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a complaint on behalf of four environmental advocacy groups asking state regulators to require cleanup of documented groundwater contamination from coal ash storage ponds at 14 power plants owned by Duke Energy and its Progress Energy subsidiary.
August 21, 2012 -
A clean-water advocacy group has reached a settlement with South Carolina Electric & Gas that will require the company to clean up coal ash impoundments at its Wateree plant in Richland County, S.C. that have contaminated groundwater and the nearby Wateree River with cancer-causing arsenic.
August 14, 2012 -
Local officials in Assumption Parish, La. are upset that they weren't warned by state and corporate officials that a salt mine where a massive sinkhole recently appeared was used for the disposal of radioactive waste from oil and gas drilling.
July 2, 2012 -
An analysis of Chinese names on a petition urging the Obama administration to oppose strict regulations for toxic coal ash reveals hundreds of bogus monikers including "Big Steamed Bun" and "Come to China Donkey." Who's behind the petition, and what big energy interests are they fronting for?
April 30, 2012 -
Embroiled in controversy for its role in passing "Stand Your Ground", the American Legislative Exchange Council also worked to block federal regulation of toxic power plant waste that's contaminating groundwater supplies across the country -- and it turns out that the group has close ties to major coal ash polluters.