EPA to Decide Whether Coal Ash is Hazardous Waste

The Environmental Protection Agency realized the need for tighter coal ash industrial waste disposal regulations after the 2008 Tennessee coal ash spill clearing up which mounted to cost millions of dollars and caused considerable environmental damage.

Coal ash is known to contain cancer associated compounds such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Without proper caution, regulation and protection this waist product of the U.S. Coal Industry can contaminate groundwater and our water supplies.

In-fact contamination has already begun; environmentalists allege that 39 coal-ash sites in 21 states have contaminated surface or groundwater, as per the available state records. The worst fear of the environmentalists is the territory which has not been properly surveyed. Jeff Stant of the Environmental Integrity Project says "When you look, you will find contamination." He believes that health studies have never been properly conducted near coal-ash sites.

The executive director of the industry-focused Utility Solid Waste Activities Group Jim Roewer says "The question isn't whether to regulate, but how?"

The EPA is stating a month long hearing to address this issue where it would weighing and analyze two proposals one supported by the environmentalists which would consider ash as ‘special’ waist and treat it as Hazardous. And the other supported by the industrialist who would not treat coal ash as a hazardous waste and let the citizens enforce the rules and regulations.

Jaceline Peirrera is an executive of DynGlobal, a leading global provider of solar, wind and water products and solutions. DynGlobal is committed to provide clean, safe drinking water and renewable energy solutions . Please visit http://www.dynglobal.com/products/water/dg247 for Solar-Powered Water Filtration Products and http://www.dynglobal.com for Water Purification Technologies.