Jump to main content.

Coal Combustion Residuals - Proposed Rule

CCR Rule
Related Links

Coal Combustion Residuals, often referred to as coal ash, are residues from the combustion of coal in power plants and captured by pollution control technologies, like scrubbers. Coal ash contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Without proper management, these contaminants can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and the air.

To address the risks from improper disposal of coal ash, EPA proposed two possible options for the management of coal ash in 2010. After inspecting coal ash storage facilities, reviewing thousands of stakeholder comments, and studying the effects of coal ash on the environment and public health, EPA finalized national requirements for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals from coal-fired power plants on December 19, 2014. The final rule makes a number of changes from the proposal including providing greater clarity on technical requirements in response to questions received during the comment period.

Federal Registers Pertaining to the Proposed Rule

Coal Combustion Residuals - Proposed Rule - June 21, 2010

The support materials for this proposed rule and the public comments EPA received on the proposal are available for public review online at Regulations.gov.

To use Regulations.gov: In the Keyword or ID Search box, type in the docket number EPA–HQ–RCRA–2009–0640 and press "Enter" on your keyboard, or “Search” on the web page to receive search results.

Notice of Data Availability (NODA) - August 2, 2013

This NODA announced and invited comment on additional information obtained by EPA in conjunction with the June 21, 2010 proposed CCR rule.

The information on which EPA sought comment is categorized as:

  1. Additional data to supplement the Regulatory Impact Analysis and risk assessment;
  2. Information on large scale fill; and
  3. Data on the surface impoundment structural integrity assessments.

The comment period closed on September 3, 2013.

To use Regulations.gov: In the Keyword or ID Search box, type in the docket number EPA-HQ-RCRA-2012-0028.

Notice of Data Availability (NODA) - October 12, 2011

This NODA announced and invited comment on additional information obtained by EPA in conjunction with the June 21, 2010 proposed rule. This additional information is generally categorized as follows:

  1. Chemical constituent data from coal combustion residuals;
  2. Facility and waste management unit data;
  3. Information on additional alleged damage cases;
  4. Adequacy of State programs; and
  5. Beneficial Use.

The comment period closed on November 14, 2011. These materials and the comments received can be found in the docket.

Notice of Data Availability on Coal Combustion Residual Surface Impoundments October 21, 2010

Notice of Data Availability on Coal Combustion Residual Surface Impoundments on the proposed rulemaking on the Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities (75 FR 35128).

This information has been posted on EPA's website for several months as part of our overall efforts to assess the structural integrity of surface impoundments and other units containing wet-handled CCRs. This information consists of responses to information requests that EPA sent to electric utilities on their coal combustion residual (CCR) surface impoundments as well as reports and materials related to the site assessments that EPA conducted on a subset of these CCR impoundments. The information is available in the docket via PDF files with permanent links to the underlying documents, helping to consolidate and make it easier for the public to search and access the information.

Coal Combustion Residuals Technical Corrections Notice - August 20, 2010

Coal Combustion Residuals Technical Corrections Notice – August 20, 2010

  1. Extension of the public comment period from September 20 to November 19, 2010. This 60 day extension is in response to numerous requests to extend the comment period.
  2. Technical corrections to the proposed rule. The proposed rule as published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2010 had several inadvertent administrative errors, which could cause confusion if not corrected.
  3. Notice that additional support documents have been placed in the rulemaking docket for public inspection. This includes documents referenced in the proposed rule, but previously found on EPA’s Coal Combustion Residuals Partnership website. The docket provides the date on which documents have been added, making the new materials easy to identify.
  4. Two additional Public Hearings. Given the significant public interest in the proposal and to further public participation opportunities, on August 6, 2010, EPA announced on its website that it would hold hearings in Pittsburgh, PA on September 21, 2010, and in Louisville, KY, on September 28, 2010 in addition to 5 public hearings already scheduled. Details on all the public hearings can be found on EPA’s website.
  5. One additional webinar: On August 6, EPA announced on its website that it would conduct another webinar. Currently, the Agency has held education webinars on August 5 and August 12. Additional webinar date, scope, and format.

Announcement of Public Hearings - July 15, 2010

Notice: In response to numerous requests, EPA announced that it scheduled two additional public hearings and one additional webinar on the Coal Combustion Residuals Proposed Rule. The public hearings were held in Pittsburgh, PA on September 21, 2010 and in Louisville, KY on September 28, 2010.

 

Top of Page

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.