Help Stop the EPA's Latest Move Against Coal

An interesting post from FACES OF COAL about Coal Regulation. This follows this post about gasoline price controls. This follows this previous post  about the drilliling moratorium This follows this post about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran  and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.



Help Stop the EPA's Latest Move Against Coal




Please take a moment to send a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson and help stop the agency from implementing onerous rules in another lesser-known front on the “war on coal.”




The EPA is trying to reclassify coal ash as a hazardous waste – even though the EPA itself previously regarded coal ash as non-hazardous. The new classification would prevent the beneficial use and recycling of coal ash.



While the impact of coal ash isn’t as immediately evident as the coal we use for our energy needs, it does play a vital role. Coal ash is used in everything from the buildings we live in to the roads we drive on and changes to the classification of coal ash would mean job losses for thousands and a hike in energy rates for the rest of us.





The public comment period on the classification of coal ash is open until November 19th and we need our FACES members to write the EPA and tell them to continue to classify coal as non-hazardous. We cannot allow the EPA to turn this action into a disastrous precedent that further endangers the future of coal in Appalachia.



To submit your comment, you must use the online form at: http://www.regulations.gov/  Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2009-0640 or email rcra-docket@epa.gov , Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–RCRA–2009–0640.



When writing, introduce yourself and describe your support of regulating of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste under subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).



Feel free to copy and paste the text below into your message.





Thank you,



Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security

(FACES of Coal)



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November 12, 2010

Lisa Jackson, Administrator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20460



Re: Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Special Wastes; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities; Docket No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2009-0640



Dear Administrator Jackson:



I am writing to support the regulation of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste under subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). I agree with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) previous regulatory findings that non-hazardous regulation of coal ash will fully protect human health and the environment. Hazardous waste regulation is unnecessary, and would cripple the ability to beneficially use and recycle these materials. Thus, hazardous waste rules under RCRA subtitle C are not only unnecessary, but would be environmentally counter-productive. Finally, hazardous waste rules would significantly harm the economy by eliminating jobs and raising the cost of electricity for millions of American households and businesses.



I also strongly support EPA’s decision to follow the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and allow the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) and their state government partners to take the lead role in developing new standards for coal ash use in mines. As the NAS points out, they have both the framework in place and the expertise to better regulate coal ash use at mine sites.



I urge the EPA to put sound science and common sense above politics by regulating coal ash as non-hazardous waste under RCRA subtitle D and to follow the scientific advice of the NAS in allowing those with the greatest expertise in mine regulation—OSM and the states—to establish appropriate rules governing its use at mine sites.



Sincerely,