Markey: EPA Coal Ash Rules Do Little to Protect American Families

Statement

Today in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), releasing new rules governing the disposal of toxic byproducts of coal burning, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) said the rules would do little to protect families from coal ash

"With this disappointing coal ash rule, the EPA has failed to meet its responsibility to protect the public health and safety of the American people. For decades the coal industry has been left to its own devices to come up with ways to hide and dispose of the nearly 140 million tons of toxic coal ash produced each year, sometimes with catastrophic effects on families and the environment," said Senator Markey. "Industry's way of doing business has resulted in hundreds of cases of tainted rivers and water sources, sickened families and destroyed lives. These new EPA rules do little to change the status quo, and will allow polluters to continue to dump coal ash waste in unlined pits and ponds that are prone to fail."

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