News

Trump Administration Rolls-Back Obama-Era Rules Restricting Coal Power Plant Waste

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Monday it would roll back regulations introduced under President Barack Obama designed to impose requirements on storing and releasing waste from coal-fired power plants.

The announcement from the EPA — which also found a jump in toxic leaks from waste pits — marks a scale back of rules implemented in 2015 regarding the disposal of coal ash and toxic wastewater from power plants. Coal ash, a by-product of hot coal, is often found in landfills and pits, while toxic metals like arsenic and mercury are often present in wastewater.

The EPA estimated in 2015 that its rules would “reduce the amount of toxic metals, nutrients, and other pollutants that steam electric power plants are allowed to discharge by 1.4 billion pounds and reduce water withdrawal by 57 billion gallons.”

One of the few benefits of the EPA’s proposed new rules is that they would cut costs for plant operators. The White House said these new regulations could save plant operators roughly $215 million per year. This would be a boon for a rapidly declining industry that is gradually being overshadowed by more technologically advanced forms of renewable energy, like wind and solar.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The Trump administration also said it would authorize new compliance methods like water filtration systems. Under the new rules, power plant operators could also request deadline extensions in 2020 and benefit from eight more years of compliance to December 2028.

Several environmental organizations rebuked the EPA’s new rules, saying they feared the proposed regulations would exempt some plants from complying. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) also condemned the move.

 

Pablo Mena

Writer for upolitics.com. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Share
Published by
Pablo Mena

Recent Posts

Republicans Push Back On Trump’s Proposed 30% National Park Service Cuts

President Donald Trump has proposed a 30% budget cut to the National Park Service (NPS),…

18 hours ago

Judge Orders EPA To Continue Funding Environmental Justice Grants For Low-Income & Minority Communities Terminated By Trump Administration

A federal judge ruled that the $600 million in environmental justice grants terminated by the…

18 hours ago

Former Rep. Colin Allred Tries Again To Flip Texas Senate Seat – Control Of Senate Could Hang In The Balance

Last month, former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) announced his run for Senate. Allred previously lost…

20 hours ago

Biden Says He Authorized All Pardon Decisions After Republicans Claim Many Were Issued Without His Knowledge

Former President Joe Biden said he had granted every pardon and commutation issued at the…

1 day ago

Senate Confirms Trump Nominee To Head FAA, Bryan Bedford, Who Falsely Claimed To Have Commercial Pilot’s License On Resume

Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was confirmed…

1 day ago

Trump Orders Strict Rules To Discourage Clean Energy Projects In Nod House Conservatives

Following the recent passage of the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” President Donald Trump has instructed the…

2 days ago