EPA to place limits on power plant water pollution
source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/15/AR2009091501692.html
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- JanforGore
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For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to limit the quantity of toxic metals that coal-fired power plants release into waterways.
The agency said Tuesday that equipment required to reduce pollution in the air has increased harmful contaminants in water discharged by power plants, particularly heavy metals such as selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead. Current regulations do nothing to control metals and are not enough to protect water quality and wildlife, the agency said.
The agency said the new rules will be unveiled in 2012, but EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is pushing for an earlier target date.
In a preliminary study released last year, the EPA found that only a fraction of the nation's power plants were using readily available technologies to remove pollutants before they are released into waterways. The water pollution comes from scrubbers that strip gases of acid-raining causing sulfur dioxide and coal ash storage ponds where power plants store the leftovers of burning coal.
A spill at a coal ash pond in Tennessee late last year, which flooded hundreds of acres of land, damaged homes and killed fish in nearby rivers, helped raise awareness about the toxic contents of coal combustion waste and has put increasing pressure on the government to take action.
The announcement comes a day after three environmental groups threatened to sue the EPA for failing to update its regulations, first put in place in 1982. Federal law requires the agency to review regulations annually and revise them if necessary, which the advocates say the agency failed to do.
The agency said Tuesday that equipment required to reduce pollution in the air has increased harmful contaminants in water discharged by power plants, particularly heavy metals such as selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead. Current regulations do nothing to control metals and are not enough to protect water quality and wildlife, the agency said.
The agency said the new rules will be unveiled in 2012, but EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is pushing for an earlier target date.
In a preliminary study released last year, the EPA found that only a fraction of the nation's power plants were using readily available technologies to remove pollutants before they are released into waterways. The water pollution comes from scrubbers that strip gases of acid-raining causing sulfur dioxide and coal ash storage ponds where power plants store the leftovers of burning coal.
A spill at a coal ash pond in Tennessee late last year, which flooded hundreds of acres of land, damaged homes and killed fish in nearby rivers, helped raise awareness about the toxic contents of coal combustion waste and has put increasing pressure on the government to take action.
The announcement comes a day after three environmental groups threatened to sue the EPA for failing to update its regulations, first put in place in 1982. Federal law requires the agency to review regulations annually and revise them if necessary, which the advocates say the agency failed to do.
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- groups:
- Green, Current Tonight, Max and Jason: Still Up, Water Is Life, 1 more
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- tags:
- Environment, Health, Toxic, EPA, 4 more
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NeutronActivation
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2012, just in time to be a major teabagger talking point for the next election. This must have been a "gift" from the Bush administration. It stands to reason since the study was done last year during his term.
- 2 years ago
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NeutronActivation
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JanforGore
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I posted about the lawsuit yesterday.
- 2 years ago
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JanforGore
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JanforGore
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Tell me the announcement of them being sued didn't have anything to do with this announcement. But, 2012? They have to be kidding.
- 2 years ago
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JanforGore
