Chris Van Hollen: “Our country has 676 existing coal ash impoundments in 46 States, and an unknown number of ``legacy sites'' that continue…”

“Our country has 676 existing coal ash impoundments in 46 States, and an unknown number of ``legacy sites'' that continue to pose risk to our communities--risk of contaminating the groundwater with arsenic, lead, and mercury or of experiencing catastrophic failure like we saw in the 2008 Kingston disaster. That is why action must be taken to ensure that coal ash is either recycled responsibly or disposed of properly. However, instead of taking steps to protect the public health and prevent groundwater contamination around storage sites, today's legislation authorizes each State to create its own coal waste management permitting program, with no legal standard to ensure a minimum level of public safety. Moreover, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service has found that the bill would give EPA ``no federal backstop authority'' to ensure that States enforce their standards. Mr. Chair, rather than addressing the real danger of improperly managed coal ash, this bill risks a regulatory race to the bottom, threatening the safety of all of our citizens. I urge a no vote. Mr. DeFazio. Mr. Chair, in December 2008 an impoundment holding disposed ash waste generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority broke open, creating a massive spill in Kingston, TN. The spill covered the surrounding land and Clinch River with one billion gallons of coal ash, displaced residents, and resulted in $1.2 billion in cleanup costs.…”