US environmental regulators delay coal ash cleanup deadlines again

The US environmental regulators are reopening the comment period for a rule that would extend deadlines for cleaning up coal ash storage sites. This means coal-fired power plants will have more time before they must comply with stricter disposal requirements for their waste.

Coal ash contains heavy metals and other toxic substances. For years, these materials were stored in unlined ponds, which often leaked into groundwater. The original rules aimed to force utilities to clean up these sites or move the waste to safer, lined landfills. Delaying these deadlines means the cleanup will take longer, and the risks of contamination will persist for a longer period.