Coal ash dump operators get more time to meet new safety rules

US environmental regulators are giving coal power plants more time to comply with new rules for managing coal ash waste. This means operators of these waste sites have an extended deadline to submit reports on their facilities and meet other safety requirements.

Coal ash is a toxic byproduct of burning coal, and it has historically been stored in unlined ponds that can leak into groundwater. New rules were supposed to force operators to clean up these sites or close them. This extension means the cleanup will take longer, keeping these environmental risks active for a longer period.