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Coal ash is the toxic byproduct of burning coal for electricity. Every year, coal plants across the United States generate 140 million tons of coal ash, making it the second largest waste stream in the U.S.
There are 25 heavy metals — including arsenic, mercury, lead and selenium — and other dangerous chemicals found in coal ash. Although coal ash is a toxic and hazardous material, it is currently less regulated than household garbage. Federal and state regulations are either non-existent or sparse, and there is little enforcement of what regulations do exist by state or federal agencies.
Campaign Update
- N.C. RESIDENTS: Contact your state senators to tell them to support coal ash regulations in the Tarheel state
- EVERYONE: Be sure to sign the Pledge for Clean Water
- Appalachian Voices was on the scene of the Dan River coal ash disaster almost immediately after it was first reported, taking samples, documenting the incident, and coordinating with local groups and citizens. Dan River incident page
Coal ash is stored across the country in excavated pits (ponds) and landfills, and coal ash wastewater is legally and illegally discharged into rivers and lakes. It also seeps into groundwater from faulty landfills and is carried by the wind into surrounding communities. Coal ash ponds are held back by earthen dams – and in extreme cases these dams break and spill thousands of tons of ash into the environment. The Kingston, Tenn., and Eden, N.C., coal ash disasters left a legacy of poisoned rivers, damaged communities and little recourse for the damage.
Whether there are slow, long-term pollution releases or sudden, disastrous spills, coal ash contamination harms us all.
It’s time we stand together for a healthy environment and safe communities. Citizen actions have already taken this movement to the headlines of major news networks and to the forefront of environmental justice conversations in the US.
Join us now in the fight to stop toxic coal ash contamination today and tomorrow.
http://appvoices.org/coalash/
