White House, EPA at Odds Over Coal-Waste Rules
The Obama administration is engaged in an unusual internal spat as the White House and Environmental Protection Agency tussle over how to handle millions of tons of waste from coal-fired power plants. Utility and environmental groups are watching the coal-ash dispute as an indicator of the administration's pliability on the regulatory front.
Coal ash pond on Moutain Island Lake, the primary source of drinking water for the Charlotte area
Reprinted from the Wall Street Journal
But environmental groups are pointing to a flurry of industry meetings on the coal-ash issue as evidence that utilities and other companies are using a foothold within the White House to fight back against potentially far-reaching new rules. The office of President Barack Obama's regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein, has held nearly 20 meetings with industry groups since October to discuss the potential impact of proposed EPA rules to treat coal ash and other coal byproducts as hazardous waste, according to White House records. Mr. Sunstein directs the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Go to http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB126300256672322625-lMyQjAxMTIwNjEzMTAxMDEyWj.html for more information about this issue.
Catawba Riverkeeper encourages you to contact the Obama administration to support strong coal-ash rules to protect our water. The Catawba River is home of 4 of the 47 ash ponds listed on the EPA's "High Hazard" list.
