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It's Time to Clean Up Coal Combustion Waste!

Millions of tons of hazardous coal ash are dumped into mines, polluting our drinking water and putting our communities’ health at risk. The federal government is considering now whether it should finally take action on how to dispose of toxic waste.

Let them know that we want the strongest protections against this pollution! 

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has the opportunity to listen to the most recent scientific studies by the National Research Council and adopt enforceable standards for all states to meet when they allow coal combustion waste to be dumped into coal mines.

Please act now and send the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement your comments through June 22nd!

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Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Eliminate Coal Combustion Waste Disposal in Mines - Docket Number 1029-AC54

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

For years, coal combustion waste has been simply dumped into coal mines, poisoning water supplies across the country.

You now have the opportunity to listen to the most recent scientific studies by the National Research Council and adopt enforceable standards for all states to meet when they allow coal combustion waste to be dumped into coal mines.

I encourage you to prevent this destruction to our drinking water supplies, lakes, and streams, and with the Environmental Protection Agency, adopt strong protections.

Taking a business-as-usual approach to coal combustion waste disposal will only make our problems worsen.

The public has the right to participate in this process and we call upon you to make the right decision and implement safeguards to protect against these toxic materials.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 14, 2007


Background Information

 Earthjustice At Work

Earthjustice works hard to protect our air and water form dirty power plants:

-A federal court decision could lead to stronger protections against air pollution from power plants nationwide thanks to Earthjustice.  

-The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Duke Power must upgrade its pollution equipment in a ruling that will have an impact throughout the U.S.

-Earthjustice continues the fight for cleaner and healthier communities across the U.S.

Power plants and other industrial facilities that burn coal produce millions of tons each year of coal combustion waste, also known as fly ash or scrubber sludge.

These toxic hazardous materials are the leftovers after coal is burned, and enough of this waste is generated every year to fill the box cars of a train stretching from Washington, DC, to Melbourne, Australia!

Coal waste is laced with heavy metals like lead, arsenic, selenium, and chromium – metals hazardous to human health.

For years, the federal government has allowed industrial polluters to dispose of this waste in active and abandoned coal mines to avoid the costs of burying coal ash in lined, protected landfills. Coal combustion waste has polluted water supplies all over the country, and as power companies propose to build even more coal-fired power plants in the coming years, the problems of simply dumping this toxic industrial waste will only worsen.

Right now, the federal government is considering how to regulate this waste. But rather than require strong protections, officials are proposing to continue with business as usual.

Now is the time to tell them that sacrificing our water rather than cleaning up this industrial waste is not the way to protect our environment.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement should listen to the most recent scientific studies by the National Research Council and to the public when it comes to setting state standards for waste being dumped into coal mines.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement must prevent this destruction to our drinking water supplies, lakes, and streams, and adopt strong protections with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Taking a business-as-usual approach to coal combustion waste disposal will only make our problems worsen.

What can you do:

The public has the right to participate in this process, and we call upon the federal government to make the right decision and implement safeguards to protect against these toxic materials.

Please take a moment now to send them your comments by the end of the June 22nd deadline! If you would prefer to mail your comments, please send them to:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record
Room 252-SIB
1951 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20240

Please note comments are regarding Docket Number 1029-AC54.