Reversing a dirty legacy: New rules aim to tighten regulations on forgotten byproduct of coal starcourier.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from starcourier.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated 5/19/2021 3:49 PM
SPRINGFIELD After years of work by environmental activists to push action on the issue, the Illinois Pollution Control Board has issued findings and recommendations related to the regulation of coal ash storage an action advocates call the first of its kind in the state.
Coal ash, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is the collection of byproducts of coal-burning power plants, which includes fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag and various other residues.
The material, also referred to as coal combustion residual, is typically kept in storage ponds located on the grounds near coal-burning power plants, known as surface impoundments.
After years of work by environmental activists to push action on the issue, the Illinois Pollution Control Board has issued findings and recommendations
Substantial data indicate the current conditions facing Chicago s Southeast Side epitomize the problem of environmental injustice, resulting from more than a half century of prior actions, Regan said.
The neighborhood ranks at the highest levels for many pollution indicators such as air toxics cancer risk, respiratory hazard, lead paint, hazardous waste proximity and wastewater discharges, according to the EPA chief.
Regan added he believes it s prudent that the city delays a decision on the pending permit until the analysis can be performed.
Later on Friday, Lightfoot released a statement explaining she directed the Chicago Department of Health to initiate an environmental study recommended by the EPA and to push back a decision on issuing the permit.
Victory: The final rule ensures a safer, healthier future for Illinoisans
Contacts
Paul Dailing, Environmental Law & Policy Center, (312) 771-1979, pdailing@elpc.org
Andrew Rehn, Prairie Rivers Network, (708) 305-6181, arehn@prairierivers.org
Adil Trehan, Sierra Club, (202) 630-7275, adil.trehan@sierraclub.org Springfield, IL â
The Illinois Pollution Control Boardâs finalization of coal ash regulations makes significant strides to rectify coal s toxic footprint in Illinois. The rules create a comprehensive framework for the detection and clean up of coal ash contamination of groundwater â the first in the stateâs history to specifically address this pollution. Not only do the new rules create a new precedent for cleaning up coal ash and restoring the environment, they make necessary improvements to public participation and environmental justice. In finalizing these rules, the Board rejected utility demands to exclude cert