House Passes Legislation Authorizing State-Based Coal Ash Permit Programs

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) issued the following statement after House passage of the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015 (H.R. 1734), legislation she cosponsored to give states the authority to govern the management and disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR):

"Currently, under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) self-implementing rule establishing federal requirements for the management and disposal of coal ash, determinations pertaining to compliance are often settled in court, creating regulatory uncertainty for U.S. energy companies trying to make investment decisions. There is no disagreement that certain environmental and human health precautions should be taken with the coal combustion residuals created at power plants. However, understanding and adhering to the regulations should not hinder a company's ability to make decisions about its infrastructure and potential growth -- an uncertainty of great consequence to the creation of new jobs and the U.S. economy.

"Today, to help improve the understanding of and adherence to coal ash regulations, the House passed legislation authorizing state-based programs that govern coal ash using the EPA's management and disposal requirements as the statutory minimum for state programs. This commonsense solution is a win-win for regulators and the energy industry. I appreciate my colleagues support in the House and urge the Senate to take quick action."

Source