WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote this afternoon on Rep. David McKinley’s (R-WV) H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. The bipartisan legislation is the culmination of a multi-year, multi-Congress effort to improve options for safe energy byproduct management and recycling. H.R. 1734 calls for the safe management and disposal of coal ash while preserving jobs and encouraging recycling. This legislation will expand the committee’s growing bipartisan #RecordOfSuccess.
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
“Alabama believes that H.R. 1734 will address problematic State implementation issues with the EPA rule and produce a viable, workable, and protective result in managing CCR and in protecting our citizens and our environment."
American Coal Ash Association
“We believe that H.R. 1734 would permanently resolve regulatory uncertainty surrounding coal ash management and create a more effective regulatory structure than EPA can accomplish with its existing toolbox."
Electric Utility Trade Associations
“H.R. 1734 is essential to ensuring that coal combustion residual (CCR) disposal practices are substantially improved and the new CCR disposal requirements are implemented and enforced in a coherent, efficient and effective manner throughout the country. A “yes" vote is a vote to improve how the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule is implemented to better protect the environment and those who live in the vicinity of disposal facilities."
Environmental Council of the States and the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
“We believe that H.R. 1734 would address problematic state implementation issues within the final EPA rule and produce a viable, workable and protective result in regulating and responding to the environmental impacts of CCR facilities."
The Ohio House of Representatives
“We strongly urge a ‘yes’ vote for the ‘Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act’. It accomplishes several very important objectives. The bill: Allows the states to establish a state-based permit program to implement regulatory requirements; and addresses the uncertainty created by the EPA’s preamble language suggesting that, in the future, it might reconsider the decision to regulate CCR as non-hazardous."
Pennsylvania House and Senate Coal Caucuses
“The passing of H.R. 1734 would assure a coherent, consistent implementation of the final CCR rule in a manner that appropriately addresses site-specific circumstances of each facility to better protect the public."
Western Governors’ Association
“Western Governors support the general principle of this bill, which would allow states to establish a permit system for the regulation of CCRs. … Legislation such as H.R. 1734 recognizes that states are in the best position to implement EPA’s rule for CCR regulation and reinforces the appropriate role of states in regulation, oversight and enforcement."
