Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) issued the following statement today in response to a proposed rule published by the EPA late last week to dilute requirements put in place in 2016 for the safe disposal of coal ash:
“The EPA’s proposed coal ash rule threatens public health and the environment. The rule would undermine the 2016 federal law that established federal minimum standards for coal ash disposal. It would return us to a time when states had the discretion to set their own standards, which produced a string of environmental disasters.
“Inexcusably, the alternative standards included in this proposal were repeatedly pushed by industry but were rightfully rejected in the final law. It is disappointing to see these ideas revived in this proposal, but it is just the latest example of the Trump Administration putting industry profits ahead of the public health. This rule should not withstand a challenge in court.
“It is also outrageous that the public is only being given 45 days to comment on this significant rewrite of this public health rule. That stands in stark contrast to the original rule that went through several rounds of public comments before being finalized. Vulnerable communities around the nation deserve to have their voices heard, even if President Trump and Administrator Pruitt don’t want to hear what they have to say."
