Administrative Watch
On December 19, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an advance notice of a final rulemaking that will regulate coal combustion residuals (CCR) as solid waste under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The rulemaking will apply to CCR generated by coal-fired power plants.
Although CCR will not be regulated as hazardous waste under Subtitle C of RCRA, the rulemaking does provide a number of requirements related to CCR disposal. The rulemaking will establish minimum criteria for the placement of CCR in landfills and surface impoundments; however, the rulemaking will not impact CCR disposed in coal mines. According to the EPA, the U.S. Department of the Interior will address the placement of CCR in minefills as a separate regulatory action.
