The Environmental Protection Agency in the US has released 44 coal-fired power plant waste sites because of the high risk they pose to humans. North Carolina has the highest sites, 12, followed by nine in Arizona and seven in Kentucky and a large storage pond in Pennsylvania.
The Agency has listed more than 400 such impoundments across the country, but the 44 are the ones which are near thickly populated areas, posing a higher danger. The EPA was relectunt to release the information, saying it would share them only with members of Congress.
EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said the presence of "liquid coal ash impoundments near our homes, schools and business could pose a serious risk to life and property in the event of an impoundment rupture. By compiling a list of these facilities, EPA will be better able to identify and reduce potential risks by working with states and local emergency responders."
It may be recalled that in 2008 December, a coal ash pond broke near Kingston, sending five million cubic yards of ash and sludge across more than 300 acres. Though no one was killed, the spill destroyed or damaged 40 homes.
Following this, the Agency conducted an investigation. It also required electric utilities that store coal ash in surface impoundments to respond to mandatory questionnaires about their sites.
The EPA is working on new regulations for coal ash waste that are expected by the end of the year.
The Agency said the next step was to review the information about the coal-ash sites and call for the necessary cleanup.
The Agency has listed more than 400 such impoundments across the country, but the 44 are the ones which are near thickly populated areas, posing a higher danger. The EPA was relectunt to release the information, saying it would share them only with members of Congress.
EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said the presence of "liquid coal ash impoundments near our homes, schools and business could pose a serious risk to life and property in the event of an impoundment rupture. By compiling a list of these facilities, EPA will be better able to identify and reduce potential risks by working with states and local emergency responders."
It may be recalled that in 2008 December, a coal ash pond broke near Kingston, sending five million cubic yards of ash and sludge across more than 300 acres. Though no one was killed, the spill destroyed or damaged 40 homes.
Following this, the Agency conducted an investigation. It also required electric utilities that store coal ash in surface impoundments to respond to mandatory questionnaires about their sites.
The EPA is working on new regulations for coal ash waste that are expected by the end of the year.
The Agency said the next step was to review the information about the coal-ash sites and call for the necessary cleanup.
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