By: Renee
On March 12, 2025, both Governor Braun and the EPA took actions that affect Indiana’s coal ash problem. Both say they are deregulating because environmental regulation hurts the economy. They are incorrect. In fact, pollution that damages air, land, or water hurts the economy, and coal ash is a prime example. Millions of tons of Indiana’s coal ash are sitting in flood-prone areas and contaminating water, which causes economic damage.
The Governor’s and EPA’s actions create uncertainty. The EPA said it wanted to give more control over coal ash back to the states, while Governor Braun said that Indiana will follow federal requirements. That uncertain situation is compounded by the EPA saying it is rewriting the federal coal ash rule. Coal ash cleanups are large, multi-year projects. Changing the federal rule when the industry is in the midst of following the existing rule creates uncertainty and inconsistency that are costly.
The uncertainty will delay coal ash cleanups and so will EPA’s actions. The EPA’s rewrite of the federal coal ash rule delays cleanups both because of the time to rewrite the rule and because EPA specifically said it is considering “extending compliance deadlines”. The existing rule already sets deadlines multiple years out, so EPA extending deadlines only delays the cleanups further.
Indiana’s communities living with coal ash pollution have waited long enough for cleanup. EPA and Indiana should implement the existing rule and let the cleanups move forward.
Categories: Water & Wilderness Protection