5 days ago
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The Supreme Court refused to block a Biden administration rule aimed at preventing toxic coal ash from contaminating groundwater near shuttered power plants.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- The rule targets coal plants closed before October 2015, requiring measures to stop coal ash leaks.
- East Kentucky Power Cooperative sought to pause the rule, citing high compliance costs.
- The Supreme Court denied the request without explanation or dissent, allowing the rule to stay while lower courts review the case.
Why this matters:
Coal ash contains harmful substances like mercury and arsenic that can contaminate drinking water and harm public health. This ruling supports efforts to reduce pollution risks tied to older coal plant waste.
Related: Biden's aggressive new climate policy targets coal pollution
