EPA is leaning toward approving North Dakota’s management program for coal ash, the biproduct of burning coal for electricity, in a move that could have repercussions for energy costs and water pollution.
The agency has “preliminarily determined” that North Dakota has the funding and personnel needed to manage coal ash dump sites in the state and that its approach would be sufficiently protective of the environment. The state is a major coal producer and burns coal for over half of its electric power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R) and Republican North Dakota Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven praised the proposed decision. EPA described it as an example of the Trump administration’s efforts to work with states and promote energy production.
“By advancing a state-led coal ash program that meets federal standards, we’re reinforcing our commitment to environmental protection while recognizing North Dakota’s capability to manage its own resources,” Cyrus Western, the administrator of EPA Region 8, said in a news release Monday.
