Safe Disposal of Coal Ash in Virginia

In our region, states began issuing permits in about 2014 for the closure of leaking coal ash ponds located along the Potomac, James, Patuxent, Susquehanna and other rivers. In Virginia, several Dominion Energy coal power plants fought to “cap in place” the toxic coal ash ponds. Potomac Riverkeeper, James Riverkeeper and Waterkeepers Chesapeake organized impacted communities, legislators and other groups to fight this plan. In 2019, this hard fought campaign resulted in Virginia Safe Disposal of Coal Ash bill (SB 1355) that mandates the safe disposal of 28 million tons of toxic coal ash Dominion Energy now has stored on the banks of the Potomac, James and Elizabeth Rivers. This bill sets a national precedent for how to safely remove a legacy of toxic coal ash stored along our waterways in our region and across the nation.

Safe Disposal of Coal Ash in Virginia

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