Oklahoma will now be able to regulate coal ash disposal without answering to federal regulators.
Justin Wingerter reports: "Oklahoma will become the first state in the nation to oversee coal ash disposal within its borders, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday, a decision that pleased utility companies and worried environmentalists."
"The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has regulated coal ash for more than two decades under federal rules. It will now fully take over the permitting process, issue notices, assess penalties and suspend or revoke permits," adds Wingerter.
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, former attorney general of Oklahoma, sent out a statement praising the new policy, calling it historic. The article also includes statements from environmentalists who oppose the decision.
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research