From the website of Appalachian Voices, Environmental and public health groups announced their intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in federal court to force the release of long awaited public health safeguards against toxic coal ash. The EPA has delayed the first-ever federal protections for coal ash for nearly two years despite more evidence of leaking ponds, poisoned groundwater supplies and threats to public health.
“We have waited long enough for the EPA to act,” says Sandra Diaz, Appalachian Voices’ North Carolina Campaign Coordinator. “In North Carolina, we know for a fact that many coal ash ponds are contaminating groundwater, and we need the EPA to step up and provide strong guidelines to ensure public health and safety.”
We are also working to put pressure on North Carolina Department of Environment and Resources to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take action on coal ash, since monitoring around these ponds, including the one in Asheville, are showing groundwater contamination.
We are also planning a We Can’t Wait rally in Asheville, March 22.
http://appvoices.org/nc-can-no-longer-wait/