Implications of EPA's Coal Ash Rule on Regulated Entities and the Environment

On December 19, 2014, EPA’s Administrator signed the first ever federal rule regulating the disposal of coal ash, a combustion byproduct from coal-fired power plants.

Coal ash disposal came to national attention when, on December 22, 2008,  the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston power plant suffered one of the largest coal ash spills in history, and the Duke Energy Dan River spill reignited the focus on handling of coal ash. EPA’s final rule determines that coal ash should be regulated as a solid waste under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), not a hazardous waste, and provides new national minimum criteria for the coal ash disposal.

ELI invites you to join us for an in-depth examination of the final coal ash rule. Our expert panel will explain the rule’s workings and answer questions such as:

• How will the rule enable EPA to keep coal ash sites safe?
• What changes are in store for regulated entities
• How can private sector clients comply with the new criteria?
• What will the role of watchdog environmental groups and the public be in light of EPA’s classification for coal ash?

ELI programs encourage audience questions and participation.

Panelists:
Tom Mounteer, Partner, Paul Hastings LLP (moderator)
Lisa Widawsky Hallowell, Attorney, Environmental Integrity Project
Jason Mills, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery USEPA (invited)
Douglas Green, Partner, Venable LLP