"Coal-Ash Sites Polluting Water, Report Says"

"At least 31 more coal-ash impoundments across the country -- including two in West Virginia -- have been found to have polluted nearby groundwater, wetlands and streams, according to a report issued Wednesday by two national environmental groups.

The report brings to more than 100 the total number of sites where coal-ash disposal has been linked to contamination of water supplies with toxic pollutants including arsenic, cadmium and selenium.

Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project released their new report as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal to reform handling and disposal of toxic ash from coal-fired power plants remains bottled up at the White House.

"The data are overwhelming, and these 31 sites sound a clear warning that the EPA must heed before much more damage is done," said Jeff Stant, director of the Environmental Integrity Project's coal combustion waste initiative."

Ken Ward Jr. reports for the Charleston Gazette February 24, 2010.

See Also:

"Groups ID Toxic Coal Ash Sites in 14 States, Demand Regulations" (Environment News Service)

"Report: State Leads Nation in Contaminated Coal Ash Pits" (Raleigh News & Observer)

"Report: Coal Ash Fouling N.C. Waters" (Winston-Salem Journal)

"2 Tenn. Coal Ash Disposal Sites Named in Report" (Knoxville News Sentinel)

"2 Companies Called Polluters" (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)