Trump EPA Proposes Delaying Clean Water Protections

Texas - The Environmental Protection Agency announced this morning that it intends to give coal-fired power plants even more time to reduce their coal ash wastewater pollution, a decision that - if finalized - could increase heavy metal contamination of surface waterways across the United States. With more than 10 active coal power plants in Texas, this delay would add more than 2,800 tons of coal ash wastewater pollution to our environment - a 122% increase.

In 2024, the EPA updated the Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) to include stronger protections against coal ash wastewater pollution that enters streams, creeks, and lakes. Coal ash wastewater discharges contain heavy metals and toxins like mercury and arsenic that can cause increased risk of liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular illnesses, cancers, and developmental delays in children.

The Biden-era rule would require coal-burning power plants to eliminate these harmful discharges by 2029, or else commit by the end of this year to cease burning coal by 2034. Today, the EPA under the Trump Administration proposed extending both the compliance deadline and the end-of-year notice deadline-meaning coal plants would be allowed to continue discharging toxic wastewater under weaker standards for several more years.

According to the Sierra Club's Trump Coal Pollution Dashboard, a delay of last year's ELG updates would add over 325,000 tons of toxic pollution to public waterways nationwide every year.

In response, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Organizer James Perkins issued the following statement:

"Today's proposal sends a clear message: people's health simply doesn't matter to our federal government. Communities across Texas are pleading for cleaner air and water, but the EPA's latest slap in the face will give wealthy polluters more time to comply with basic cleanup requirements for dangerous coal ash pollution of our water. Keep in mind they've already had enough time to prepare for this deadline - why should they get more if our health is on the line? If this outrageous proposal is finalized, Texans will continue to be exposed to water tainted with heavy metals."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.