Former Coal Lobbyist Wheeler Capitulates to His Former Employers Again on Clean Water Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler capitulated twice to his former employers in the coal industry today by rolling back important clean water protections against dumping industrial sludge into our waterways and properly disposing of coal ash. For the first rollback, Wheeler introduced a plan that would severely weaken the Effluent Limitations Guidelines -- which where were put into place to stop coal plants from dumping their toxic liquid waste into local rivers, streams, and waterways. 

The second rollback was directed at the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rules, which dictate how coal ash is disposed of when it is found near important aquifers or if evidence is found of groundwater water contamination near coal ash sites. By rolling back these rules, Wheeler has created gaping loopholes that will allow coal plant owners to skirt common sense safeguards for waste disposal, increase instances of water contamination, and put the health of thousands of communities at risk. 

In response, Mary Anne Hitt, Senior Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, released the following statement: 

“It’s infuriating to see Andrew Wheeler flagrantly favoring his former employers in the coal industry over  the well-being of thousands of communities and millions of people across our country. Coal ash is a dangerous, toxic substance that can cause children to have significant developmental issues and contaminate entire ecosystems with harmful heavy metals. Yet, it is clear today that Wheeler and the coal industry don’t care — and they will continue doing everything they can to codify their bizarre idea that they have a right to pollute more than anyone else has a right to clean water.”  

“We are not taking this sitting down. We will fight for the people who these rollbacks will hurt and make sure that the right to having clean water is reflected in all of EPA’s policies.”