White House Critical of House Bill on Coal Ash but Stops Short of Veto

Date: October 14, 2011

Source: News Room

The Obama White House said it opposes House legislation (H.R. 2273), which allows states with approved municipal solid waste programs to implement a permitting program for coal ash as a non-hazardous waste, calling it "insufficient" for addressing the risks of coal ash containment and management and "undermines" federal authority to ensure that coal ash rules are protective of human health and the environment. Unlike other House bills that seek to curtail EPA regulation of power plant emissions, the coal ash measure has not drawn the threat of a presidential veto. In a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) issued Oct. 12, the White House stopped short of threatening to veto the measure and laid out some general principles for what a coal ash program should contain, suggesting the administration could still be open to some sort of legislation. "The Administration supports the development, implementation, and enforcement of appropriate standards for facilities managing coal ash, while encouraging the beneficial use of this economically important material," the statement says.

To win the administration's support, the SAP says, the bill would need to include: "clear requirements" that address the risks associated with the coal ash disposal and management; consideration of the best science and data available; "adequate" evaluation of storage facilities' structural integrity; "protective solutions" for existing as well as new facilities; and "appropriate public information and comment."

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