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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on EPA Coal Ash Disposal Rules

Original title: EPA'S 2014 FINAL RULE: DISPOSAL OF COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS FROM ELECTRIC UTIL- ITIES

January 1, 2015

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines the regulatory framework for how electric utilities manage coal ash, which directly impacts environmental safety standards and operational compliance costs for power plants nationwide.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Electric Utility Companies

These companies must comply with new federal standards for the disposal and storage of coal ash.

State Environmental Agencies

These agencies are responsible for overseeing the implementation of waste management regulations within their jurisdictions.

Environmental Advocacy Groups

These groups monitor the enforcement of environmental safety standards regarding waste disposal.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2015.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2015 House Subcommittee hearing regarding the EPA's final rule on the disposal of (coal ash) from electric utilities. Lawmakers and industry experts discussed the implementation, safety, and regulatory impact of these waste management standards.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on January 22, 2015, by the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
  • The subject is the EPA's 2014 final rule regarding the disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) from electric utilities.
  • The hearing included testimony from EPA officials, state environmental regulators, utility company executives, and environmental advocacy groups.
  • The record includes submitted letters from the U.S. Green Building Council and the Prairie Rivers Network.
  • The document contains formal prepared statements from eight primary witnesses and additional answers to submitted questions.

Why It Matters

The hearing examines the regulatory framework for how electric utilities manage coal ash, which directly impacts environmental safety standards and operational compliance costs for power plants nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are coal combustion residuals?
Commonly known as coal ash, these are the byproducts created when coal is burned in power plants.
What was the purpose of this hearing?
To review the EPA's 2014 final rule on how these residuals are disposed of and managed by electric utilities.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Transition to Federal Oversight

The hearing highlights the shift toward federal regulation of coal ash disposal, which was previously managed primarily at the state level.

Connected Entities

organizationSeminole Electric Cooperative, Inc.Represented by CEO Lisa D. JohnsonMap →
personMathy StanislausAssistant Administrator, EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency ResponseMap →
organizationEnvironmental Protection AgencyThe federal agency that issued the 2014 final rule on coal ash disposalMap →
personJohn ShimkusChairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the EconomyMap →
organizationEnvironmental Integrity ProjectAdvocacy group represented by Eric SchaefferMap →
organizationAmerican Coal Ash AssociationIndustry trade group represented by Thomas H. AdamsMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy50
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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