Event Title
What’s up with Coal Ash?
Location
Larry Walker Room, Rusk Hall
Start Date
21-2-2020 9:45 AM
End Date
21-2-2020 10:50 AM
Description
Coal ash refers to coal combustion residuals that are primarily produced from the burning of coal in power plants. These residuals can include millions of toxic-laden contaminants such as arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium, aluminum, thallium, barium, boron, and chlorine. Coal ash is one of the largest types of industrial waste generated in the United States. Nearly every major river in the Southeast has one or more unlined coal ash pits on its banks. Many of these pits have leaked harmful contaminants into rivers, waterways, and underlying groundwater.
Coal ash poses risks to both the environment and human health. It pollutes groundwater systems and negatively impacts nearby biota. Moreover, the byproduct causes cancer, developmental disorders, and reproductive problems for humans. The issues with coal ash continue to be perpetuated rather than alleviated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to roll back the 2015 regulation that would have strengthened inspection and monitoring at coal plants, lowered acceptable levels of toxins, and required the installation of new technology at coal-fired power plants. This panel will discuss coal ash issues relevant to Georgia.
What’s up with Coal Ash?
Larry Walker Room, Rusk Hall
Coal ash refers to coal combustion residuals that are primarily produced from the burning of coal in power plants. These residuals can include millions of toxic-laden contaminants such as arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium, aluminum, thallium, barium, boron, and chlorine. Coal ash is one of the largest types of industrial waste generated in the United States. Nearly every major river in the Southeast has one or more unlined coal ash pits on its banks. Many of these pits have leaked harmful contaminants into rivers, waterways, and underlying groundwater.
Coal ash poses risks to both the environment and human health. It pollutes groundwater systems and negatively impacts nearby biota. Moreover, the byproduct causes cancer, developmental disorders, and reproductive problems for humans. The issues with coal ash continue to be perpetuated rather than alleviated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to roll back the 2015 regulation that would have strengthened inspection and monitoring at coal plants, lowered acceptable levels of toxins, and required the installation of new technology at coal-fired power plants. This panel will discuss coal ash issues relevant to Georgia.