Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category: Unmanaged Combustion Residual Leachate

The Attorneys General of Illinois, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico oppose the proposal to shift the responsibility for determining best available technology (BAT) for unmanaged combustion residual leachate from the EPA to individual state regulators. They argue that the proposal weakens national water quality standards, imposes an undue administrative burden on states, and improperly allows for the consideration of data center development in environmental permitting.

The commenter opposes the proposed rule, arguing that it relaxes antipollution regulations for the dirtiest coal plants and fails to account for the true costs of health and environmental damage. They advocate for stricter regulations that hold utilities responsible for cleaning up toxic pollutants and encourage energy efficiency.

The commenter opposes the deregulation of data centers and argues that the government should prioritize public health and environmental protections over corporate profits. They advocate for stricter regulations on the environmental impact of data centers rather than the proposed reduction in protections.

The commenter opposes the proposed revisions to wastewater discharge requirements for unmanaged combustion residual leachate, arguing that they weaken long-term water protections and create regulatory loopholes. They advocate for maintaining robust treatment standards, rigorous cumulative-impact analysis, and enforceable monitoring to protect groundwater and downstream communities from contaminants like arsenic and mercury.

Gail Landy, a private resident, opposes the proposed rule because she believes it weakens wastewater pollution standards and allows the coal industry to avoid cleaning up toxic leachate. She argues that the EPA should withdraw the proposal and instead focus on retiring coal plants in favor of cleaner energy sources like solar and wind.