Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Enhancing Public Access to Information; Reconsideration of Beneficial Use Criteria and Piles

In this action, EPA is proposing the following targeted changes to the April 17, 2015 Coal Combustion Residuals Final Rule based on stakeholder input: Revisions to the annual groundwater monitoring and corrective action report requirements, establishing an alternate risk-based groundwater protection standard for boron, and revisions to the publicly accessible CCR website requirements. The Agency is also proposing to address two provisions of the final rule that were remanded back to EPA on August 21, 2018 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. First, EPA is proposing to revise the CCR beneficial use definition by replacing the mass-based numerical threshold with specific location-based criteria as the trigger for an environmental demonstration. Second, EPA is proposing to introduce a single approach to consistently address the potential environmental and human health issues associated with piles of CCR, regardless of the location of the pile and whether the CCR is destined for disposal or beneficial use.