Hoeven: EPA, North Dakota Sign Agreement Implementing Coal Ash Recycling Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement congratulating Governor Kelly Armstrong and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on signing an agreement formally implementing the State of North Dakota’s coal ash recycling and disposal program. The program is made possible through bipartisanlegislation Hoeven authored and passedin 2016, which was needed after an EPA rule issued in 2014 correctly regulated coal ash as a non-hazardous material, but did not create an effective enforcement mechanism. The 2014 regulation made coal ash recycling more difficult and created uncertainty and added cost for coal producers.
Instead, the Hoeven-created, state-led approach will:
“We created this state-led program through my legislation passed in 2016 to help give a more stable footing to coal producers, providing efficient, cost-effective methods for recycling and disposing of coal ash,” said Senator Hoeven. “We appreciate Governor Armstrong and Administrator Zeldin for their work to finalize and approve North Dakota’s program. This state-led approach means lower costs and more regulatory certainty, benefiting both the environment and our economy – a win-win for U.S. energy dominance. This is part of our work to maintain access to the reliable, affordable baseload power provided by coal that is available 24/7, no matter the weather.”
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