Donald Trump Guts Public Health Protection to Bolster Big Coal in Georgia

ATLANTA - Today, Donald Trump's administration took direct aim at the health and lives of hundreds of American communities, announcing plans to gut critical protections against deadly coal ash pollution - one of the most toxic industrial waste streams in the country.

Coal ash contains a toxic brew of mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic, which can cause cancer, neurological damage, and various other serious illnesses.

In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency finally established the nation's first-ever coal ash pollution standards, implementing long overdue protections for communities against toxic coal ash in their water. In 2024, the EPA built on that foundation, closing loopholes and strengthening safeguards for the most vulnerable communities. Today's announcement erases more than a decade of progress, leaving millions of Americans exposed to preventable, life-threatening harm.

Georgia Power has a long history of failing to protect communities from deadly coal ash. The utility has chosen to use the inadequate cap-in-place method to cover coal ash ponds . Just last week, Georgia Power reported that the cost to clean up coal ash has gone up $500 million . .

In response, the Sierra Club issued the following statements:

"Georgians know the horrific impacts of coal ash- cancer, heart disease, stroke, and even permanent brain damage on children. The Trump Administration and greedy utility companies like Georgia Power know about these impacts. They just don't care," said Adrien Webber. "Today's decision makes it clear that Georgia Power and the decision-makers they influence are happy to keep harming Georgians as long as they rake in more record profits. Not only are we paying the price of our air and drinking water being contaminated by toxic coal but we'll continue seeing our bills go up to keep burning coal and store coal ash. There are better, safer ways to dispose of coal ash - and the safest option is shutting down toxic, expensive coal plants like Scherer and Bowen for good."

"It should come as no surprise that Donald Trump and his administration will sacrifice the health of Americans in order to line the pockets of corporate polluters. Today's proposal doesn't even try to hide the fact that it's an explicit handout to Big Coal," said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Bridget Lee. "Coal ash pollution has already cut too many American lives short. Our government should be strengthening safeguards against this toxic threat; instead, Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin are taking a sledgehammer to them. We will fight back against this reckless and illegal move and work to deliver a healthier future for the people who drink the water and breathe the air near coal ash dumps."