CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Thursday, Aug. 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal to approve Wyoming’s coal combustion residuals (CCR) program application, which would allow the state, rather than the federal government, to manage coal ash disposal in surface impoundments and landfills.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) first proposed state management of the program in 2023.
According to Governor Mark Gordon’s Office, CCR is produced primarily as a byproduct from burning coal in coal-fired power plants. After reviewing Wyoming DEQ’s application, the EPA determined that its application meets the standards for approval. If finalized, Wyoming is expected to be the fifth state in the U.S. to have an approved CCR permit program.
“The EPA’s announcement recognizes the stellar work that the State of Wyoming and the dedicated staff of our DEQ have achieved in this area” Governor Gordon said in the announcement. “The environment, industry and Wyoming will all benefit from this proposal. I appreciate EPA Administrator Zeldin and Region 8 Administrator Western’s efforts making this a priority in the first year of the Trump Administration.”
The EPA will accept comments on this proposal for 60 days, after it is published in the Federal Register. During this comment period, the EPA will hold a public hearing on Oct. 30 to provide input on the proposal.
