TAKE ACTION
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier for coal-fired power plants to pollute our rivers, lakes, and streams. This is yet another attack on Clean Water Act protections and an unnecessary giveaway to the dirty coal industry, at a time when the Trump administration continues to boost the failing industry.
Why It Matters?
Coal-fired power plants are one of the largest sources of toxic water pollution in America’s rivers, lakes, and streams. The wastewater they produce contains millions of pounds of toxic metals (like arsenic, mercury, and lead), nutrient pollution, bromides, and other harmful substances. Even tiny amounts of these pollutants can cause public health risks when present in drinking water, harm aquatic life, and damage ecosystems.
What is EPA Doing?
In 2024, EPA strengthened Clean Water Act standards requiring coal-fired power plants to clean up several types of their toxic wastewater. This was a much-needed step forward, significantly reducing the amount of harmful pollutants that these plants are allowed to dump into our waterways.
But now, EPA is rollbacking requirements on the amount of arsenic, mercury, and other toxic pollutants that coal power plants are allowed to discharge. This means more harmful pollutants making their way into our drinking water and impacting nearby communities already disproportionately affected by this toxic pollution.
This proposal is the third major attack on Clean Water Act protections in 2026 alone. Instead of siding with polluters yet again, EPA should uphold its mission to protect public health and the environment and its obligation to properly implement the Clean Water Act.
Tell EPA:
- Do not weaken wastewater treatment requirements for coal-fired power plants
- Stop giveaways to polluters
- Protect our drinking water, water quality, and communities