By Lisa Autry
Louisville, KY – The Environmental Protection Agency is gathering input from the Kentucky coal industry as it considers whether to classify coal ash as a hazardous waste. Some argue the massive coal ash spill in Tennessee in 2008 could have been prevented with federal regulation. Currently, states enforce their own regulations on coal ash. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has declined to say if he supports EPA regulation.
"We know our situation better than they do in Washington D.C., I think that's probably right in most circumstances, so I'm willing to listen to what they have to say, but in the end, we just want to make sure we protect our people, we protect our land and our environment, and we're going to do that."
The coal industry will hold a rally in downtown Louisville tomorrow before the EPA hearing. The industry argues EPA regulation of coal ash would put jobs at risk and raise electricity costs.