“EPA excludes certain solid wastes from the definition of hazardous waste. If a material meets an exclusion from the definition of hazardous waste, it is not regulated as a hazardous waste, even if the material technically meets a listing or exhibits a characteristic that would normally meet this definition.” (same website).
By saying it is not hazardous, David Fountain is stating the coal-ash is an “excluded solid waste”. In no way should it be understood that the coal-ash is safe and does not have hazardous properties. This is about the worst obfuscation imaginable.
Please have a look at the list of exclusions and tell me if you think it is OK to have, for example, “arsenical-treated wood” or “Petroleum Contaminated Media & Debris from Underground Storage Tanks” in the river near your house and in your water supply.
One can certainly argue with the reasons so many poisons got on that list. I think it is obvious that it is the result of a corrupt political system that protects those that can pay for such exclusions. Our country is rife with such nonsense. Wouldn´t it be ironic if Trump´s overhaul of the regulatory system results in better regulation of wastes that are toxic, poisonous, cancer causing and otherwise “hazardous”?
It is incredibly dishonest for the president of Duke Energy in NC to say “It’s not hazardous,” with respect to coal-ash.
It is on the list of “solid wastes which are excluded from the definition of hazardous waste” (see https://www.epa.gov/hw/criteria-definition-solid-waste-and-solid-and-hazardous-waste-exclusions).
“EPA excludes certain solid wastes from the definition of hazardous waste. If a material meets an exclusion from the definition of hazardous waste, it is not regulated as a hazardous waste, even if the material technically meets a listing or exhibits a characteristic that would normally meet this definition.” (same website).
By saying it is not hazardous, David Fountain is stating the coal-ash is an “excluded solid waste”. In no way should it be understood that the coal-ash is safe and does not have hazardous properties. This is about the worst obfuscation imaginable.
Please have a look at the list of exclusions and tell me if you think it is OK to have, for example, “arsenical-treated wood” or “Petroleum Contaminated Media & Debris from Underground Storage Tanks” in the river near your house and in your water supply.
One can certainly argue with the reasons so many poisons got on that list. I think it is obvious that it is the result of a corrupt political system that protects those that can pay for such exclusions. Our country is rife with such nonsense. Wouldn´t it be ironic if Trump´s overhaul of the regulatory system results in better regulation of wastes that are toxic, poisonous, cancer causing and otherwise “hazardous”?