Hundreds of Coal Ash Dumps Lack Regulation

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/us/07sludge.html?_r=1

Author: Shaila  Dewan

Date: Jan. 6th 2009

Source: The New York Times

Summary:

There are around 1,300 coal dump plants in the U.S. that are unregulated in their dumping. The dumps contain lead, arsenic, mercury and selenium. Even though the ash is used to help farmers there is too much and is actually hurting because of the concentrations and amounts of the harmful chemicals.

Response:

This is a bad situation because there are some benefits to the ash. The ash helps but there is too much and is hurting the environment. The problem is that the companies will claim that they help. So there needs to be more regulations on this to prevents breaks in the dumps. If more breaks happen the land in the area will be destroyed. With new regulations the companies will be forced to fix the problem and this will help the environment