'Virtually all' coal plants monitoring groundwater show ash pollution, report finds

More than 90% of coal plants that monitor groundwater pollution across the United States are leaking toxic coal ash pollution, according to a new national report based on industry disclosures. Of 265 coal plants that report groundwater tests, 243 disclosed unsafe levels of at least one coal ash pollutant, including arsenic, lithium and other contaminants, according to the new report from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and Earthjustice. The data, representing about three-quarters of U.S. coal plants, come from utility filings mandated by federal coal ash rules that the Trump administration is attempting to roll back. The remaining plants were either exempt from reporting groundwater tests or were eligible for reporting extensions.