To Advance U.S. Energy Dominance, EPA Proposes Several Amendments to Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Requirements
Proposal to Expand Permitting Flexibility, Promote Beneficial Use, and Maintain Transparency While Protecting Human Health and the Environment
April 9, 2026
Contact Information
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a rule proposing several revisions to the federal regulations governing the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) and the beneficial use of CCR. This proposal would promote resource recovery, allow for site-specific considerations in permitting, provide regulatory relief while continuing to protect human health and the environment, and ensure continued transparency. The proposal would also encourage beneficial use, potentially reducing the need for disposing of CCR, set protective and uniform standards for CCR storage piles, and decrease the use of new natural resources.
“These commonsense changes to the CCR regulations reflect EPA’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance, strengthening cooperative federalism, and accommodating unique circumstances at certain CCR facilities,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “Our proposed changes will increase transparency and promote resource recovery while continuing to protect human health and the environment for all Americans now and into the future.”
EPA’s proposal would encourage beneficial use of CCR to create environmental and economic benefits while reducing the need for disposal. The rule would also set protective and uniform standards for CCR storage piles, decreasing the use of new natural resources, and improving the strength, durability, and workability of the resulting cement and concrete.
This proposal would also establish a new pathway for CCR units to comply with groundwater monitoring, corrective action, closure, and post-closure requirements under federal or approved state CCR permits. Under these changes, permit authorities could tailor requirements to site-specific risks and factors and utilize new technologies. These changes would benefit Americans by providing states with greater oversight and permitting authority involvement. In addition, these changes would ensure safety and compliance with CCR permits, more sensible placement of monitoring wells, and more efficient use of resources.
EPA is focused on a commonsense approach to regulating CCR to maintain environmental and human health protections while reducing regulatory burden and combating rising energy costs. Additional closure options would be available to facilities that completed closure of legacy surface impoundments under regulatory oversight prior to the effective date of the Legacy Final Rule.
This rule also proposes rescinding CCR management unit (CCRMU) regulations because the requirements are infeasible and impractical, and in turn, reducing burden on energy production, to combat higher energy costs for consumers.
EPA will accept comments on this proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. EPA will also hold an online public hearing on this proposal.
For more information, visit the 2026 Proposed CCR Amendments webpage.
Background
On May 8, 2024, EPA published the “Legacy CCR Surface Impoundments” rule. This final rule established requirements for the disposal of CCR in a new type of regulated CCR unit known as “legacy surface impoundments.” It also established requirements for CCRMUs to address previously unregulated solid waste management of CCR that involves the direct placement of CCR on the land at certain electric utilities.
On March 12, 2025, EPA committed to taking swift action on CCR, including state permit program reviews and updates to the CCR regulations. Since then, EPA has approved permit programs for North Dakota and Wyoming. EPA has also made significant progress working with other states as they seek to manage their own CCR programs. EPA will continue working with state partners to prioritize timely action and empower those with local expertise to oversee more effective CCR disposal operations.
On February 6, 2026, EPA announced a final rule that extends the compliance deadlines for CCRMU requirements. This action provides additional time to meet facility evaluation requirements and to comply with groundwater monitoring provisions. Additionally, in November, EPA proposed to extend an alternative closure requirement deadline. This deadline extension would promote electric grid reliability by allowing a subset of coal-fired power producers to continue to operate.
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