National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative: Protecting Communities from Coal Ash Contamination

Through the Protecting Communities from Coal Ash Contamination National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative (NECI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to reducing pollution from coal ash, also known as coal combustion residuals, the potentially toxic material left behind after burning coal. Coal ash can contain contaminants known to cause cancer and other serious health effects. There are approximately 300 regulated coal facilities that currently house approximately 775 coal ash surface impoundments and landfills across the country. The harm to human health and the environment from noncompliance with EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Coal Ash Program can be significant and occur through catastrophic releases of contaminants into the surrounding environment or long-term release of contamination into groundwater, drinking water, or surface water.

Goals

1. Focus on investigating high-risk facilities in each EPA Region, with priority given to those facilities that may pose an imminent threat to human health.
2. Reduce noncompliance with the coal ash regulations by identifying violations through compliance monitoring and resolve these violations through enforcement actions that seek appropriate injunctive relief and mitigation.  

FY 2025 Results

Compliance Assessments

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, EPA completed compliance assessments of 36 coal ash units, including on-site inspections, to determine compliance with coal ash regulations.  

Enforcement Cases

In FY 2025, EPA completed agreements/final orders and settlement agreements with two companies to resolve RCRA violations. The orders and agreements address noncompliance at facilities located in Illinois and New York and require the companies to properly monitor groundwater, remediate groundwater, address emergency planning, and pay a penalty.