Essay – The Toxic Legacy of Coal Ash on Southeastern Rivers, Waterways, and Reservoirs

Abstract

This essay, prepared for a symposium hosted by the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review and the Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic, focuses on the toxic legacy of coal ash pollution in the Southeastern United States. It discusses the historic practice of electric utilities for storing millions of tons of coal ash in riverside lagoons, created as a by-product from burning coal to generate electric power, and offers a solution to address some of the water contamination problems linked to these lagoons.