House File 2313 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2313 BY MADISON A BILL FOR An Act relating to the discharge of toxic pollutants associated 1 with coal ash into water sources. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 6618YH (1) 91 sb/js
H.F. 2313 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 455B.200 Coal ash pollution. 1 1. It is the intent of the general assembly to protect 2 communities, drinking water, groundwater, and the air from 3 the toxic pollutants in coal ash. Coal ash contains mercury, 4 arsenic, cadmium, and other contaminants associated with 5 cancer, kidney and liver damage, and other serious health 6 effects. Water pollution from the toxic metals in coal ash 7 is avoidable with current technology. It is the intent of 8 the general assembly to prevent electric power generating 9 facilities fueled by coal from discharging toxic pollutants 10 into the water to the best extent technology allows. 11 2. An electric power generating facility fueled by coal 12 or a coal ash landfill shall not discharge toxic pollutants 13 from flue gas desulfurization wastewater, bottom ash transport 14 water, or combustion residual leachate into water sources. 15 3. An electric power generating facility fueled by coal or 16 a coal ash landfill in operation before July 1, 2026, shall 17 comply with subsection 2 as soon as possible, but not later 18 than December 31, 2029. All other electric power generating 19 facilities fueled by coal or coal ash landfills shall comply 20 with subsection 2 before commencing operation. 21 4. The department shall promulgate rules necessary to 22 implement this section. 23 EXPLANATION 24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 26 This bill relates to the discharge of toxic pollutants 27 associated with coal ash into water sources. 28 The bill states the intent of the general assembly is to 29 protect communities, drinking water, groundwater, and air 30 quality from avoidable toxic pollutants contained in coal ash. 31 The bill prohibits electric power generating facilities 32 fueled by coal and coal ash landfills from discharging toxic 33 pollutants from flue gas desulfurization wastewater, bottom ash 34 transport water, or combustion residual leachate into water 35 -1- LSB 6618YH (1) 91 sb/js 1/ 2
H.F. 2313 sources. 1 The bill establishes compliance timelines for the 2 prohibition. Electric power generating facilities fueled by 3 coal and coal ash landfills that are in operation before July 4 1, 2026, are required to comply with the prohibition as soon as 5 possible, but no later than December 31, 2029. Electric power 6 generating facilities fueled by coal and coal ash landfills 7 that begin operation on or after July 1, 2026, are required to 8 comply with the prohibition prior to commencing operation. 9 The bill directs the department to adopt rules necessary to 10 implement the bill. 11 -2- LSB 6618YH (1) 91 sb/js 2/ 2