New IEC Report Highlights Health and Environmental Impacts of Coal Ash Pollution in Iowa

IOWA—Coal ash, also called coal combustion residuals (CCR), is a byproduct of burning coal and is one of the largest industrial waste streams in the United States. A report released today from the Iowa Environmental Council provides a detailed analysis of Iowa's utility coal ash sites, including both active sites and legacy ash ponds and landfills. 

Toxic By Design: Understanding Coal Ash Pollution in Iowa finds that Iowa's coal ash management system is failing to protect communities and natural resources. 

Click here to download the full report. 

Click here to download the executive summary. 

"The data is clear: Coal ash is leaking toxic metals and other harmful pollutants into Iowa’s groundwater. Weak oversight not only undermines environmental protections, it extends the life of dirty coal plants that are both unjustified and uneconomical. Regulations must be enforced, not weakened," said Raihan Rashidi, Energy Policy Manager for the Iowa Environmental Council.

Key findings and observed trends include: 

• Nine of 12 coal plants — either operational or recently retired — have regulated coal ash disposal sites with groundwater contamination that exceeds federal health standards, according to analysis of 2024 data. 
• Legacy sites are often unlined and continue to leach toxic pollutants into ground and surface waters. 
• Coal ash is still being used in construction, agriculture, and landscaping, under the term "beneficial reuse," which introduces toxins into the everyday environment

"Coal ash pollution isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a public health crisis. Iowans, especially those living near coal ash dumps, are at risk of breathing polluted air and drinking contaminated water, while the state's largest utilities delay action year after year," Rashidi said. 

Members of the media are invited to join a webinar this Wednesday, July 30, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. to learn more about the report's findings. Report author Raihan Rashidi will be joined by IEC General Counsel Michael Schmidt and Earthjustice Senior Research and Policy Analyst Caroline Weinberg to explore the report and the national perspectives on coal ash management, especially as federal environmental regulations are at risk of being rolled back.

Click here to register for the webinar.

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The Iowa Environmental Council is the state's largest and most comprehensive environmental alliance, comprised of diverse organizations and individuals working together to protect Iowa's natural environment. Through education, advocacy, and coalition-building, the Council raises awareness, generates action, and creates large-scale change. We work on federal, state, and local public policy issues to ensure a just, healthy environment and sustainable future for all Iowans.