Proposed changes to federal coal ash regulations could influence how cleanup efforts are carried out at Alabama Power's Plant Barry in Mobile County, where millions of tons of coal ash remain stored near Mobile Bay.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rolling back certain requirements concerning coal ash, the byproduct of coal-fired power plants that contain heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury. If enacted, the changes would ease some cleanup standards and could affect how utilities close coal ash ponds.

At Plant Barry, coal ash is currently stored in ponds that remain in contact with groundwater, raising concerns about potential impacts to nearby waterways, fisheries and public health.

"If these rules are enacted, they could be a disappointing setback for the people of coastal Alabama," Mobile Baykeeper said in a statement.

Environmental advocates say the proposed changes do not alter existing conditions at the site, where coal ash has been a long-standing issue.

"No matter what happens in Washington, the facts on the ground in coastal Alabama remain exactly the same," Baykeeper said. "The coal ash pond at Plant Barry continues to pose significant risks to human and environmental health."

Alabama Power has previously announced plans to recycle a portion of the ash while closing the remaining material in place, a process known as capping. State regulators recently approved a two-year extension for closure activities at the site, moving the deadline to April 14, 2028.

"In 2024, Alabama Power announced plans to build a recycling plant and begin recycling 600,000 to 700,000 tons of pond ash a year," said Diane Thomas, a member of the Coal Ash Action Group. "They are facing a deadline for closure of the pond which would limit the amount of ash which can be recycled," she said.

Members of the group are calling for an alternative approach that would remove the ash from the site entirely.

"Our message from the Coal Ash Action Group to APCO is: Alabama Power Company, secure the necessary extension of the pond closure deadline and commit to full recycling of all ash at Plant Barry," Thomas said.

Mobile Baykeeper said any reduction in federal requirements would increase the need for local action.

"If the EPA weakens the regulatory floor, it makes a commitment from Alabama Power more urgent," the group said.

The EPA proposal has not yet been finalized.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.