Document X7qDpn0d6VKwBmEnbJ93Xw82y

AGEE A ^r^iC A ':: ?O W P August 16, 2017 Mr. E. Scott Pruitt A d m in istrato r United States Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Dear Administrator Pruitt: We are writing to urge that the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA ") take immediate steps to postpone the compliance deadlines under the Coal Combustion Residuals ("CCR") rule. Although EPA has just issued guidance to the states on implementation of the CCR rule, the guidance does nothing to avoid the additional coal plant retirements that will result from this rule over the next few years. An estimated sixty percent (60%) (about 150,000 megawatts) of the U.S. coal fleet's electric generating capacity relies on unlined surface impoundments and, therefore, is at risk because of the CCR rule. Many electric utilities that operate coal-fired power plants will undertake compliance steps soon that could lead to plant retirement decisions within a year unless the compliance deadlines are postponed. Besides the threat of these coal-fired generating unit retirements, the required compliance steps will likely be unnecessary and wasteful for many coal plants because there are likely to be changes to the CCR Rule. These changes are expected as a result of the pending petition for reconsideration filed by the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group and the passage of the WIIN Act to authorize implementation of the CCR rule through state permit programs. As you know, we are very appreciative of the efforts by you and President Donald J. Trump to help the coal industry. Thank you for considering our request that the EPA postpone the CCR compliance deadlines. ! 15 15"' Street N VV I Suite 9(30 I VVarAingion, DC 20009 I 202,459,4.800 I vvww.anifcrica:spcnvi.:r,on' Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 2 ED 002061 00090523-00001 Sincerely, The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity Robert E. M urray Chairman Paul Bailey President and CEO 115 15"' Street N VV I Suite 9(30 I VVa::Tvhigion, DC 20009 I 202,454,4.800 I vvww.anifcrica:spcnvi.:r,on' Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 2 ED 002061 00090523-00002