Alva Review-Courier -

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday approved the first state permit program for disposal of toxic ash from coal plants, a switch from federal oversight that the coal industry had sought.

Coal ash is the residue left after burning coal to generate power. Utilities around the country have reported groundwater contamination with arsenic, radium and other pollutants at coal-burning power plants, where landfills and man-made ponds have been used for decades as dumping grounds for coal ash, according to data released by plant owners....