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Jacksonville Community Shared Testimony on Coal Ash Pollution and Demanded Stronger Protections
JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Yesterday, Jacksonville residents joined advocates and environmental leaders from across the country to participate in a public hearing regarding EPA’s attempt to roll back its Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule, a move which experts warn would put communities, waterways, and public health at greater risk. During the more than eight-hour hearing, participants shared testimony about the ongoing impacts of coal ash pollution in Jacksonville and communities nationwide, urging the EPA to strengthen safeguards for neighborhoods near coal ash disposal sites.
“As someone who spends so much time around these facilities, I worry about what people are breathing in and what may already be getting into our groundwater and environment,” said Gary Lamp, a local semi truck driver. “I worry about workers, nearby neighborhoods, and future generations who will still be dealing with this contamination long after these plants stop operating.”
Raul Kahle, a local community volunteer, said that it is “dumbfounding that the EPA would decrease safety regulations rather than increase them.” He urged the committee to “uphold the mission of the EPA as detailed on their Website.”
