EPA Proposes To Approve Louisiana's Coal Combustion Residuals Permit Program

Washington — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the approval of the state of Louisiana’s coal combustion residuals (CCR) permit program application. If finalized, the action would shift authority for permitting CCR disposal in surface impoundments and landfills from the federal government to the state. This proposal advances EPA’s broader effort to restore American energy dominance, strengthen cooperative federalism, and protect human health and the environment.

“Today's proposed approval is a win for cooperative federalism and for Louisiana,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “By empowering the state's experts who understand their communities and energy industry best, we're protecting human health, delivering the regulatory certainty industry needs, and helping Power the Great American Comeback.”

“EPA’s commitment to cooperative federalism is vital to our nation achieving energy dominance,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “By approving Louisiana’s CCR program, EPA is ensuring the Pelican State has the freedom to determine how best to utilize their own energy industry without regulatory overlap. The Trump Administration knows that states are in the best position to implement their own environmental programs while powering our nation’s energy economy.”

After reviewing the application from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, EPA is proposing that the program meets all the standards for approval.

If finalized, Louisiana would become the sixth state to receive CCR program approval under the Trump EPA.

Under the Trump Administration, EPA has made significant progress working with states as they seek to manage their own CCR programs. EPA will continue working with state partners to prioritize timely action and empower those with local expertise to oversee more effective CCR disposal operations. The agency anticipates proposing CCR permit program decisions for at least three additional states in the near future.

EPA will hold a 60-day public comment period, which will include a public hearing on July 21, 2026. For more information, register for the public hearing or visit the Louisiana CCR permit program webpage.

Background   

On March 12, 2025, EPA committed to taking swift action on CCR, including state permit program reviews and updates to the CCR regulations. Since then, EPA has approved permit programs for North Dakota and Wyoming. Approved states cannot have CCR regulations and policies that are less protective of human health and the environment than the federal regulations.

On April 9, 2026, EPA proposed several revisions to the federal regulations governing the disposal of CCR and the beneficial use of CCR. This proposal would promote resource recovery, allow for site-specific considerations in permitting, provide regulatory relief while continuing to protect human health and the environment, and ensure continued transparency. Earlier in 2026, EPA announced a final rule that extends the compliance deadlines for CCRMU requirements. This action provides additional time to meet facility evaluation requirements and to comply with groundwater monitoring provisions.

Additionally, in November 2025, EPA proposed to extend an alternative closure requirement deadline. This deadline extension would promote electric grid reliability by allowing a subset of coal-fired power producers to continue to operate.