Environmentalists call for stricter coal ash regulations | Plus

ATLANTA — As federal regulators prepare to reject Alabama’s plan for storing toxic coal ash, Georgia activists are calling for the same in their state.

Coal ash is a byproduct of burning coal to make electricity. It contains dangerous toxins like mercury and cadmium that can seep into groundwater if the ash isn’t stored properly. There are millions of tons of it in states with coal-fired power plants, and following regulations rolled out several years ago, utilities and states are now addressing how to store it safely.