The Environmental Protection Agency announced approval of an application submitted by Salt River Project (SRP) permitting continued operation of an unlined coal ash disposal pond at the Coronado Generating Station located in Apache County, Arizona. The application was intended to demonstrate that the unlined pond poses no risk to groundwater or the surrounding environment. However, the pond has previously been documented as violating EPA standards establishing minimum safety requirements for coal ash disposal and monitoring procedures.
Unlined coal ash storage facilities are documented to experience leakage that can contaminate groundwater, rivers, and streams. Coal ash contains substances including mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic, which are associated with serious health effects. The EPA’s approval enables SRP to continue depositing material into the pond while the utility prepares additional documentation for agency review.
The regulatory history of this site shows shifting positions from federal authorities. In January 2025, the EPA initially rejected SRP’s proposal to proceed with wastewater management at the site and declined the utility’s request to extend the pond’s closure timeline. The agency subsequently reversed its position in February, proposing to grant SRP’s request for regulatory relief and wastewater requirement exemptions. The current approval formalizes this reversal.
The Coronado facility ranks among Arizona’s significant coal ash disposal sites, with documented cumulative deposits exceeding 16 million cubic yards. Environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and Earthjustice submitted formal comments in March opposing the proposed approval, calling for the EPA to reinstate its prior denial decision. Environmental advocates have characterized the decision as prioritizing industrial operations over public health protection and community safety.
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