More than 1.3 million tons of toxic coal ash sludge are stored in ponds and landfills at Missouri and Illinois power plants. About 300 similar sites are located across the country. Federal environmental officials say 44 of them — one out of seven — pose potentially significant hazards to surrounding communities.

Coal ash is made up of bottom ash — what falls out after coal is burned — and fly ash, the stuff that's scrubbed out of coal smoke. Coal ash is nasty; i ...

( Back to Article )