{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d59cae92-dc37-416e-bfb7-9998039c2dc6", "Heitkamp Statement on EPA Designation of Coal Ash as Non-Hazardous", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement on the new federal decision designating coal ash as non-hazardous material, and to leaving decisions on how to enforce new standards for disposal to the states:\r\nIn North Dakota, we understand the value of our resources  and we work hard to make them count, said Heitkamp. Thats why Ive been pushing our federal agencies not to overregulate materials that we have used safely in construction projects for years  like coal ash  by making it clear that these materials are not hazardous and that the federal government trusts our states to make responsible decisions when it comes to disposing or recycling this material. Ive been making this point to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for a long time now  both before she was confirmed as administrator, and when I brought her to North Dakota last winter  and Im glad to see that her agency took our states needs to heart. As we continue to look at the details of these new standards to fully understand how they will impact North Dakota, Ill keep seeking input from our utilities, construction industry, and environmental representatives throughout our state to make sure we provide as much certainty for them as possible, while maintaining the proper safeguards to make sure coal ash is managed in a safe and responsible way.\r\nHeitkamp has long held the position that coal ash should be treated as non-hazardous material, and therefore should not be classified or regulated as a hazardous substance. In multiple conversations with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy  both before McCarthys confirmation as the head of the agency, as well as during her visit to North Dakota in February  Heitkamp pushed for the EPA to issue standards clarifying that coal ash is not hazardous, to put in place tough but reasonable monitoring and disposal requirements, and to allow states to determine how they want to recycle the material, so that it can continue to be re-used for new buildings and construction in North Dakota.\r\nTodays announcement from the EPA puts in place standards to make sure that coal ash, which the agency designated as a non-hazardous material, is stored away from environmental areas, including wetlands and earthquake zones. The rule relies on statewide action and public input for enforcement, and does not allow for any federal intervention.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d59cae92-dc37-416e-bfb7-9998039c2dc6"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6785170882940292, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}