Dec 11, 2020 A coalition of environmental groups challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's rollback of a rule that will delay the closure of some coal ash ponds. Earthjustice lawyers representing the organizations said many of the utilities seeking exemptions allowed by the revised rule would be in the process of closing the impoundments. They said the rollback of the 2015 Coal Combustion Residual Rule provides exemptions and loopholes that could delay closure of some ash ponds until 2038. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in July the rollback would give "electric utilities enough time to retrofit or replace unlined impoundment ponds." The 2015 rule required utilities to cease dumping coal ash and initiate closure of all impoundments by April 2019.Â