July 14, 2026 - The EPA will unveil on Tuesday a new plan to let more coal plants benefit from a pending coal ash rule.

The advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeks to extend coverage offered in an April 2026 proposal—which isn’t yet final—to states that drag their feet on adopting those rules.

The April proposal would give coal combustion residual facilities different ways to certify the closure of legacy coal ash impoundments, let permitting authorities make site-specific determinations for a range of required actions, and widen the definition of beneficial use.

But that rule, if finalized, would only apply to federal permits.