This bill sets up a national system for coal ash sites that plan to reuse their stored material. Certain lined ponds and landfills that handle coal ash can apply for a special “beneficial use staging” label if they meet safety rules like liners, groundwater monitoring, and other regulations, and if they file a plan showing how much ash they will remove for reuse, the schedule, possible recovery of critical minerals, and where the material will go. A site with this label cannot take in new coal ash, and must remove at least 25% of what it stores by set deadlines that depend on size: smaller sites have 5 years from when removal starts (or 7 years from designation), and larger sites have 10 years from when removal starts (or 12 years from designation). While a site follows the rules, it is treated like a sanitary landfill and cannot be forced to close earlier than the federal schedule; but its special label can be revoked if it fails to maintain required protections. The EPA must publish yearly, state-by-state reports starting March 1, 2026, showing how much coal ash is stored and removed, and how many sites lost their label; states must provide the needed data. States also may not enforce rules that conflict with this program for compliant sites.

Key points

• Who is affected: Owners/operators of coal ash ponds and landfills; state environmental programs; EPA .
• What changes: New optional designation for reuse-focused sites; strict liner and groundwater rules; no new ash allowed; must remove at least 25% by deadlines; possible revocation for noncompliance; annual public reporting; federal rules override conflicting state closures for compliant sites .
• When: Removal deadlines run 5/7 years for smaller sites and 10/12 years for larger sites; annual reports begin March 1, 2026; the special designation ends when the removal deadline arrives .