Coal Combustion Residuals Part B Implementation

The CCR Part B Final Rule, published on November 12, 2020, allowed a limited number of facilities to demonstrate to EPA or a participating state director that, based on groundwater data and the design of a particular surface impoundment, the surface impoundment has and will continue to ensure there is no reasonable probability of adverse effects to human health and the environment. The regulations state that facilities had until November 30, 2020 to submit applications to EPA for approval, but since the effective date for the final rule was December 14, 2020, EPA accepted revisions or applications until December 14, 2020. 

This information is current as of 7/23/2026

On this page:

• Coronado Generating Station's Application
• EPA Proposed Determinations on Part B Demonstration Applications
• Facilities that Submitted Demonstrations for Alternate Liners

Coronado Generating Station’s Application 

On July 23, 2026, EPA announced the approval of the application submitted by the Coronado Generating Station in St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona that will allow the facility to submit an alternate liner demonstration. This approval allows the process to proceed to the second step of the process, the Demonstration phase. The deadline for the facility to cease receipt of waste into the Evaporation Pond is now tolled until EPA takes final action on the facility’s Demonstration.

This approval rescinds the Agency's previous January 2025 denial. After the denial, EPA conducted a supplemental technical review of the available information of the site’s geologic and hydrogeologic site conditions. After considering the totality of the available information and reviewing comments on the February 2026 proposed approval, EPA has determined that the application meets the standard for approval.

• Read a copy of the final approval (pdf)(434 KB).

Now that has EPA approved this application, the regulations provide the facility owner and operator with the opportunity to compile and submit additional site-specific information to EPA that demonstrates the long-term protectiveness of the alternative liner. This second step consists of a final demonstration intended to show whether there is a reasonable probability that releases from the Evaporation Pond throughout its active life may result in groundwater concentrations of certain constituents at statistically significant levels. During this stage, the facility must conduct additional sampling to fully characterize the site, as well as modeling of potential releases based on those data. The facility can continue to use the Evaporation Pond to manage CCR and other wastestreams while they are preparing the demonstration paperwork and while EPA is reviewing it. EPA will seek public comment on the information the facility submits before the agency makes a final determination on this alternate liner demonstration.

Background on Coronado Generating Station’s Application

On January 16, 2025, EPA announced the denial of the alternate liner demonstration application Coronado Generating Station in St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona, submitted in 2020. EPA denied the application because Coronado Generating Station failed to demonstrate that their surface impoundment complies with applicable requirements of the CCR regulations. Read the denial in the docket.

On March 20, 2025, EPA approved a request from the owner and operator of the Coronado Generating Station, Salt River Project, to extend the deadline to cease using the Coronado Generating Station Evaporation Pond due to grid reliability and resource adequacy concerns. Read the extension approval letter (pdf) (148.62 KB).

On April 25, 2025, Salt River Project requested a rescission of the January 2025 decision and an opportunity to address and resolve any concerns on the Part B application and demonstration. On September 10, 2025, EPA responded to Salt River Project’s request. Read EPA's response letter (pdf) (340.61 KB).

On February 13, 2026, EPA announced a proposal to rescind the previous denial and approve the alternate liner demonstration application that the Coronado Generating Station in St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona submitted in 2020. EPA accepted comments on this proposal through the docket through March 9, 2026. Access the proposal in the docket.

EPA Proposed Determinations on Part B Demonstration Applications

In 2020, eight facilities submitted demonstration applications. In 2021, one facility withdrew their application. On January 11, 2022, EPA determined that the remaining seven applications were complete. Another facility withdrew its application in the fall of 2022. 

On January 25, 2023, EPA proposed to deny the remaining six Part B demonstrations. The comment periods began on February 8, 2023, when the proposed determinations were posted in Regulations.gov. EPA extended the comment period deadlines to April 10, 2023. Access the proposed determinations in the memos opening the dockets for public comments:

• Belle River Power Plant, China Township, Michigan.
• Coal Creek Station in Underwood, North Dakota.
• Conemaugh Generating Station in New Florence, Pennsylvania.
• Martin Lake Steam Electric Station in Tatum, Texas.
• Monroe Power Plant, Monroe, Michigan.
• Refer to the section above for the history and links to the Coronado Generating Station in St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona documents.

Read the announcement of these proposals.

Four of these facilities withdrew their applications in 2023 and 2024.

Facilities that Have Submitted Alternate Liner Demonstrations