Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity, has traditionally been managed in landfills or surface impoundments. Coal ash landfills are categorized as industrial landfills in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations, while prior to 2016, surface impoundments were previously exempt from permitting under these regulations.

Facilities that manage coal ash are listed on the left. Visit these pages to view status and associated documents.

State Permit Program

Virginia is currently in the process of seeking EPA approval for the state's Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) permit program.  The Virginia Waste Management Board recently adopted amendments to Virginia's Solid Waste Management Regulations, incorporating by reference all amendments to Subpart D of 40 CFR257, Standards for the Disposal of CCR in Landfills and Surface Impoundments (CCR Rule), promulgated as of December 14, 2020.  This incorporation became effective on January 15, 2025, and expanded upon previous rule incorporations that became effective in Virginia on January 27, 2016, and May 3, 2017.  In addition to incorporating the CCR Rule requirements, Virginia added additional requirements to its existing solid waste permitting program requiring facilities to apply for new or modified solid waste permits for CCR landfills and surface impoundments, as applicable.  Such permit applications are reviewed and issued following the same procedures as Virginia's municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill permit program, which was partially approved in 1993 and 1994, and fully approved in 2003. DEQ submitted an official request for CCR Permit Program approval on June 6, 2025.  EPA reviewed the application and provided comments in September 2025.  DEQ submitted a revised application addressing EPA comments on March 4, 2026. 

On April 30, EPA announced the proposed approval of Virginia's CCR Permit Program.  The Federal Register notice published May 4, 2026, and announced a hybrid public hearing on June 24, 2026, starting at 9 am in the Training Room at the Virginia DEQ Piedmont Regional Office at 494-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060.  EPA will accept comments on this proposal through July 6, 2026.  For more information or to register for the public hearing visit the EPA public hearing webpage.  Additional information and documents are available at the EPA State of Virginia CCR Permit Program and EPA Docket EPA-HQ-OLEM-2025-3325 webpages.   

Permit Application

Requirements for coal combustion residual (CCR) landfills and surface impoundments to obtain or modify solid waste permits was added to Virginia's regulations in 2016. Applications follow the same Notice of Intent, Part A, Part B, and public participation process as outlined for solid waste landfill permits. To assist owners and operators of new and existing CCR landfills and surface impoundments prepare permit applications, DEQ developed Submission Instruction No. 29: Additional Permit Application Requirements for Coal Combustion Residuals Units.

Additional closure requirements were also written into the Waste Management Act in 2019 and 2020, so permit applications for affected CCR units must also address the requirements therein:

On May 8, 2024, the EPA finalized changes to the federal CCR rule for inactive surface impoundments at inactive electric utilities, commonly referred to as the "Legacy Rule."  DEQ is reviewing the Legacy Rule and working with electric utilities to ensure facilities prepare evaluation reports and initiate closure and groundwater monitoring where required.