Déjà vu all over again: Another coal ash spill

Here we go again: Pete Altman at NRDC's Switchboard [1] reports yet another coal ash spill--and this one could reach the nation's capital:

The Maryland Department of the Environment just reported [2] that a ruptured pipeline carrying wet coal ash has spilled 4,000 gallons of the toxic-laden stuff into the North Branch of the Potomac River, in Allegheny County, PA.

I don't know how long it'll take for the spill to reach DC proper, but its a hell of a way to send a message about how much we need to regulate the handling of this stuff. All the more reason to thank the Obama Administration for announcing plans [3] to propose federal regulations for coal waste.

Is that what it will take for Congress to finally clamp down on new coal power plants? For the coal sludge to literally reach their doorsteps? I guess it's time for another round of these: Tell Congress to pass a federal moratorium on new coal power plants [4]!