CHEYENNE, WYOMING – The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is pleased to announce that its Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) permit program has officially received partial approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), effective today, March 30, 2026.
This milestone follows the EPA’s February 26, 2026, publication in the Federal Register, which authorized Wyoming to implement its own state-led permitting program for the management of coal ash. With this approval, Wyoming becomes one of only five states—alongside Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, and North Dakota—to receive the authority to implement CCR standards at the state level.
“This approval is the result of years of technical work and collaboration between the DEQ, the Governor’s Office, and EPA,” said DEQ Director Todd Parfitt. “By assuming primacy, Wyoming ensures that the management and disposal of coal combustion residuals are overseen by state experts who understand our unique local environment, providing more efficient and effective implementation of the coal combustion residual regulations.”
The path toward state primacy gained significant momentum on August 28, 2025, during a signing ceremony at the Wyoming State Capitol. There, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposed the approval of Wyoming’s program, supported by Governor Mark Gordon, Senator Cynthia Lummis and EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. Following a public comment period that concluded in late 2025, the EPA finalized the decision to grant Wyoming partial permit program authority.
While this partial approval marks a significant shift in oversight, the EPA must conclude outstanding national rulemakings before states can receive full permit program approval. In the interim, the DEQ remains committed to working with Wyoming’s power utilities to ensure compliance with all state and federal standards.
For more information on Wyoming’s CCR program and the regulatory transition, please visit the DEQ website at https://deq.wyoming.gov/shwd/solid-waste/coal-combustion-residual-ccr/