mr. stanislaus good morning and thank you for joining us. it poses serious threats to our health and environment. that is why i'm pleased epa has finally set national criteria for disposal of coal ash and states have requirements to to follow. as i stated earlier, i would have preferred a stronger rule. public health and virmtal alenvironmental advocates say they would have preferred a stronger rule. but the rule does have safeguards. i would like to go over important protections of the rule with you to ensure disposal sites are not located in dangerous areas, it puts in place five restricti see if i'm interpreting them correctly. structures will not be allowed close to aquifers or wetlands, seismic impact zones and unstable areas. is that indeed correct? >> that is correct. they have to do analysis with respect to those location requirements and demonstrate whether they can safely operate and putting engineering measures to prevent any impacts. >> proposals we have seen would have included five restrictions to permit a small aquifer buffer.

mr. stanislaus -- and i thank you invest much because we've had a good working relationship. you said in 2013 that the legislation that we passed was something that you could work with. we want to keep that relationship going to come up with certainty. so the bottom line unfortunately, we have a regulation that doesn't provide certainty. it would be wise for the committee to once again pass the legislation that we've done over the last two years and bring closure to this issue. thank you and i yield back my time. >> gentleman's time expired. >> it was nice saying that. so welcome. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i also wanted to start by congratulating my colleague from new york, mr. tonko by continuing his role of ranking member on this important subcommittee. i think i can speak for all members on our side of the aisle when i say we appreciate your expertise and leadership on environmental issues paul. let me just turn to topic today. i'd like to commend the epa for finalizing national criteria for coal ash disposal. these criteria will for the first time provide the framework

mr. stanislaus good morning and thank you for joining us.t poses serious threats to our health and environment. that is why i'm pleased epa has finally set national criteria for disposal of coal ash and states have requirements to follow. as i stated earlier, i would have preferred a stronger rule. public health and virmtal alenvironmental advocates say they would have preferred a stronger rule. but the rule does have safeguards. i would like to go over important protections of the rule with you to ensure disposal sites are not located in dangerous areas, it puts in place five restrictions to see if i'm interpreting them correctly. structures will not be allowed close to aquifers or wetlands seismic impact zones and unstable areas. is that indeed correct? >> that is correct. they have to do analysis with respect to those location requirements and demonstrate whether they can safely operate and putting engineering measurements to any impacts. >> proposals we have seen would have included five restrictions to permit a small aquifer buffer. i a