The US Environmental Protection Agency has identified 44 coal ash ponds as "high hazard", meaning that if the retaining structure were to fail they would post a threat to the people living nearby. The locations of the 44 sites have yet to be released to the general public by the EPA after consulting with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Homeland Security but a DHS spokeswoman indicated that "the Corps position was not the final word on the matter and could be reversed." US Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is speaking out against the decision citing "the critical importance of the public's right to know about threats in their communities."

Watch Sen. Boxer's June 12th Press Conference on Coal Ash:

The Charleston Gazette reports that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection earlier in the year identified six coal ash ponds that were categorized as "high hazard":

• Holz Dam - South Charleston, WV
• Scotts Run Cinder Barrier Dam - Belle, WV
• FMC Retention Dam - South Charleston, WV
• Conner Run Dam - Captina, WV
• McElroy's Flyash Dam - Eureka, WV
• Scary Creek Impoundment - Scary, WV

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet has it's own rating system that considers four coal ash ponds in the state to be high hazard. In the same report, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management declined to comment on whether any of the coal ash ponds in Indiana were on the EPA list.

To follow the recovery process of a coal ash pond that has failed view the Tennessee Valley Authority's page on the Kingston Ash Slide.

UPDATE (2009-07-07): EPA releases locations of impoundments.