Did you know that there are toxic wet ash dumps in the U.S.? 584 of them, in fact. They're spread out in 35 states. Essentially, ash from coal-fired power plants collects, with wet dumps proving particularly hazardous in terms of cancer and other health risks. The Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate power plants' ash disposal.

As a result, in December 2008, over 1 billion gallons of coal ash sludge from Tennessee's Kingston Fossil Plant flooded the Emory River area following a coal ash pond dike collapse. In addition to devastating area water sources and wildlife habitats, the ash flood destroyed a number of area homes.