Federal environmental regulators on Friday decided not to label coal ash a hazardous waste, but did impose tighter controls on its handling, its disposal and in situations where it already threatens ground water.

The ruling establishes the first federal regulations on coal ash and its storage ponds. But the new mandate leaves states to shoulder the burden of administering their own regulations and supervising standards at least as stringent as the new federal rules.

In practical terms, the ruling appears to give a go-ahead to laws such as the North Carolina Coal Ash Management Act that legislators approved earlier this year. The measure that took effect without the signature of Gov. Pat McCrory, who said he liked much of it but questioned the constitutionality of one aspect.

+2 State coal ash commission hires first staff members The Coal Ash Management Commission has hired two support staff members, according to a N.C. Department of Public Safety news release.

But North Carolina’s new law appears to exceed the federal requirements. The new Tar Heel legislation requires closure of all coal ash ponds statewide by 2029, while the new federal regulations would allow continued operation of storage lagoons that are not leaking or otherwise threatening the environment.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy described the new rules as laying the groundwork for “a common-sense path forward” during a 30-minute conference call with reporters Friday afternoon.

“The EPA is taking action to protect our communities from the risk of mismanaged coal ash disposal units, and putting in place safeguards to help prevent the next catastrophic coal ash impoundment failure,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy mentioned the last winter's coal ash spill into the Dan River from the retired Dan River Steam Station near Eden as one of the incidents that demonstrate the need for federal standards.