WASHINGTON (AP) — A West Virginia Democrat is introducing legislation that would set the first federal standards for coal ash ponds at power plants.

The legislation comes after two recent spills from coal waste ponds in Tennessee and Alabama highlighted the lack of federal regulation.

The bill introduced by Rep. Nick Rahall would direct the Interior Depart-ment to set uniform design and engineering standards for coal ash ponds at power plants. The agency already has similar regulations for coal slurry ponds at coal mines.

Other lawmakers are pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to develop standards for coal ash ponds. President-elect Obama’s pick to head the EPA said Wednesday at a Senate hearing that she would take another look at setting federal standards.