There's alot of non-point source pollution associated with coal plants. There is a horrendous amount of heavy machinery needed just to get the coal, and maintain it in the first place, not including what the plant alone makes.
Nuclear plants are far better in that respect, because the fuel last so much longer. If most radioactive elements weren't so dense, the space program would of been the best disposal method, unfortunately it's cheaper to just bury it or submerege it for several thousand years