In 2014, structural issues came to the fore when an estimated 39,000 tons of coal ash spilled into the Dan River in Eden after a stormwater pipe beneath an ash pond at Duke Energys Dan River Steam Station ruptured Feb. 2. 900 S. Edgewood RD.Eden, NC 27288 And while the company says local State discharge permits for such facilities are extremely lax, in many cases expired, and they completely ignore the issue of leaking contamination from coal-ash impoundments, Mr. Harrison said. No. migratory birds, including songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, and others; lands, including wetlands, flood plain, and instream; aquatic and terrestrial plants, invertebrates, including the federally listed endangered Jamesspinymussel (, habitat for trustee species, including food, shelter, breeding areas, and other factors. ICE Limitations. The study included Mountain Island Lake, which is used for drinking water in Charlotte. @PatMcCroryNC http://bit.ly/MgpSFc, We need @PatMcCroryNC to stand up for clean water & wildlife hold @DukeEnergy accountable for Dan River spill http://bit.ly/MgpSFc, RT to hold @DukeEnergy accountable for the Dan River coal ash spill and endangering wildlife! disaster --like the coal ash spill this past February into North Carolina's Dan . Associated Press On February 2, 2014, officials estimate up to 39,000 tons of coal ash spilled from Duke Energy's Dan River Steam Station into the Dan River in Eden, N.C., about 80 miles upstream from the Kerr Reservoir. Dan River Coal Ash Spill - USGS More information about EPAs response to the release of coal ash in the Dan River. while still providing environmental safeguards.. The estimated volume of ash released is between 50,000 tons and 82,000 tons. The estimated volume of ash released is between 50,000 tons and 82,000 tons. A Duke Energy vice-president said the [8] What resulted was 39 thousand tons of coal ash and 27 million gallons of ash pond water were deposited into the Dan River. Content Protected Copyright 2023 NRDAR. late 2008, several million cubic yards of coal ash spilled into a The river is a drinking water source for communities in North Carolina and Virginia. Contact Information . Coal ash, which contains many of the world's worst carcinogens, is what's left over when coal is burnt for electricity. On February 2, 2014, up to 39,000 tons of coal ash and 27 million gallons of contaminated water spilled out into the Dan River in North Carolina after a pipe broke underneath a coal ash pond at a Duke Energy power plant. The state program identified 63 areas of concern at 30 coal ash impoundments and directed Duke to provide repair plans. Tell North Carolina Governor McCroryto take action to protect wildlife and communities from coal ash and to hold Duke Energy accountable for this devastating spill. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Map of coal ash ponds in the southeastern U.S. and major hurricane tracks (> category 3) during the last two decades. Toxic coal ash spills into the Dan River. Additionally, Duke Energy will pay EPA $2 million in past and future response costs associated with the spill. The ambiguous status of coal ash has The N.C. Division of Air Quality regulates the handling and burning of coal for power production, but the agency is not typically involved in the regulation of coal ash. It is the left over impurities that stick around after burning coal for electricity. summarizes the response, ongoing activities . Authority facility in Kingston an Reproduction in whole or in part in It is usually collected in a dump, known as a pond. But in North Carolina last month, Both environmental activists Livestock has access to the river, and the river is used for crop irrigation. Coal ash, which contains many of the world's worst carcinogens, is what's left over when coal is burnt for electricity. [20] Duke also agreed to pay fines to North Carolina and Virginia ($2.5 million). 82,000 Tons Of Coal Ash Spill From Plant Into North Carolina River The issue has political and economic The department received all 63 plans and has reviewed and approved nearly half of them. Duke Energy agrees to remove coal ash in North Carolina An official website of the United States government. [20][21] Federal prosecutors found this fine to be suspiciously low, and investigated both Duke Energy and the state regulators. Published 9:44 PM EST, Tue December 7, 2021 Link Copied! High concentrations of contaminants in coal ash pose environmental risks, particularly when coal ash solids spill into the environment. This agreement is a historic cleanup of coal ash pollution in North Carolina, and the Department of Environmental Quality and community groups throughout the state have provided essential leadership in obtaining it, said Southern Environmental Law Center senior attorney Frank Holleman in a written statement. Millions of gallons of sludge from a retired Duke Energy coal-fired power plant spilled into a river that supplies drinking water for North Carolinians and Virginians. Also,approximately 27 million gallons of ash pond water waste released. The Dan River coal ash spill is the third largest in U.S. history. The engineering report describes steps executed by Duke to improve the structural durability of post-release impoundments and storm sewer lines running under their coal ash impoundments. Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into [3] This catastrophe occurred at the site of the Dan River Steam Station, a retired coal power plant which had ceased operation in 2012. On February 2, 2014, up to 39,000 tons of coal ash and 27 million gallons of contaminated water spilled out into the Dan River in North Carolina after a pipe broke underneath a coal . Official websites use .gov [13], The coal ash will never be fully removed from the river. Both Duke and the Dan River Basin Association, a regional conservation group, said the leaks impact on wildlife remained unclear. North Carolina's Attorney General Josh Stein and Duke Energy said Monday they have reached a settlement on coal ash clean-up expenses under which customers are expected to save more than $1.1 . Keith Weisinger press statement, a large storm pipe under an ash basin at a 3 March 6 , 2014. One of the more important species affected by this spill is probably not an animal you think about every day: bugs. regulation of a major industrial waste product. This site information update . This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 19:11. There have been no exceedances in human health screening in the surface water and sediment samples collected from the Kerr Reservoir for the contaminants of concern. An estimated 113 million tons of coal ash are produced annually in the US, and stored in almost every state some of it literally in people's backyards. The other 2 million dollars is allocated to EPA to address future response methods needed in order to clean up the Dan River. [11] The organization has been periodically comparing the retrieved water/sediment chemistry data to ecological risk screening levels (ERSLs) to assess risk to aquatic and plant life. Generators of coal ash are required by state law to obtain a permit from the N.C. Division of Waste Management before operating a landfill to dispose of dry coal ash. Left: It is also a recreational water body used for subsistence fishing as well as canoeing and kayaking and is a source of drinking water to residents in North Carolina and Virginia. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Duke Energy will remove coal ash from the Allen, Belews Creek, Cliffside, Marshall, Mayo and Roxboro sites into on-site lined landfills. [10] This material was released into the Dan River because of the collapse of a 48 inch drain pipe. It then flows into Rockingham County. The N.C. Division of Water Resources also regulates the reuse of coal ash or coal combustion residuals - for concrete, brick, cover for landfills, overlay for roads and driveways, material for traction on roads during snow or ice events and a host of other beneficial uses. Spill spews tons of coal ash into North Carolina river Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Updated 6:29 PM EST, Sun February 9, 2014 Link Copied! Public and private drinking water wells within 1,500 feet of each facility are being evaluated for numerous constituents that could indicate the presence of any contamination associated with coal ash. Cleaning up coal ash pollution - SELC - Southern Environmental Law Center In addition to the coal ash, 27 million gallons of wastewater from the plant was released into the river. of The state said it began testing the Dans waters on Tuesday for the presence of 28 toxic metals. many of which did not have the safeguards needed to keep the ash [22] Many newspaper editorials alleged that Duke Energy's environmental safety controls were lax and that the company "bullied" regulators. [22], After the incident, Duke Energy was prosecuted by a number of agencies, and substantial evidence was presented indicating that company officials knew about numerous coal ash leaks in various plants including the Eden facility and declined to resolve it or provide local plant administrators the funds they were requesting to monitor and mitigate the problems. combustion residuals. This site information update summarizes the response, ongoing activities, and next steps. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/duke-energy-agrees-to-remove-coal-ash-in-north-carolina, These 4 changes helped Trump and Democrats agree to the USMCA trade deal. Gerry Broome/AP Multiple evidence for presence of coal ash solids in bottom sediments collected in 2015 and 2018from Sutton Lake in North Carolina. recreational uses such as sport fishing, water-contact recreation, boating, canoeing, hiking,nature observation, hunting, and other activities. On February 2, 2014 a drainage pipe burst at a coal ash containment pond owned by Duke Energy in Eden, North Carolina, sending 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River. North Carolina coal ash spill draws new focus to controversial would allow local conservation groups to take part in Activity started quickly to reuse coal ash currently stored at several Duke Energy plants. About 82,000 tons of coal ash mixed with 27 million gallons of contaminated water enough to fill more than 40 Olympic swimming pools has leaked from a North Carolina power plant and is . The . Please enter valid email address to continue. A 48 slip-joint concrete and corrugated steel storm sewer line that runs under the ash pond failed. @PatMcCroryNC pic.twitter.com/l1TXqaph5A, Wildlife Action (@wildlifeaction) February 13, 2014. PO Box 1583, Merrifield, VA 22116-1583 In part one, VICE News travels to North Carolina to visit a river that's been poisoned with arsenic from a nearby Duke Energy site, speak with a resident who has found toxic heavy metals in her drinking water, and question a Duke Energy spokesperson about the power company's policies. river in Tennessee, federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, EPA officials have reportedly shown support, Southern Environmental Law Center filed motions, state enforcement efforts to clean up coal ash pollutants at Duke Energy sites, EPArevealed there were hundreds of coal ash dumps across the country. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The state of North Carolina says it has secured an agreement with Duke Energy to excavate nearly 80 million tons (72.5 million metric tons) of coal ash at six facilities. Worsening environment is deadly but not hopeless, UN report says. At least 30,000 tons of arsenic-laced coal ash were released into North Carolina's Dan River in early February when a pipe broke under Duke Energy Corp's 27-acre (11-hectare) ash pond . Attempts to secure release were reported to be unsuccessful. This page is not available in other languages. 2 . Dan River - Wikipedia [24] On May 2, 2014, Duke Energy and EPA agreed to a 3 million dollar cleanup agreement. Eden, Rockingham County, NC. Bad River Band Responds to Line 5 Shutdown Order, National Wildlife Federation Embraces New Vision Statement Centering Wildlife, People, and Ecosystems, Climate Education Program in New York City Provides Hope, Getting to the Other Side: Helping Wildlife Cross the Road, 50 Years of the Endangered Species Act: A Gulf Coast Success Story, A Bold Plan to Protect and Restore the Ohio River Basin.
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