North Carolina defends coal ash oversight after second leak

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

North Carolina defends coal ash oversight after second leak

BY MARTI MAGUIRE
RALEIGH, North Carolina Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:55pm EST

(Reuters) - North Carolina state officials defended their oversight of coal ash ponds on Wednesday, a day after a second leak was found to be threatening a river already tainted by toxic sludge from a spill earlier this month.

The state ordered Duke Energy Corp on Tuesday to plug the second leak of arsenic-laced wastewater into the Dan River from its decommissioned Eden power plant, this time through a 36-inch stormwater pipe.

The state's Department of Natural Resources (DNER) said the leak had been 90 percent contained.

The agency has come under fire for its handling of the state's coal ash ponds, which it concedes are contaminating groundwater as well as harming aquatic life. It filed suit against Duke last year, and then proposed a settlement, which is opposed by environmental groups.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-usa-northcarolina-spill-idUSBREA1I0ER20140219

[11 Bravo]

1. The state went on to say that there would be no fine, but that Duke Energy could expect ...

a seriously stern verbal reprimand sometime in the future!

[Historic NY]

2. Maybe they should be made to drink the water and eat the fish...

they'd change their tune PDQ.

[alarimer]

3. Mccory and Skvarla belong in prison

But unfortunately I think some regular state employees will take the fall for it. Which they may well deserve, but I don't think it will be any of McCrory's pets who will tumble.

Of course, I'm only speaking for myself here and I have no particular insight into this mess. I think it's been an issue for some time, really. I can't really say how much McCrory has to do with it, except that he used to work for Duke Energy before he was mayor of Charlotte.

[theHandpuppet]

4. Rachel Maddow devoted a segment of her show to this tonight

Must be posted online somewhere already. She was spot-on, as usual!