North Carolina Regulators Shielded Duke's Coal Ash Pollution

[Redfairen]

Source: Associated Press

Over the last year, environmental groups have tried three times to use the federal Clean Water Act to force Duke Energy to clear out leaky coal ash dumps like the one that ruptured last week, spewing enough toxic sludge into a North Carolina river to fill 73 Olympic-sized pools.

Each time, they say, their efforts have been stymied — by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The state agency has blocked the citizen lawsuits by intervening at the last minute to assert its own authority under the federal act to take enforcement action. After negotiating with Duke, the state proposed settlements where the nation's largest electricity provider pays modest fines but is under no requirement to actually clean up its coal ash ponds.

Clean water advocates have long complained that state regulators are too cozy with the polluters they regulate. But they say that coordination and cooperation has become even more overt since the January 2013 inauguration of Gov. Pat McCrory, a pro-business Republican who worked at Duke Energy for 28 years.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=22426667&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fhl%3Den%26redir_esc%3D%26client%3Dms-android-att-us%26source%3Dandroid-browser-type%26v%3D133247963%26qsubts%3D1391972485380%26q%3Dnorth%2Bcarolina%2Bregulators%2Bduke%26v%3D133247963

[another_liberal]

1. Jail is too good for people like McCrory and the Duke Energy executives, let alone mere fines.

They should have to swim naked across the biggest of those waste lagoons once a day until the things are all completely cleaned up. Then, I trust, we'll see some goddamned action!

[The CCC]

5. Jail is too good for people like McCrory and the Duke Energy executives, let alone mere fines.

It used to be a Capital Crime to poison someones water. Now we make them governors.

[another_liberal]

6. We can make it a Capital crime once again. We do have the power.

We can also nationalize their stinking energy corporation, if they refuse to run it responsibly.

BTW: Welcome to DU, CCC.

[peoli]

2. Gov. Pat McCrory, a pro-business Republican who worked at Duke Energy for 28 years...

Thank you, ass hole.

[jsr]

8. That explains it all

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Remember folks, Art Pope OWNS North Carolina

he bought it, he runs it is, and this is not likely to change anytime soon.

[another_liberal]

7. We can make it change, and in a hurry.

All it will take is for enough people to get off their asses and try.

[Kelvin Mace]

24. If we can get enough people to the polls

and if we can get their votes to count. Remember, Pope and his gang at the GOP have rigged the elections to make it harder for the core Dem constituents to get to vote.

[another_liberal]

26. Nothing makes someone get out to vote . . .

It has been said that nothing makes someone get out to vote like telling them they won't be allowed to. Repressing the vote may work briefly in some instances, but it is a stupid, self-destructive tactic for any party to adopt. The Republicans will never win the support of those they have tried to disenfranchise, and their reputation overall will never recover from it. Wait and see what happens in November, or, better yet: Educate and Organize for November!

[Kelvin Mace]

27. The tactic worked VERY well for the original 80 year

Jim Crow era, and has a good chance of working just as well in our current Jim Crow II era.

I worked for 5 years with other activists to get NC's e-voting laws the toughest in the nation, and all of it is being undermined by voter ID laws, the elimination/severe curtailment of early voting, and new obstacles to voter registration.

Believe me when I say I hope you are right, but I have watched the state transform in the last decade from the most progressive state in the South, to a race to be just like South Carolina and Alabama.

[another_liberal]

28. That's why we have a voting rights act.

Things are very different this time around. Voter suppression is not as easy, and will not stand today. The Jim Crow era is over, even in North Carolina.

[Kelvin Mace]

29. The SCOTUS gutted a major portion of the CRA

Hell, even the GOP admits that, though they have no intention of undoing the damage.

[another_liberal]

30. Yes, sadly they did.

What is left, however, is still a powerful tool to ensure justice for the disenfranchised, and our A. G., Mr. Holder, is seemingly determined to use it in the case of N. C.

[Turbineguy]

4. It's ironic really.

For years the communists had the worst environmental record. And their economic ideas weren't a success either.

And in the U.S we have the republicans.

[DeSwiss]

9. I guess no one's checking for bribes.....

...because everyone's on the take. And I'm not sure bribery is still an offense anyways.

- K&R

[Phlem]

10. Dishonest regulators.

The cherry on top.

-p

[barbtries]

11. that is so scandalous

and nothing will be done probably while an entire river is destroyed.

[Jakes Progress]

12. Damn. Sounds like Texas

When did our governor move to NC?

[KeepItReal]

21. Damn. Sounds like Louisiana

Eom

[Fred Sanders]

13. Political/Business Corruption is being reported all over the place lately, bring the crimes to light

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/creeping-christieism

[ReRe]

14. Well, there goes North Carolina. n/t :-(

[PSPS]

15. "Gov. Pat McCrory, a pro-business Republican who worked at Duke Energy for 28 years."

Clean water advocates have long complained that state regulators are too cozy with the polluters they regulate. But they say that coordination and cooperation has become even more overt since the January 2013 inauguration of Gov. Pat McCrory, a pro-business Republican who worked at Duke Energy for 28 years.

In other words, Duke purchased North Carolina along with its residents, lock, stock and barrel.

[Populist_Prole]

19. He's held in high regard by stepford republicans around here

And my latent republican wanna-be yuppie friends worship the ground he walks on.

I always thought even back when I used to be a republican he was white-bread corporate dork.

[SoapBox]

16. Send these criminal creeps off to GITMO.

[glowing]

17. Seriously, if their names were Ali Muhammed something

And they came from the ME, we'd claim terrorist attacks against our natural resource, media cover would be wall to wall, and we'd be bombing someone by the end of the week. But it's big corporations with money and politicians and other gov officials on the take. It's a banana republic for real!

[frwrfpos]

18. DU rec

[NCarolinawoman]

20. Well that says it all.

Clear and concise. Environmentalists/scientists were fired or quit because they wouldn't toe the line.


Despicable McCrory and his Duke Power cronyism!

[Enthusiast]

22. This kind of thing isn't limited to North Carolina.

I suspect it is happening all over the nation. What a shame. Pure greed.

[blkmusclmachine]

23. ,

,

[Scuba]

25. Kick.