Belews Creek Steam Station Coal Ash Closure Plan
Under a settlement agreement with community and environmental groups and Duke Energy that ends the appeal litigation, Duke Energy will move forward with excavation plans at the Belews Creek Steam Station and dispose of ash in a lined onsite landfill.
Duke submitted a closure plan by the December 31, 2019 deadline, as required by the Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) of 2016 and in accordance with the agreement. On August 17, 2020, DEQ issued its approval for the closure plan. Access historical Public Meetings.
Division of Air Quality
Public Notice of June 21 Public Hearing
Draft Environmental Justice Report
Division of Waste Management
Permit 8506-INDUS-2021, Belews Creek Ash Basin Landfill
- Ash Basin Landfill Permit to Construct Cover Letter, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Ash Basin Landfill Permit to Construct, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Ash Basin Landfill Hearing Officers Report, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Public Hearing Presentation, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Ash Basin Landfill Factsheet, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Ash Basin Landfill Documentation, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Public Notice, Belews Creek Steam Station - Public Hearing on May 25, 2021
- DRAFT Envrionmental Justice Report, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Site Study, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Geological and Hydrogeological Report, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Notification of Site Suitability, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Engineering and Facility Plan, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Technical Specifications, Construction Quality Assurance Plan, Closure and Post-Closure Plan, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Environmental Controls Monitoring Plan, Belews Creek Steam Station
- Operations Plan, Belews Creek Steam Station
Division of Water Resources
The Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) provides three principal closure pathways:
- Option A: closure in a manner allowed for a high-risk site, such as excavation and disposal in a lined landfill
- Option B: closure with a cap-in-place system similar to the requirements for a municipal solid waste landfill
- for this option, there is a further requirement that upon full implementation of the closure plan, the groundwater must be in compliance with the 2L standard at the compliance boundary of the impoundment.
- Option C: closure in accordance with the federal CCR rule adopted by the EPA.
After conducting a rigorous scientific review of Duke Energy’s proposals for Belews Creek, and conducting public listening sessions in impacted communities, DEQ has determined Option A is the only closure option that meets the requirements of Coal Ash Management Act to best protect public health and the environment. Coal ash must be excavated and moved to a lined landfill.
DEQ's Coal Ash Impoundment Closure Determination (April 1, 2019)
Preliminary Groundwater Flow and Transport Modeling (Fate Transport)
Community Impact Analysis (NEBA)
Comprehensive Site Assessment -- Report, Figures, Tables, and Appendices