Moving Forward with Coal Ash

Addressing coal ash at facilities across North Carolina

• A map of coal ash facilities and storage ponds can be found here. 
• A major thrust of DEQ’s work has been gathering comprehensive data about coal ash facilities statewide. The information is essential as DEQ prioritizes closure plans for all 14 facilities with coal ash storage ponds.
• Duke Energy must provide state officials with comprehensive information as part of Governor McCrory’s Executive Order 62 on coal ash and the Coal Ash Management Act.
• Public and private drinking water wells within 1,500 feet of each facility were evaluated for numerous constituents that could indicate the presence of any contamination associated with coal ash.

• Officials with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality have established health-protective performance standards for the water filtration systems to be installed in eligible homes near Duke Energy’s 14 coal ash facilities. Duke Energy is required by state law to provide either water filtration systems or hookups to municipal water for each household that has a drinking water supply well within half a mile of a coal ash pond’s compliance boundary. The performance standards for water filtration systems provided by Duke Energy adhere to North Carolina’s health-based groundwater quality standards. In cases where there is not a groundwater or drinking water standard for a contaminant, DEQ used its proposed interim standard to ensure the safety of the drinking water. Information about the performance standards can be found here.

• DEQ is evaluating the utility’s existing wastewater discharge permits, as well as reviewing wastewater permit renewals and stormwater permit applications for the coal ash facilities. The stormwater and wastewater permits will be subject to public comment periods that will include public hearings.
• Staff with the department’s dam safety program inspected all 32 coal ash impoundments and reviewed video of the piping systems at each facility. The state program identified 63 areas of concern at 30 coal ash impoundments and directed Duke to provide repair plans. The department received all 63 plans and has reviewed and approved nearly half of them

Coal Ash Excavation & Disposal