State environmental department notified of possible coal ash release

The state environmental department was notified late Friday of the possible release of coal ash from an inactive pond at the H.F. Lee facility in Wayne County. Duke Energy reported that erosion caused by flooding from Hurricane Matthew may have led to the discharge of an unknown amount of coal ash. There is no indication of structural failure at this time.

Water resources and dam safety teams from the state environmental department will be onsite Saturday to assess any potential environmental impact. The department has mandated that the H.F. Lee plant be fully excavated because it is located in the floodplain.