The state Department of Environmental Quality has extended the public comment periods for two draft consent orders that will establish agreements for Duke Energy to drain coal ash ponds more quickly at the company’s Buck, Belews Creek, Mayo and Roxboro facilities. The consent orders will allow the utility to close out the impoundments earlier than the deadline that is required by the state Coal Ash Management Act.
Copies of the draft consent orders and related documents are available on the department’s website at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/npdes-wastewater-permits. The new deadline for submitting comments on the Buck and Belews Creek facilities’ consent order is May 31. The new deadline for submitting comments on the Mayo and Roxboro facilities’ consent order is June 1.
Comments may be submitted by email to publiccomments@ncdenr.gov with the facility names in the email's subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to Mr. Bob Sledge, NPDES Permitting, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1617.