RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a hearing for public comment about the plan to excavate coal ash at Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station on Tuesday Feb. 18, beginning at 6 p.m.
The public session will start with a meeting to provide information and answer questions immediately followed by a public hearing to record public comments. All comments received by March 10, 2020 will be considered in determining whether the plan will be approved by the state. Written comments may be submitted to: Louise Hughes, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Attn: Louise Hughes 1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1601. Public comments may also be submitted by email to: belewscreekcomments@ncdenr.gov.
What: Belews Creek Steam Station Closure Plans
When: Feb. 18, 2020. Speakers can begin signing up at 5:30; meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Where: Walnut Cove Elementary School
1211 Walnut Cove School Road
Walnut Cove, N.C. 27052
Duke submitted closure plans for the excavations by the December 31, 2019 deadline, as required by the Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) of 2016 and recent consent order. Under CAMA, DEQ’s final action on the closure plans is due within 120 days of receipt of the complete closure plans. Within 60 days of approval, implementation of the plans must begin.
Closure plans, public notices and more details can be found on the DEQ website.