RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold hearings for public comment about the plan to excavate coal ash at Duke Energy’s Cliffside Steam Station, Marshall Steam Station and Allen Steam Station on Tuesday, Feb. 25 (Cliffside), Wednesday, Feb. 26 (Marshall), and Thursday, Feb. 27 (Allen). Each begins at 6 p.m.
This follows the Dec. 31, 2019 settlement agreement and subsequent consent order in which Duke Energy agreed to excavate more than 80 million tons of coal ash at the Allen, Belews Creek, Cliffside, Marshall, Mayo and Roxboro sites to be placed in lined, onsite landfills.
Each public session will start with a meeting to provide information and answer questions immediately followed by a public hearing to record public comments. 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.
What: Cliffside Steam Station Closure Plans
When: Feb. 25, 2020. Speakers can begin signing up at 5:30; meeting begins at 6 p.m.
All comments received by March 17, 2020 will be considered in determining whether the plan will be approved by the state.
Public comments may also be submitted by email to: cliffsidecomments@ncdenr.gov.
Where: Chase High School
1603 Chase High Rd.
Forest City, N.C. 28043
What: Marshall Steam Station Closure Plans
When: Feb. 26, 2020. Speakers can begin signing up at 5:30; meeting begins at 6 p.m.
All comments received by March 18, 2020 will be considered in determining whether the plan will be approved by the state.
Public comments may also be submitted by email to: marshallcomments@ncdenr.gov.
Where: Maiden High School
600 W. Main St.
Maiden, N.C. 28650
When: Feb. 27, 2020. Speakers can begin signing up at 5:30; meeting begins at 6 p.m.
All comments received by March 19, 2020 will be considered in determining whether the plan will be approved by the state.
Where: Stuart Cramer High School
101 Lakewood Rd.
Belmont, N.C. 28012
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 in accordance with the agreement. 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 online at:
- Cliffside – https://deq.nc.gov/news/key-issues/coal-ash-nc/cliffside-steam-station-coal-ash-findings,
- Marshall – https://deq.nc.gov/news/key-issues/coal-ash-nc/marshall-steam-station-coal-ash-findings, and
- Allen – https://deq.nc.gov/news/key-issues/coal-ash-nc/allen-steam-station-coal-ash-findings.
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