The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, on Friday announced 14 public meetings on the department’s draft proposed classifications for each of Duke Energy coal ash impoundments in North Carolina. The hearings give the public an opportunity to learn about the draft classifications and provide feedback to the agency.
“The public meetings are a great opportunity for the public to get involved in the classification process,” said DEQ Assistant Secretary Tom Reeder. “DEQ is committed to relying on science and public comment to determine closure deadlines. We welcome feedback from the communities impacted by Duke Energy’s coal ash ponds and hope that the public participation process produces additional scientific and technical data that can help inform our final determinations.”
In accordance with the coal ash law, DEQ developed a draft proposed classification for every coal ash pond in the state. The classification process is an important step in cleaning up coal ash to protect the environment and ratepayers, and will determine the deadline for when each impoundment must be closed.
A public meeting will be held in each county with a coal ash facility. At each meeting, DEQ will explain the draft proposed classifications and receive comments from the public.
A detailed list of public meetings can be found on DEQ’s website and listed below:
|
Facility |
County |
Meeting Location |
Time, Date |
|
Allen Steam Station |
Gaston |
Gaston College Myers Center Auditorium, 201 Highway U.S. 321 S Dallas, NC 28034 |
6p.m., March 22, 2016 |
|
Asheville Power Station |
Buncombe |
AB Technical Community College Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801 |
6p.m., March 1, 2016 |
|
Belews Creek Steam Station |
Stokes |
Walnut Cove Public Library, 106 5th St, Walnut Cove, NC 27052 |
6p.m., March 24, 2016 |
|
Buck Steam Station |
Rowan |
Catawba College Room 300, 2300 W Innes St, Salisbury, NC 28144 |
6p.m., March 22, 2016 |
|
Cape Fear Power Station |
Chatham |
Central Carolina Community College Building 2 Multipurpose Room, 764 West St, Pittsboro, NC 27312 |
6p.m., March 10, 2016 |
|
Rogers Energy Complex (formerly Cliffside) |
Rutherford |
Isothermal Community College Auditorium, 286 ICC Loop Rd, Spindale, NC 28160 |
6p.m., March 14, 2016 |
|
Rogers Energy Complex (formerly Cliffside) |
Cleveland |
Boiling Springs Town Hall, 114 E College Ave, Shelby, NC 28152 |
6p.m., March 14, 2016 |
|
Dan River Steam Station |
Rockingham |
Eden Town Hall, 308 East Stadium Drive Eden, North Carolina 27288 |
6p.m., March 1, 2016 |
|
H.F. Lee Power Station |
Wayne |
Wayne County Community College Auditorium, 3000 Wayne Memorial Dr, Goldsboro, NC 27534 |
6p.m., March 10, 2016 |
|
Marshall Steam Station |
Catawba |
Catawba Valley Community College Auditorium, 2550 US-70, Hickory, NC 28602 |
6p.m., March 29, 2016 |
|
Mayo Power Station |
Person |
Person County Government Building, 304 S Morgan St, Roxboro, NC 27573 |
6p.m., March 16, 2016 |
|
Riverbend Steam Station |
Gaston |
Gaston College Myers Center Auditorium, 201 Highway U.S. 321 S Dallas, NC 28034 |
6p.m., March 1, 2016 |
|
Roxboro Power Station |
Person |
Person County Government Building, 304 S Morgan St, Roxboro, NC 27573 |
6p.m., March 16, 2016 |
|
Sutton Power Station |
New Hanover |
Cape Fear Community College, room N-202, 411 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401 |
6p.m., March 1, 2016 |
|
Weatherspoon Steam Electric Plant |
Robeson |
Robeson Community College A.D. Lewis Auditorium, 5160 Fayetteville Rd, Lumberton, NC 28360 |
6p.m., March 10, 2016 |
Public participation is a critically important part of the classification process. The information gathered through the public participation process will help inform the department’s final proposed classifications.
The public meetings will also be noticed in a newspaper of general circulation in each county. In addition, DEQ will open a public comment period of no less than 60 days to receive written comments on the draft proposed classifications. The public comment period will be announced at a later date.
All draft proposed classifications are subject to change based on public input, including scientific and technical data gained through the public input process outlined above.
You may find more information about DEQ’s draft proposed classifications here.
You may find DEQ’s schedule of public meetings here.