The spill of 82,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River in North Carolina is the latest illustration of the need for federal coal ash regulations. The nation’s third largest coal ash spill came just days after the U.S. Environmental Protection
The spill of 82,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River in North Carolina is the latest illustration of the need for federal coal ash regulations. The nation’s third largest coal ash spill came just days after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency settled a federal lawsuit brought by Earthjustice to finalize coal ash protections by December 19.
Toxic coal ash from Duke Energy’s Dan River Power Station has been flowing into the Dan River since February 2. Although Duke Energy closed the plant in 2012, the 58-year old unlined coal ash pond still contained about 100 million gallons of coal ash. Federal regulations for coal ash would have directed Duke and other coal ash operators to properly manage these dumpsites, potentially preventing the disaster that is still occurring in North Carolina. According to EPA estimates, the coal ash released into the river contains about 7,300 pounds of arsenic.
The EPA proposed coal ash regulations in 2010 but has since languished in finalizing them. In 2012, Earthjustice, on behalf of Appalachian Voices (NC); Chesapeake Climate Action Network (MD); Environmental Integrity Project (D.C., PA); Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (K