Results Mixed One Year After Coal Ash Spill
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CHARLOTTE, NC — Monday marks one year since 39,000 tons of Duke Energy’s coal ash spilled into the Dan River. Β Now, there are conflicting reports on the effectiveness of the cleanup.
Inspectors took water samples from the river Friday. Β The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources says the river is in good health. Β But environmentalists and a riverkeeper say there is sill coal ash in the river’s sediment.
“From our perspective, the health of the river is very good,” said Tom Reeder of the NC DENR.
“Some of the impacts are going to be irreversible,” said Pete Harrison of Waterkeeper Alliance.
State lawmakers passed legislation requiring Duke to close all of its coal ash plants in North Carolina by 2029.
