Press Releases

The state environmental department has sent an environmental justice analysis for a proposed coal ash landfill at Duke Energy’s Dan River facility to the federal EPA’s Office of Civil Rights and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.  The state previously submitted an environmental justice review of the Sutton coal ash facility in Wilmington. The federal civil rights offices would not provide comments up front on the Sutton review, saying it preferred instead to investigate any complaints that may be filed after the fact.

State environmental officials have issued a permit that is needed to safely close coal ash ponds in Catawba county. The permit allows Duke Energy to begin draining water from its coal ash ponds at the Marshall Steam Station in Hickory, a necessary first step toward safely closing the ponds.

State environmental officials have issued a permit that is needed to safely close coal ash ponds in Catawba county. The permit allows Duke Energy to begin draining water from its coal ash ponds at the Marshall Steam Station in Hickory, a necessary first step toward safely closing the ponds.

State officials are reminding the public to avoid contact with green water in the Chowan River, as algal blooms linger from Edenton Bay to the upstream town of Colerain.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission will meet Sept. 13 and 14 at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Drive in Wilmington. The meeting will begin at 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 13 and 9 a.m. on Sept. 14. The meeting is open to the public. Some items on the commission’s agenda include:

State environmental officials have notified well owners within half a mile of coal ash facilities that they will receive a permanent alternate drinking water supply.  The notification went out by letter this week to about 1,000 households. “North Carolina continues to lead the nation in addressing the decades-old problem of coal ash,” said Tom Reeder, assistant secretary of the state environmental department. “As we work toward closing every coal ash pond in the state, we are providing residents with the peace of mind that comes from receiving alternate water connections.”

State environmental officials are asking the public to provide input on proposed draft stormwater permits for two Duke Energy Progress facilities in Person County. The state environmental agency has drafted National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permits for stormwater discharges at the Mayo Steam Electric Generating Plant and the Roxboro Steam Electric Generating Station. Both facilities are located in the Roanoke River basin.

State officials are seeking public feedback on proposed draft water quality permits for two Duke Energy facilities located in Person County. The state environmental agency has drafted National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permits for wastewater discharges at the Mayo Steam Electric Generating Plant, which discharges to Mayo Reservoir and the Roxboro Steam Electric Generating Station, which discharges to Hyco Reservoir. Both facilities are located in the Roanoke River basin.

The state environmental agency will hold a public hearing on a proposed water quality permit for Duke Energy Progress’ Dan River Combined Cycle Station on Aug. 31. The hearing is being held to receive public comments on a draft industrial wastewater discharge permit for the electrical generating plant, which is located in Rockingham County. The facility discharges treated industrial wastewater to the Dan River in the Roanoke River basin. Stormwater discharges from the facility are covered under a separate water quality permit.

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission has fast-tracked the review schedule for two state fishery management plans. The commission voted last week to proceed this fiscal year with a review of the state’s Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan, which had been slated for fiscal year 2018-2019, to give the commission more management flexibility. The commission also voted to accelerate the review of the state’s Estuarine Striped Bass Plan by one year to 2017-2018 due to possible problems with reproduction in the Tar/Pamlico, Neuse and Cape Fear rivers.