Post by pavel on Feb 10, 2016 6:44:35 GMT -6
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The country’s largest electric company is being fined $6.6 million for environmental pollution related to a big spill of liquefied coal ash in 2014, North Carolina environmental regulators said Tuesday.
The fine covers violations that Duke Energy admitted when it pleaded guilty to federal pollution crimes nine months ago and agreed to pay $102 million in fines and restitution, the state Department of Environmental Quality said. The company could face further civil penalties related to the February 2014 coal ash spill at the company’s Dan River power plant in Eden, the agency said.
“Having been made aware on numerous occasions of the potential” that toxic coal ash could pollute waterways, state Division of Water Resources Director S. Jay Zimmerman wrote in explaining the penalties, “Duke failed to take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge disposal.”
Coal ash is the residue left after coal is burned to generate electricity. It has been collecting in holding basins for decades. It can contain toxic chemicals including arsenic, chromium and lead.
Read more: fuelfix.com/blog/2016/02/09/regulator-fines-duke-energy-nearly-7-million-for-coal-ash-spill/
The fine covers violations that Duke Energy admitted when it pleaded guilty to federal pollution crimes nine months ago and agreed to pay $102 million in fines and restitution, the state Department of Environmental Quality said. The company could face further civil penalties related to the February 2014 coal ash spill at the company’s Dan River power plant in Eden, the agency said.
“Having been made aware on numerous occasions of the potential” that toxic coal ash could pollute waterways, state Division of Water Resources Director S. Jay Zimmerman wrote in explaining the penalties, “Duke failed to take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge disposal.”
Coal ash is the residue left after coal is burned to generate electricity. It has been collecting in holding basins for decades. It can contain toxic chemicals including arsenic, chromium and lead.
Read more: fuelfix.com/blog/2016/02/09/regulator-fines-duke-energy-nearly-7-million-for-coal-ash-spill/