The Associated Press reports that Duke Energy officials have said the company expects to settle the federal criminal investigation, following last year’s coal ash spill in North Carolina, for $100 million.
The spill occurred a little more than a year ago on Feb. 2, 2014, when a stormwater pipe burst beneath Duke Energy’s retired coal ash impoundment at the Dan River Power Station, pouring an estimated 30-39,000 tons of coal ash and millions of gallons of wastewater into the Dan River near Eden, N.C. The spill covered the Dan River in more than 70 miles of toxic sludge.
In articles from mid-2014, the AP reports that Duke spent $15 million on containing the spill. But that doesn’t account for the $100 million criminal investigation settlement, which focuses on the energy company’s environmental violations for unsafe coal ash storage, the most recent inspection reports for Duke’s 14 coal-fired power plants and rumors of alleged ties with state government and environmental agencies.
For more information, click here.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.