Press release:
DEQ announces 14 public meetings on draft coal ash pond closure deadlines
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, on Friday announced 14 public meetings on the department’s draft proposed classifications for each of Duke Energy coal ash impoundments in North Carolina. The hearings give the public an opportunity to learn about the draft classifications and provide feedback to the agency.
“The public meetings are a great opportunity for the public to get involved in the classification process,” said DEQ Assistant Secretary Tom Reeder. “DEQ is committed to relying on science and public comment to determine closure deadlines. We welcome feedback from the communities impacted by Duke Energy’s coal ash ponds and hope that the public participation process produces additional scientific and technical data that can help inform our final determinations.”
In accordance with the coal ash law, DEQ developed a draft proposed classification for every coal ash pond in the state. The classification process is an important step in cleaning up coal ash to protect the environment and ratepayers, and will determine the deadline for when each impoundment must be closed.
A public meeting will be held in each county with a coal ash facility. At each meeting, DEQ will explain the draft proposed classifications and receive comments from the public.
A detailed list of public meetings can be found on DEQ’s website and listed below:
Public participation is a critically important part of the classification process. The information gathered through the public participation process will help inform the department’s final proposed classifications.
The public meetings will also be noticed in a newspaper of general circulation in each county. In addition, DEQ will open a public comment period of no less than 60 days to receive written comments on the draft proposed classifications. The public comment period will be announced at a later date.
All draft proposed classifications are subject to change based on public input, including scientific and technical data gained through the public input process outlined above.
You may find more information about DEQ’s draft proposed classifications here.
You may find DEQ’s schedule of public meetings here.
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