Perdue: Regulate utilities' coal-ash ponds

Gov. Bev Perdue is calling for legislature to regulate power companies' coal ash, the leftover waste from coal-fired power plants. Utility companies have opposed more regulation of coal ash ponds, though more recently they have embraced the idea of some regulation, following public reaction after last winter's breach of a holding pond in Tennessee that released a toxic tide of coal-ash slurry.

Duke Energy has a number of the ponds, including several near Mountain Island Lake, Charlotte's water supply.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that North Carolina has more than one-fourth of the nation's high-hazard coal-ash ponds -- defined as ponds where a failure could mean deaths.

Perdue is backing legislation sponsored by Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, to bring about more state monitoring and regulation of coal ash ponds and make them subject, at long last, to the state Dam Safety Act. Here's Perdue's announcement earlier this afternoon:

RALEIGH – Gov. Perdue today urged state lawmakers to pass legislation that would increase the safety oversight of coal ash ponds in North Carolina. The legislation would subject the dams that create coal ash ponds to direct inspection by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Because of where some of the ponds are located, greater safety oversight and more frequent inspections will help reduce potential risks,” said Gov. Perdue.
A “high hazard” designation was created in the 1980’s for coal ash impoundments and other similar dams that are near densely populated areas or downstream water supplies because of the potential impact of a dam’s failure. The designation does not reflect the structural condition of the dam.
Currently, power companies are only required to file reports every five years by private engineers on the structural conditions of the dams. The impoundments are exempt from regulation under the N.C. Dam Safety Act.
The proposal will be sponsored by Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro and will subject coal ash dams to the Dam Safety Act, which would more closely regulate the impoundments and would require a state inspection every two years.