Dive Summary:
- Duke Energy in Charlotte, N.C, has 60 days to respond to a notice of intent to sue by The Southern Environmental Law Center and the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, after a 2012 study revealed that chemicals from Duke’s coal ash storage units leaked into the Mountain Island Lake, possibly impacting the city’s water supply.
- In a statement to the press, Duke Energy spokeswoman Erin Culbert highlighted the safety of water and fish in the Mountain Island Lake and in the local supply of drinking water.
- Duke University geochemist Avner Vengosh’s 2012 study found arsenic, a carcinogen, in addition to other chemicals in the Mountain Island Lake sediment.
From the article:
"Officials from Charlotte-Mecklenburg County have previously expressed confidence in the soundness of Duke’s coal ash storage facilities.
Utility regulators in 2010 “met with Duke Energy to learn more about the coal ash basins at Riverbend. We are satisfied and confident that Duke is maintaining and inspecting the ash basins to protect public health and the water supply and remains in full compliance with existing state regulations.”
