Environmental groups petition N.C. over coal ash near Duke Energy plant

Bruce Henderson | The Charlotte Observer

last updated: October 11, 2012 11:07:36 AM   Posted on Thu, Oct. 11, 2012

Four environmental groups have asked North Carolina's Environmental Management Commission for a ruling that would force Duke Energy to clean up groundwater contamination near ash ponds at 14 coal-fired power plants.

The power plants where contamination has been found include Duke’s Riverbend and Allen plants on the Catawba River west of Charlotte, and its Marshall plant on Lake Norman.

State officials say contamination has been found at all 14 plants, and that they are working to trace its sources. Coal ash contains metals that can be toxic in high concentrations, but some also occur naturally in soil.

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