Perdue pushing coal pond bill

Submitted by bniolet on July 14, 2009 - 4:13pm.
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Gov. Beverly Perdue is pushing a bill that would increase oversight of coal ash ponds.

North Carolina is home to 12 potentially high-hazard ponds of the sludge byproduct of coal-fired electric plants, more than any other state. The EPA's high-hazard designation means people would probably die if a dam failed, not that the agency has found structural problems.

The bill 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,” Perdue said in a news release.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, would subject coal ash dams to the state's Dam Safety Act, which would more closely regulate the impoundments and would require a state inspection every two years.

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Re: Perdue pushing coal pond bill

Submitted by scharrison on July 15, 2009 - 8:12am.

Notsure, Google "TVA Kingston plant coal ash spill" and you'll find out what can happen if one of these dams fails.

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Re: Perdue pushing coal pond bill

Submitted by Notsurewhere_NC on July 14, 2009 - 8:54pm.

Since I've never read where one of these sites has cut loose with a pending disaster on the populace to date, would assume that Bev is going to recommend that the same guys that have been watching over all the Hog Waste Lagoons will be in charge of this going forward. Now we can sleep easy at night.

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