Duke Energy continues to make strong progress closing ash basins while reviewing the state's latest action

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today issued the following statement in response to 12 Notices of Violation issued by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) related to seeps at coal ash basins.

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The best way to reduce or eliminate seeps altogether is to safely remove the water from ash basins and close them in ways that protect people and the environment. That's exactly what Duke Energy is doing right now.

There is nothing new here. Even the state environmental regulator acknowledges that seeps occur at every earthen impoundment, and those at ash basins are not impacting water quality.

We are doing everything the state has asked to address seeps, including cataloguing, testing and monitoring them. Nearly two years ago, the company included seeps in permit applications to the state and has been working through the process ever since.

Back in 2010, Duke Energy talked with NC DEQ about permitting seeps. At that time, the agency chose not to pursue that, believing seeps to be inconsequential.

Closing ash basins in ways that protect people and the environment

• Our work is guided by science and engineering, including comprehensive groundwater studies and state-of-the-art modeling.
• Ash is being excavated and moved to fully lined solutions at six of our 16 Carolinas plants (Asheville, Cliffside, Dan River, Riverbend, Sutton and WS Lee.)
• Newly constructed rail spurs are being used at three plants to significantly increase the amount of ash hauled away (Dan River, Sutton, Riverbend)
• We've begun safely removing water from basins at Riverbend and Sutton, and other plants will follow. This is a critical step as we move toward closure.
• On-site lined landfills are planned for Dan River, Sutton, WS Lee and Robinson plants.

About Duke Energy Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

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SOURCE Duke Energy