Toxic coal ash has coated the bottom of a North Carolina river as many as 70 miles downstream of a Duke Energy dump where a massive spill occurred two weeks ago.
The Feb. 2 spill occurred when a 48-inch reinforced concrete and corrugated steel stormwater runoff pipe beneath the ash pond broke, drawing water and between 30,000 and 39,000 tons of coal ash into the river. The second pipe, 36 inches in diameter and built in 4-foot sections, also ran under the pond. The pond has been emptied of water, but coal ash remains.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advised that a massive pile of coal ash about 75 feet long and as much as 5 feet deep has been detected on the bottom of the Dan River near the site of the Feb. 2 spill. Deposits varying from 5 inches deep to less than 1 inch coated the river bottom across the state line into Virginia and to Kerr Lake, a major reservoir.
The Dan River system in North Carolina and Virginia is home to two federally listed endangered species, the Roanoke logperch fish and the James spinymussel. The river also has another freshwater mussel, the green floater, which is currently being evaluated for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Officials said the coal ash is burying aquatic animals and their food. The ash, generated when coal is burned to generate electricity, could also clog gill tissues in fish and mussels. The agency said public reports of dead aquatic turtles at two state parks in Virginia had not yet been verified by federal biologists.
Environmentalists and others have complained of a cozy relationship between Gov. Pat McCrory’s administration and Duke Energy, noting McCrory worked for Duke for 28 years. The U.S. attorney’s office has subpoenaed records between DENR and Duke going back to 2010.
Democratic legislative leaders on Tuesday called on McCrory to release his correspondence with Duke Energy since he declared his candidacy for governor in 2011
Ten days after the Dan River spill, state health officials still warn people against swimming in the river or eating fish from it. Duke Energy has estimated up to 82,000 tons of ash spilled from two ponds at the closed plant. Scientists say the contaminants don't readily dissolve in water and usually sink to the bottom of the river, where they can pose a risk to aquatic life. Officials initially said their tests showed only elevated levels of copper in the river. They later said that they had misread the test results and said the level of arsenic in the river also exceeded safe levels. On Wednesday, officials reported that arsenic and copper levels in the river had dropped to safe levels but that the levels of aluminum and iron in the river remained above surface water quality standards.
Dangers of Toxic Coal Ash
Coal ash is the byproduct of burning coal and is toxic. It contains arsenic, lead, mercury and other heavy metals and toxins that can sicken if ingested. At other sites, the testing of drinking water containing particles of coal ash has been found to contain elevated levels of lead and thallium, which can cause birth defects and nervous and reproductive system disorders.Long-term exposure to coal ash runoff can also have devastating impacts on river systems and ecosystems, including effects on local fish stocks. Young fish exposed to coal ash runoff have been born with eyes that had shifted to one side of their heads, or spines twisted into "s" shapes.
Don't forget about the Ninja Turtles or Master Splinter either!!!!!
Unfortunately this turtle didn't mutate!
Second pipe leaking toxic waste at NC coal ash dump
State regulators expressed concern five days ago that the second pipe could fail, triggering a new spill. The water coming out of that pipe contains poisonous arsenic at 14 times the level considered safe for human contact, according to test results released by the state on Tuesday.
"We are ordering Duke Energy to eliminate this unauthorized discharge immediately," said Tom Reeder, director of the N.C. Division of Water Resources.
In the wake of the initial spill, public health officials issued advisories telling people to avoid contact with the river water and not eat the fish.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has warned that increased flow in the river resulting from last week's snowfall and rain threatens to wash the toxic ash even further downstream. The Dan flows back across into North Carolina before emptying into the Albemarle Sound.
Meanwhile, Duke Energy announced Tuesday that its fourth-quarter profits jumped 58 percent after officials in North Carolina and other states approved hikes in the rates customers pay for electricity. The company had revenues of $24.6 billion for 2013.
When costs do come into play, when we've had a chance to determine what those costs are, it's usually our customers who pay our costs of operation."
It would be up to the N.C. Utilities Commission to approve any new rate hikes for Duke. Members of that board are appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory, who worked at Duke for 28 years.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/19/video-shows-toxic-waste-gushing-into-2nd-pipe-under-duke-coal-ash-dump-spilling/
http://www.lieffcabraser.com/Case-Center/Dan-River-Coal-Ash-Spill.shtml?gclid=CNPVyOXX2rwCFQIOOgod6z4AaA
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/18/3634350/damage-from-dan-river-spill-still.html
http://www.news-record.com/news/local_news/article_7840f43c-98e3-11e3-80d0-001a4bcf6878.html
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