Extremely Toxic Groundwater Found Near 13 Coal Ash Ponds in North Carolina
An in-depth review of monitoring data from coal ash ponds located next to 13 coal-burning power plants in North Carolina has revealed that all of them are contaminating groundwater with toxic metals and other pollutants — in some cases at levels exceeding 380 times state groundwater standards.The contaminants reported include arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead — metals known to cause cancer, neurological problems and other serious illnesses.
The analysis was conducted by Appalachian Voices’ Upper Watauga Riverkeeper team based on data submitted to state regulators by Duke Energy and Progress Energy, the state’s two largest investor-owned electric utilities. The companies conducted the tests as part of a self-monitoring agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The following two documents explain the key findings of the study.
Every well at every plant had a violation:
Final_Duke_Progress_Coal_Ash_Pond_Ground_Water_Violations_October_2009 –
There were 681 violations, up to 380 times the standard:
Final_Duke_Progress_Coal_Ash_Pond_Ground_Water_Violations_Maximum_October_2009 –
