Coal Ash PondsThe Romeo and Juliet Story of Coal Fired

Power Plants Society sees them as toxic together, but currently, one cannot exist without the

other.The only option is death.

NC Energy Consumption and Generation

Ash Ponds

Coal Combustion By-Products: CCBs

Boiler SlagBottom Ash GypsumFly Ash

Coal Combustion By-Products: CCBs

Fly Ash

Class FClass CFoundation: footers/ basement walls

Roadways and Additives for flowable fills

Fly Ash

DrivewayGarden Agricultural and Soil Modification

Coal Combustion By-Products: CCBs

Bottom AshFly Ash

Bottom Ash

Coal Combustion By-Products: CCBs

Boiler SlagBottom AshFly Ash

Boiler Slag

Coal Combustion By-Products: CCBs

Boiler SlagBottom Ash GypsumFly Ash

Gypsum

Coal Ash Ponds: Impoundments created near the power plant to store or dispose of ash from combustion of coal. Ash solids settle, leaving water at the surface to be recycled or discharged.

Pond at Mountain Island Lake Pond at Buck Steam Plant

Plant and Coal Ash Pond Locations.

Green: Retired Plant Sites. Blue: Operating Plant Sites

Facility Ash Pond Name Status*Aug 2014 ash inventory as per Duke (tons)**

35 Total 7 Active, 25 Inactive 107,889,000Allen PoweA4:A31r Station Allen Active Ash Basin Active 7,660,000Allen Power Station Allen Retired Ash Basin Inactive 3,920,000Asheville Asheville 1982 Ash Pond Inactive 800,000Asheville Asheville 1964 Ash Pond Active 2,200,000Belews Creek Steam Station Belews Creek Active Ash Basin Active 12,610,000Buck Power Station Buck Steam Station Basin 1 Inactive 2,840,000Buck Power Station Buck Steam Station Basin 2 Inactive 1,950,000Buck Power Station Buck Steam Station Basin 3 Inactive 270,000Cape Fear Power Station Cape Fear 1956 Ash Pond (Inactive) Inactive 420,000Cape Fear Power Station Cape Fear 1963 Ash Pond (Inactive) Inactive 760,000Cape Fear Power Station Cape Fear 1970 Ash Pond (Inactive) Inactive 840,000Cape Fear Power Station Cape Fear 1978 Ash Pond Inactive 830,000Cape Fear Power Station Cape Fear 1985 Ash Pond Inactive 2,820,000Cliffside Power Station Cliffside Active Ash Basin Active 5,410,000Cliffside Power Station Cliffside Inactive Ash Basin 1-4 Inactive 320,000Cliffside Power Station Cliffside Inactive Ash Basin #5 Inactive 810,000Dan River Power Station Dan River Active Primary Ash Basin Inactive 960,000Dan River Power Station Dan River Active Secondary Ash Basin Inactive 210,000Lee Power Station H.F. Lee Ash Pond 1 (Inactive) Inactive 190,000Lee Power Station H.F. Lee Ash Pond 2 (Inactive) Inactive 440,000Lee Power Station H.F. Lee Ash Pond 3 (Inactive) Inactive 670,000Lee Power Station H.F. Lee Active Ash Pond Inactive 4,590,000Lee Power Station H.F. Lee Ash Polishing Pond Inactive 9,000Marshall Steam Station Marshall Active Ash Basin Active 22,270,000Mayo Power Station Mayo Ash Pond Active 6,900,000Riverbend Power Station Riverbend Active Ash Basin 1 Inactive 2,050,000Riverbend Power Station Riverbend Active Ash Basin 2 Inactive 680,000Roxboro Power Station Roxboro West Ash Pond Active 7,310,000Roxboro Power Station Roxboro East Ash Pond Inactive 9,130,000Sutton Power Station Sutton 1971 Ash Pond Inactive 3,540,000Sutton Power Station Sutton 1984 Ash Pond Inactive 2,780,000Weatherspoon Power Station Weatherspoon 1979 Ash Pond Inactive 1,700,000

* = Active: receiving either sluiced fly ash or bottom ash, Inactive: NOT receiving sluiced fly ash or bottom ash**= Quantities subject to change based on continuing ash production and ash excavation, as applicable. In addition,detailed in-situ field data acquisition and analysis in support of ash basin closure planning may yield revised ash quantities.

Inventory of Duke Energy Coal Ash Ponds in North Carolina

• 32 Total Ponds

• 7 Active• Receiving Ash

• 28 Inactive• Not Receiving Ash

• 107,889,000 Tons of Ash

Dan River Spill

High, High* HazardFailure or mis-operation of dam will probably cause loss of human life.

Significant HazardFailure or mis-operation of dam results in no probable loss of human life, but can cause economic loss, environment damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns

Coal Ash Management Act• Senate Bill 729• Passed August 20th, 2014• 29 Part Bill • Dan River Spill, Impetus for

Legislation • Temporarily bans Duke from

raising consumers’ rates to pay for clean-up until January 2015• Only requires immediate removal

of coal ash from 4 of the 14 sites• Asheville, Riverbend, Dan River,

and Sutton

Key Provisions

• Construction/ Expansion of Coal Ash Ponds is Banned as of October 1st

• Duke must test private wells, and replace contaminated drinking-water supplies for residents

• End of 2015, DENR will divide coal ash sites into high, intermediate, and low risk categories

• High risk sites must be excavated and placed in a lined landfill by the end of 2019 • Intermediate sites by 2024

• Fly ash must be converted to dry – End of 2018• Bottom ash Dry – End of 2019 • State will impose a 0.03% fee on NC revenues with

coal ash sites, utility may not recover it by increasing retail rates

RegulationsEPA

• CCBs are currently considered exempt wastes under the RCRA

• EPA is proposing to regulate for the first time coal ash to address the risks

• Two possible options, both fall under the RCRA• Subtitle C – Special wastes subject to

regulation• Subtitle D – Section for non-hazard

wastes • Appalachian Voices v. Gina McCarthy

• January, 29, 2014. • U.S. District Court of Columbia ruled

EPA has mandatory duty to review coal ash under RCRA

• Regulation to be finalized: December 19, 2014

State

• DWR - Division of Water Resources • Wastewater discharged from Coal Ash ponds• Shares responsibility for the regulation of coal

combustion residuals with the Division of Waste Management

• Regulates beneficial uses of CCBs• DWM

• Regulates fly ash landfills• Regulation of CCBs and residuals

• DEML – Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources• Regulates Dam safety for the pond structures

• NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge System• Division of DWR, regulates ash ponds through

permits