Federal Investigation Follows North Carolina Coal Ash Spill

[ProSense]

Federal Investigation Follows North Carolina Coal Ash Spill

Federal authorities have launched a criminal investigation into a massive coal ash spill into a North Carolina River.

The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Duke Energy have been ordered by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Raleigh to turn over all relevant emails, memos and reports from 2010 through the Feb. 2 spill.

More than 80,000 tons of coal ash and 27 million gallons of contaminated water spewed into the Dan River, according to the Associated Press — enough to fill 73 Olympic-sized pools. It was the third largest coal ash spill in U.S. history.

Prosecutors ordered the state environmental agency's chief lawyer to appear next month before a grand jury.

http://www.nbcnews.com/#/news/us-news/federal-investigation-follows-north-carolina-coal-ash-spill-n29651

[sheshe2]

1. Good,

I hope some heads will roll for this.

I also hope that we can push for more regulations, taxes and penalties for those that religiously pollute our air, food and water.

[ProSense]

2. Kick! n/t

[ProSense]

3. More: Feds launch criminal probe of N.C. agency after coal ash spill

Feds launch criminal probe of N.C. agency after coal ash spill

By Anne Blythe

RALEIGH — The U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the state environmental agency tasked with regulating Duke Energy after a coal ash spill left the Dan River so polluted that people were advised to avoid contact with the water.

The probe, environmentalists say, might also open a window into the relationship that state regulators have with the country’s largest electricity provider, a company that also was a 28-year employer of Gov. Pat McCrory.

Subpoenas were issued this week summoning officials from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Duke Energy to produce records before a federal grand jury scheduled to meet in Raleigh March 18-20.

The subpoenas demand that DENR provide regulatory documents, including any correspondence with Duke since January 2010.

- more -

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/13/3619273/feds-launch-investigation-into.html

[2naSalit]

4. K&R

I would be really pissed if this wasn't happening. Good on them.

[pintobean]

5. K/R

[RobertEarl]

6. Some background

Environmentalists had filed a Clean Water Act motion as citizens to bring Duke to court. Usually it is a 60 day matter and in that 60 days the State can file its own suit and become first in line negating the citizen suit.

Well, the state did file suit and then proceeded to alter the terms of agreement so that Duke could slide by easily under far weaker terms than they could via the citizen suit.

Pissed off the enviros, one of whom is pretty well known: RFK, Jr.

So now, maybe, the citizens get to see just what kind of sweet heart deal McCory was making with Duke while involved with a real court case that was instigated by citizens.