Arsenic at toxic levels in Neuse, environmentalists say; Duke Energy disputes findings
Source: Raleigh News Observer
Coal ash releases in the Neuse River have caused arsenic levels to be nearly 18 times higher than the state safety standard for drinking water, two environmental organizations said Friday.
The Upper Neuse Riverkeeper and the Waterkeeper Alliance said a coal ash spill at Duke Energy’s retired H.F. Lee Plant in Goldsboro is the source of the arsenic contamination in the river. The organizations said they also found elevated levels of lead and other heavy metals in lab analysis conducted by Pace Analytical in Raleigh.
Duke Energy strongly disputed the activists’ findings, saying its own lab tests show the Neuse River is not contaminated by flooding from Hurricane Florence. Duke further said the riverkeeper activists are fomenting fear to increase public pressure to haul away all coal ash, even from locations where the waste is not posting a public health risk.
“The riverkeeper’s data is irrelevant to drinking water safety, and their continued attempts to misinform are most unfortunate given the devastation many in this community are facing from the hurricane,” Duke Energy spokeswoman Erin Culbert said in an email.
Read more: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article219177785.html
Duke Energy wants to cover up their poisoning of the water.
= new reply since forum marked as read
