Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Leak #3 Confirmed At Duke Energy Coal Waste Site On Dan River

[hatrack]

Eden, N.C. — State regulators say another stormwater pipe near the Dan River coal ash pits is leaking water high in arsenic and other heavy metals.

The new leak, the third at the troubled site, is a 12-inch stormwater pipe leaking into a ditch that leads to the river. It was pointed out to regulators by local citizens who noticed bright orange rocks at the site where the water reaches the river. The ditch is not a permitted discharge, according to the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The state has been testing water at the newest leak since Feb. 14. DENR spokesman Jamie Kritzer said the test results were not available until Friday.

According to DENR, state and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tests of the leaking water in mid-February showed high levels of arsenic, aluminum, iron and zinc. Arsenic and iron remained high in a second round of tests in late February. However, state Division of Water Resources chief Tom Reeder says the new leak doesn't violate state water quality standards because it's sufficiently diluted by the river.

EDIT

http://www.wral.com/new-leak-found-at-dan-river-coal-ash-spill/13460191/

[redwitch]

1. State water quality standards.

Methinks I wouldn't want to drink the water there. Ugh.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Every high-ranking company official should be forced to drink the water daily

Bet they'd clean it up in record time.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I'm with you on this! Every damn day, too. n/t

[calimary]

5. Me, too, CP!

Me, too. It's on somebody ELSE's property. It's somebody ELSE's problem. It's somebody ELSE's health and safety placed at serious risk. Just consider that story starring the fracking industry big-shot who's throwing a hissy fit at the moment because some of that is planned to be installed close to his own back yard. OMG can't have THAT! Well, if it's good enough for "the little people," pal, why shouldn't it be okay for YOU, too?

[Nihil]

11. Along with the politicians who have been covering for the industry for decades.

(Including that turd Reeder)

[BrotherIvan]

3. Does this add up to obvious malfeasance yet?

This should be the test case in how to put executives in jail for intentional harm. Has that ever been done?

[calimary]

6. Wasn't Elizabeth Warren asking that kind of question at a hearing awhile ago -

of some presumed "regulators"? Have ANY of these cases actually gone to trial - rather than gently doling out slaps on the wrist and a wee fine?

[Enthusiast]

10. Executives? Jail?

What planet are you on?

[countryjake]

7. Tom Reeder needs a pipeline hooked up, directly into his home...

so his family can be exposed to that river water.

“What we’re seeing is that this discharge is not causing a violation of state water quality standards for arsenic or other constituents that are key ingredients to coal ash,” Reeder said in an agency news release.

“What we’re seeing is that once the discharge is diluted by the river water, it’s within state surface water standards,” Reeder said. “Federal discharge permits include dilution as a factor in determining acceptable discharge levels.”

[progressoid]

8. Well, somebody needs a stern tongue lashing. Perhaps even a slap on the wrist!

[Enthusiast]

9. Clean water interferes with employment!