Governor McCrory Signs Coal Ash Bill That Requires Water Connections, Dam Repairs, Recycling | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory is taking additional action to protect public health and the environment by signing a bill that provides permanent drinking water to residents, requires dam safety repairs, and mandates the recycling of coal ash.

    "This new law is a significant improvement over the bill I vetoed. The previous bill only required a plan to provide water connections with no deadline for actually installing them and it had no requirements for fixing dams or recycling coal ash," said Governor McCrory. "The new law protects the environment while also protecting consumers from higher electricity prices."

    Governor McCrory vetoed a previous coal ash bill that:

• failed to set a deadline for connecting water supplies
• disregarded necessary repairs to dams at coal ash ponds
• lacked any requirement for coal ash to be recycled
• The bill the governor signed into law today:
• establishes firm deadlines for providing water connections
• requires that all dam repairs are fully completed
• allows some coal ash ponds to be safely drained and covered
• provides for at least 30 years of water monitoring

    requires Duke Energy to prove to state regulators that it provided water connections and repairs.

    However, Governor McCrory remains concerned with the new structures of the Mining Commission and the Oil & Gas Commission.

• "While I can appoint a majority of the members, my appointees are now subject to confirmation. These commissions can also act within a cabinet department without supervision by me or my Secretary. Furthermore, removal authority is unclear. With these deficiencies, I do not believe that these commissions conform to the constitutional principles established by the McCrory v. Berger decision. However, I have committed to working with the General Assembly during the next legislative session to address these issues."

    With the governor's signature, impoundment classifications can be revisited to account for permanent water supplies and dam repairs.

    The McCrory administration is the first in the country to order that all coal ash ponds be closed, has issued record fines for environmental violations and has overseen the safe cleanup of more than four million tons of coal ash.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov