The North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources is getting involved in the most recent of several lawsuits driven by seven North Carolina conservation groups against power plants owned by Duke Energy, the largest electric power holding company in the United States. This one involves a coal-fired power plant in Belews Creek, NC. The waste generated from the operation of these power plants is called coal ash, which contains cadmium, thallium, mercury, arsenic, lead, among other things. The coal ash generated by the Belews Creek power plant can get into the groundwater, Dan River, and Belews Lake. This subjects thousands of people to increased risks of cancer, neurological damage, respiratory problems, and other serious illnesses. This is the largest waste stream in the U.S. for which no federal regulations exist to protect people.
Source:
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2014/01/water-conservation-groups-want-role-in-legal.html?page=all
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