State regulators with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) say there are additional metal pipes at Duke Energy coal ash ponds that pose a threat. It was a metal corrugated storm water pipe running under a coal ash pond in Eden that ruptured 31 days ago, setting off the third largest spill of its kind in U-S history. DENR announced today that eight other metal pipes run through retention walls, around coal ash pits, but not under them. These eight serve a different function than the pipe that broke last month. The eight discharge pipes remove surface water from the top of the lagoons once coal ash has settled at the bottom. Duke has previously stated it was unaware of any other metal pipes at its 14 coal-fired power plants.
"We are going to be looking at if there are corrosion issues going on with some of the corrugated metal pipes or if there are leaks that could become problems down the road," said, Jamie Kritzer, with DENR
Regulators with DENR are asking Duke for emergency action plans, maps and videos of the insides of pipes. Governor Pat McCrory has said his preference is for coal ash to be removed by his former employer. The CEO of Duke says the utility is working on short and long term solutions and will provide a plan by March 15th. The third largest coal ash spill in US history has led to criticism of DENR and sparked a federal criminal investigation of the agency's relationship with the utility.
