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Environment

Tom Augspurger, USFWS, taking core sample as EPA's Alan Humphrey documents the ash bar during February 8th reconnaissance of Dan River coal ash spill. Photo by Sara Ward, USFWS..

The Latest News On The Coal Ash Spill in Eden, NC

Coal ash is the waste that remains when coal is burned. It is usually collected in a dump, known as a pond. North Carolina has more than 30 such sites in 14 different locations across the state. A pipe running under one of the ponds run by Duke Energy in Eden NC ruptured in February of 2014. The coal ash spilled, largely affecting the Dan River which flows into Virginia. The spill is the third largest of its kind in U.S. history.Many see potential complications because North Carolina's governor, Pat McCrory, worked for Duke Energy for 28 years.

Dan River Fish Tested After Coal Ash Spill

WUNC | By Nicole Campbell,

Frank Stasio

Published February 25, 2014 at 12:29 PM EST

The Dan River bank with residual dark grey coal ash.

This week, the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DENR, is testing fish tissue in the Dan River for contamination from the Duke Energy coal ash spill earlier this month. The Southern Environmental Law Center claims they warned Duke Energy and DENR of a potential spill last year.

Host Frank Stasio talks with Jeff Tiberii, WUNC's Greensboro Bureau Chief about new developments with Duke Energy's coal ash spill.

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Environment Coal Ash DENR Duke Energy Dan River Southern Environmental Law Center

Nicole Campbell

See stories by Nicole Campbell

Frank Stasio

Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.

See stories by Frank Stasio

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