For how large coal ash impoundments can be, they are sure hard to spot. For example, there are two large earthen dams full of coal ash just north of Charlotte near Mountain Island Lake. Can you spot them? (Answer: They’re…
Blog Archives
Singin’ the Catawba River Blues After Commission’s Decision On Coal Ash
By Hallie Carde Red, White and Water intern, Spring 2013 North Carolina, we have a problem. The waste from burning coal, known as coal ash, continues to threaten our state’s water supply. Seepage from coal ash impoundments is contaminating North…
Cape Fear: Starring Toxic Contaminants, Directed by Coal Ash
When state regulators were shown groundwater test samples taken near the Cape Fear River in eastern North Carolina with elevated levels of arsenic, thallium and chloride, the contaminants that seeped in from Lake Sutton, a coal ash pond next to…
Go Tell It on Mountain Island Lake
Last Sunday, the Charlotte Observer asked the question, “Are we doing enough on coal ash?” Two people stepped in to answer. The column in the negative was written by Sam Perkins, Director of Technical Programs for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation;…
TAGS: Appalachian Voices Clean Water Act Coal Ash Mountain Island Lake North Carolina Red White and Water Water Pollution
The Senate and the L’awful’ Coal Ash Bill
To put it mildly, the supposed coal ash regulation bill S. 3512 falls short of our expectations. The bill — proposed last July by Sens. Hoeven (R-SD), Conrad (D-SD), and Baucus (D-MT) — shields utilities from their obligations to upgrade…
A One-Two Punch in the Fight for Clean Water
It has been a week of good news in the fight for stronger protections against coal ash pollution. A court settlement in South Carolina and a major decision regarding the 2008 TVA Kingston coal ash spill make for a one-two…
TAGS: appalachia Clean Water Act Coal Ash Electric Utilities Environment Health Red White and Water Riverkeeper TVA TVA Kingston coal ash spill Water Water Pollution
Half-Baked Coal Ash Bill: A Dangerous Proposition for Our Air and Water
Air and Water Protections are as American As Apple Pie — and they are under attack. Most people talk about creating legislation in terms of sausage-making. It can be downright dirty work. But I prefer to think of it as…
Sustainability: What it Means and How to Achieve it.
By Erin Burks Red, White and Water intern, Summer 2012 On Monday I had the opportunity to hear Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute Amory Lovins speak at the campus of Appalachian State University. The lecture took place in…
Did A Steamed Bun Ask the White House To Label Coal Ash As Non-Hazardous?
Last week, we escaped another harrowing attempt by Rep. David McKinley (WV) and company to allow coal-fired utilities to keep getting away with polluting our water (and sometimes air) with coal ash, the toxic byproduct of burning coal for electricity.…
Dirty Congressional Coal Ash Proposal Smothered in Negotiations
Congressional Research Service Report Shows Little Change in State Programs if Congress Had Its Way By Erin Burks Red, White and Water intern, Summer 2012 Transportation bill negotiations between the House and Senate came to a close on June 29…
