Dive Brief:

• In February, the multi-ton shipments of coal ash imported to a Richmond, VA landfill from Duke Energy’s Eden, NC impoundment will double translating to a total of 1.5 million tons of coal combustion residuals dumped at that site. 
• The potentially toxic waste is being shipped in following one of the nation’s largest ash coal accidents ever — a storm water pipe at the North Carolina impoundment malfunctioned; which sent coal ash and polluted water spilling into the Dan River, with the ash ultimately dumped along Virginia’s Danville riverfront.
• The Maplewood landfill in Jetersville, VA, which will receive the coal ash, has a double liner system and has accepted coal ash since 1993, according to landfill owner and operator Waste Management, as reported in Citizen-Times. Duke is moving the materials by rail as a safe and more efficient alternative to transporting it by truck via local roads.

Dive Insight:

Several of Duke’s North Carolina sites have been cited for multiple violations, and the company has had to find a new place to bury over a million tons of ash in South Carolina. 

Now, Virginia’s environmentalists are happy to see the massive volumes of contaminant — which once infiltrated its waters — will be landfilled.

"We support the removal of the coal ash from the Dan River site and its movement away from the rivers and lakes and its placement in lined containment facilities to limit ground water contamination," said Andrew Lester, Executive Director of the Roanoke River Basin Association.

Speaking of Duke’s Dan River coal ash site, SELC senior attorney Frank Holleman said, "The coal ash there is stored in unlined pits directly on the Dan River...The earthen dikes there are old and the piping system failed."

Regarding the move to the Maplewood landfill, Duke Spokesman Jeff Brooks said, "It was a really good option for us and helps us to meet our requirements under state law."