Gov. Perdue today urged state lawmakers to pass legislation that would increase the safety oversight of coal ash ponds in North Carolina. The legislation would subject the dams that create coal ash ponds to direct inspection by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Because of where some of the ponds are located, greater safety oversight and more frequent inspections will help reduce potential risks,” said Gov. Perdue.
A “high hazard” designation was created in the 1980’s for coal ash impoundments and other similar dams that are near densely populated areas or downstream water supplies because of the potential impact of a dam’s failure. The designation does not reflect the structural condition of the dam.
Currently, power companies are only required to file reports every five years by private engineers on the structural conditions of the dams. The impoundments are exempt from regulation under the N.C. Dam Safety Act.
The proposal will be sponsored by Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro and will subject coal ash dams to the Dam Safety Act, which would more closely regulate the impoundments and would require a state inspection every two years.