Video: North Carolina coal ash spill impacts and response

by Mitchell Wenkus

February 12, 2014

Matt Wasson, director of programs at Appalachian Voices, collects water samples to test for heavy metals from the Dan River near Eden. Duke Energy said that 50,000 to 82,000 tons of coal ash and up to 27 million gallons of water were released from a coal ash retention pond into the Dan River at the Dan River Steam Station which was closed in 2012.

© Jason Miczek / Greenpeace

Immediately after the disastrous coal-ash spill in Eden, North Carolina, Greenpeace, Appalachian Voices, and other groups were on the ground, assessing the damage and mobilizing a response. This video testifies to what Duke Energy and North Carolina’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources tried to keep covered up for as long as they could.

For more on the cover up, check out Appalachian Voices’ coverage.

To get involved yourself, urge Duke Energy’s CEO Lynn Good to clean up toxic coal ash pits.

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