As expected, McCrory vetoes coal ash commission bill

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Gov. Pat McCrory has vetoed legislation reviving a special commission tasked in 2014 with managing the cleanup of coal ash in North Carolina that Duke Energy keeps in pits.

It wasn’t surprising that McCrory blocked the bill Monday evening – he telegraphed his plans two weeks ago when the re-formation of the Coal Ash Management Commission surfaced. The House and Senate passed the bill by what appear to be veto-proof margins. Now, legislators have to decide whether to override.

The composition of the 2014 commission was struck down by the state Supreme Court because legislators controlled a majority of the panel’s appointments. The new commission gives five of the seven seats to the governor.

The bill also addresses how to pipe permanent drinking water to people living near ash pits.

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