Doctor disagrees with calling wells near coal ash dumps safe

By EMERY P. DALESIO
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – New information is casting doubt on a decision by North Carolina health officials to reverse warnings about water from wells near Duke Energy power plants that initially were described as too contaminated to use.

Environmentalists on Thursday released the text of what a state doctor who specializes in investigating patterns and causes of human disease told attorneys for the Southern Environmental Law Center and the country’s largest electric company.

Dr. Megan Davies says she didn’t agree with her agency telling more than 200 homeowners that their wells contained safe levels of vanadium and hexavalent chromium.

The state Department of Health and Human Services last year issued “don’t drink” water warnings to the owners of 330 wells near eight Duke Energy power plants where coal ash has been stored for decades.

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