US charges Duke with illegal pollution from 5 coal ash dumps

By MICHAEL BIESECKER and MITCH WEISS
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Federal prosecutors have filed multiple criminal charges against Duke Energy over years of illegal pollution from coal ash dumps at five North Carolina power plants.

The three US Attorney’s Offices covering the state on Friday charged Duke with nine criminal violations of the Clean Water Act. The prosecutors say the nation’s largest electricity company engaged in unlawful dumping at coal-fired power plants in Eden, Moncure, Asheville, Goldsboro and Mt. Holly.

Duke said Friday that it has already negotiated a settlement under which it expects to pay $102 million in fines and restitution in the case.

The investigation into Duke began last year after a pipe collapsed under a coal ash dump at the Eden plant, coating 70 miles of the Dan River in gray sludge.

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