RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two North Carolina lawmakers say last week's massive coal ash spill on the Dan River was a "wake up call" that Duke Energy should be forced to clean out leaky waste dumps at its power plants.
State Senate Rules Chairman Tom Apodaca and House Environment Committee Vice-Chairman Chuck McGrady said Tuesday they would sponsor a bill seeking the removal of coal ash dumps like the one that ruptured Feb. 2, spewing out enough toxic sludge into the Dan River to fill 73 Olympic-sized pools.
The two Henderson County Republicans live near Duke's coal-fired power plant along the French Broad River that has large coal ash lagoons. Tests show the lagoons are contaminating groundwater.
Apodaca expressed confidence he can rally enough GOP votes to win Senate approval for the measure.
