EPA Coal Ash Regulation Comments Needed- Nov. 19 Deadline
Charlotte is one of only eight locations in the nation where the EPA will be holding hearings on how to regulate coal ash ponds and coal ash disposal sites. Please help the protect your drinking water by submitting written comments to support EPA's efforts to make sure that coal ash does not jeopardize our water. Deadline is November 19, 2010.
| What |
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|---|---|
| When |
Sep 14, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 09:00 PM |
| Where | Holiday Inn Charlotte (Airport) 2707 Little Rock Road, Charlotte, NC, 28214 |
| Contact Name | David Merryman |
| Contact Phone | 704-679-9494 |
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The safe handling and disposal of coal ash is a critical issue in the Catawba-Wateree basin. Four of EPA's 49 High Hazard Coal Ash Impoundments are located along the Catawba River near Charlotte. All four of these high hazard ash ponds discharge into reservoirs that are used as a source of drinking water. Two of the high hazard ash ponds are located on Mountain Island lake which supplies drinking water to approximately 750,000 people in Charlotte, Gastonia, Matthews, Mint Hill, Belmont, Mt. Holly and Pineville. In addition, SCE&G has a coal ash pond on the Wateree River, which is the continuation of the Catawba River.
These unlined coal ash ponds threaten the Catawba River through three primary routes of exposure: 1) catastropic release, such as the December 2008 coal ash spill in Tennessee, 2) daily untreated discharges from the coal ash ponds, and 3) seepage of contaminants from coal ash into the groundwater. Water and fish tissue sampling conducted by Catawba Riverkeeper confirms that heavy metals and other toxic contaminants from coal ash are entering our drinking water reservoirs from coal ash ponds.
The Charlotte hearing on coal ash was held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Charlotte (Airport), 2707 Little Rock Road, Charlotte, NC, 28214. EPA’s final tally showed around 289 speakers. The comments began at 10:15am, and the last speaker went around 11:15pm. A rough 'guestimation' shows that speakers in support of Subtitle C comprised about 60% of the crowd and 40% in opposition of Subtitle C.
The interesting and encouraging parts of the day were testimonies from supporters of Subtitle C, which attended from all over the east coast. Commentors supporting C included affected community members, Catawba Riverkeeper staff and volunteers, several other NC Riverkeeper organizations, healthcare professionals, students, concerned citizens, elected officials (NC and SC) and people with general concerns about the health and well-being of our environment and the public.
Whether or nor you are able to attend the hearing, we encourage you to submit written comments to EPA. For an example of written comments, including the address for submitting the comments and the proper EPA docket number, click on one of the links below:
For more information about the proposed coal ash regulations and issues related to coal ash, click on one of the links below:
- EPA background information on proposed coal ash regulations
- Public Hearing Comments Delivered by Catawba Riverkeeper David Merryman
- Overview of coal ash issues relating to the Catawba River
- Comparison of regulatory options being considered by EPA
- Video overview of coal ash issues
- Coal ash fact sheet
- Coal ash disasters
- Information about coal ash recycling
- More video reports about coal ash issues
- Catawba Riverkeeper library of coal ash documents
