Environmental advocates announced they discovered a coal ash leak into North Carolina's Yadkin River from a Duke Energy power plant just days before 60 Minutes aired a report in which the CEO said her company was "operating safely." Will the EPA finally take tough action to stop the ongoing coal ash disaster in that state and others -- or will that job continue to fall to private watchdogs?
Image:
This fall the water in North Carolina's High Rock Lake along the Yadkin River was drawn down below its normal level for a construction project, revealing contamination bleeding into the lake from coal ash pits at Duke Energy's Buck plant near Salisbury. (Photo by Waterkeeper Alliance.)
Image Caption:
<p>This fall the water in North Carolina's High Rock Lake along the Yadkin River was drawn down below its normal level for a construction project, revealing contamination bleeding into the lake from coal ash pits at Duke Energy's Buck plant near Salisbury. (Photo <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/waterkeeperalliance/sets/72157647263263064/">by Waterkeeper Alliance</a>.)</p>