Duke Energy cited for erosion at coal ash airport project
Regulators have asked Duke Energy to correct erosion problems at an airport where coal ash is used as structural fill.
Posted — UpdatedThe North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice of violation Wednesday for the project at Asheville Regional Airport. Coal ash has been used to create flat land for an airport expansion that includes a new taxiway.
Regulators say erosion exposed some coal ash but none appears to have spread offsite or affected any water sources. Several feet of soil and a liner are supposed to cover the material.
The problems were discovered during an inspection by Duke in October.
The state listed two permit violations related to maintenance and how long it took Duke to notify the state.
Duke spokeswoman Catherine Butler said in an email that the company and its partner, Charah, "took immediate steps to address the issue and install additional erosion and sediment controls at the site."
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