GOLDSBORO, N.C., Oct. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Site
inspections at the H.F. Lee Power Plant in Goldsboro, N.C., today confirm there was only
very minor erosion of material from an inactive coal ash basin on
the site.
The majority of that material, which includes coal ash, remained
very close to the inactive basin, on the berm or a few feet away on
the basin roadway.
The state team that inspected the facility determined that the
amount of material that was displaced would not even fill the bed
of an average pickup truck.
Water samples taken on Oct. 12,
just downstream of the inactive basins, showed no measurable
ash-related constituents in the Neuse River.
The inactive basins have well-established cover – including
organic material, grass, shrubs and trees – and have performed as
expected in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew with minimal
erosion.
Click here to see examples of the minor erosion observed in the
inactive basin, as well as other images taken at the facility in
the past few days.
Because some water remains in the cooling pond, the H.F. Lee
natural gas plant can operate, if needed, to serve customers.
State inspections today also determined that the active coal ash
basin continues to perform well as flood waters recede. In recent
months, the company made enhancements to the structure, including a
covering of rip rap (rocks).
Duke Energy engineers and environmental experts will continue to
closely inspect and monitor the H.F. Lee facilities as the flood
waters recede.
In June 2015, the company
recommended excavation of ash because of potential flooding at the
facility. That is now a requirement under North Carolina's coal ash management law and
that work is to be completed by Aug. 1,
2028.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy, one of the largest
electric power holding companies in the
United States, supplies and delivers electricity to
approximately 7.4 million customers in the Southeast and Midwest,
representing a population of approximately 24 million people. The
company also distributes natural gas to more than 1.5 million
customers in the Carolinas, Ohio,
Kentucky and Tennessee. Its commercial and international
businesses operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing renewable
energy portfolio.
Headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More
information about the company is available at
duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for
journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and
videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online
destination for stories about remarkable people, innovations, and
community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into
the past and insights into the future of energy.
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SOURCE Duke Energy