Coal Ash  

BREDL Coal Ash Campaign

Brickhaven Coal Ash Landfill after Heavy Rain



The BREDL Coal Ash Campaign aims to block the landfilling of coal ash from Duke Energy's plants. Staff and volunteers are working with county commissioners and environmental justice advocates to prevent this hazardous waste from contaminating groundwater and drinking water in the state’s mega-dump communities. The League warns that landfilling would endanger public health and the environment. The League's Executive Committee has determined that the full liability for the coal ash should be borne by Duke Energy.


CAMPAIGN VICTORY!
In Big Win for Communities, Coal Ash Disposal Company Drops Appeal of Chatham, Lee County Cases
Case Settled After Five Years of Litigation

Dec. 16, 2020: Almost a year to the day that Administrative Law Judge Melissa Owens-Lassiter reversed her decision which had allowed coal ash to be disposed of in Chatham and Lee Counties, the communities are announcing another victory. Charah, Inc.- the company that owns the two sites, has dropped their appeal of the 2019 ruling and has agreed that no coal ash will go to the Colon site in Lee County. The Brickhaven site will be closed as required by the permit issued by the NC Department of Environmental Quality.



Judge Revokes Permits for Chatham and Lee County Coal Ash Landfills
Rules that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Exceeded Their Authority and Failed to use Proper Procedure

Dec. 16, 2019: On Friday December 13, 2019, Administrative Law Judge Melissa Owens-Lassiter revoked the permits for both the Chatham and Lee County coal ash landfills. The case was remanded to the Office of Administrative Hearings by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2018. Judge Lassiter initially heard the case in December 2015.



BREDL Comments to U.S. EPA Regarding Coal Ash Management

Oct. 15, 2019: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League opposes the transfer of the coal ash pollution problem from the private power company to the public. The reintroduction of any poison into the environment under the guise of so-called beneficial use merely transfers the problem from one medium to another and from one community to another. A new way must be found.



Northampton County Citizens Against Coal Ash interviews

An interview with members of the Executive Team of North Carolina's Northampton County Citizens Against Coal Ash talk about their fight to prevent Vista Green from putting an enormous coal ash dump in their county. Interviews and Video from Ken and Deborah Ferruccio, Environmental Educators and Activists


Drone video and photos from Brickhaven Coal Ash Landfill After Heavy Rain

Nov. 25, 2018: Drone footage and still images of the Brickhaven coal ash landfill in Chatham County, NC. Taken 11/25/18 after some heavy rain. The landfill, in operation since late 2015 is owned and operated by Charah, LLC, Duke Energy's ash from the Sutton and Riverbend facilities have been disposed of there. The landfill was permitted in June 2015- has only been taking coal ash around 3 years. NC DEQ permitted the site in a little over 6 months.

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Drone video and photos from Brickhaven Coal Ash Landfill After Hurricane Florence

Sept. 26, 2018: Drone footage and still images of the Brickhaven coal ash landfill in Chatham County, NC after rains from Hurricane Florence. The landfill, in operation since late 2015 is owned and operated by Charah, LLC, Duke Energy's ash from the Sutton and Riverbend facilities have been disposed of there. Video and pictures taken September 22, 2018.

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