NC Governor Will Sign Coal Ash Bill Into Law, But May Challenge It In Court

Politics

Tom Augspurger, USFWS, taking core sample as EPA's Alan Humphrey documents the ash bar during February 8th reconnaissance of Dan River coal ash spill. Photo by Sara Ward, USFWS..

The Latest 瓜神app On The Coal Ash Spill in Eden, NC

Coal ash is the waste that remains when coal is burned. It is usually collected in a dump, known as a pond. North Carolina has more than 30 such sites in 14 different locations across the state. A pipe running under one of the ponds run by Duke Energy in Eden NC ruptured in February of 2014. The coal ash spilled, largely affecting the Dan River which flows into Virginia. The spill is the third largest of its kind in U.S. history.Many see potential complications because North Carolina's governor, Pat McCrory, worked for Duke Energy for 28 years.

NC Governor Will Sign Coal Ash Bill Into Law, But May Challenge It In Court

瓜神app | By Jorge Valencia

Published August 25, 2014 at 4:24 PM EDT

A Duke Energy power plant and coal ash ponds outside Asheville.

Governor Pat McCrory says he plans to sign a bill to manage North Carolina鈥檚 coal ash ponds. But he may also challenge a key part of it.

The governor played a role this summer when members of the House and Senate were crafting the plan. He made suggestions of his own on what to do with Duke Energy's 100 million tons of coal ash.

The bill is now on his desk. Over the weekend, on the talk show , his support for it was cautious.

鈥淚 anticipate signing that," McCrory said. But "I am not happy with the commission, and we're probably going to have to do a constitutional challenge to that commission.鈥�

A commission will oversee Duke's 33 coal ash ponds ponds as part of the plan. The governor says he should get to name more of members than lawmakers are allowing him.

鈥淭here are so many commissions being formed with total independence, and if those commissions start doing bad jobs, there's no one in control,鈥� McCrory said.

Politically appointed panels may also play a central role in other areas like K-12 schools and Medicaid.