NC, Va. groups to monitor coal ash in Dan River

STEVE SZKOTAK
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two water protection groups will continue to monitor the Dan River to identify coal ash from a massive spill in North Carolina that flowed into Virginia.

The long-term monitoring comes after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded Thursday that Duke Energy had completed the removal of large pockets of coal ash.

The monitoring will be conducted by the Roanoke River Basin Association and the Dan River Basin Association. The groups are fearful coal ash containing an array of toxic heavy metals will continue to be churned up from the river bottom during floods or storms.

Duke Energy and government agencies are also monitoring the Dan River, which was fouled by 39,000 tons of coal after Feb. 2 breach from a waste dump 24 miles upriver from the city of Danville.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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