Duke Energy Cited For Coal Ash Erosion At Airport

Duke Energy is having problems again with coal ash.   The nation's largest energy company has been issued a violation notice by the state.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice of violation Wednesday for the project at Asheville Regional Airport. Regulators have asked Duke Energy to correct erosion problems where coal ash is used as structural fill. 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. Several feet of soil and a liner are supposed to cover the material.  The problems were discovered during an inspection by Duke Energy in October.

The department listed two permit violations related to maintenance and how long it took Duke to notify the state.

A Duke Energy statement says it took quick action that included installing erosion controls.

The Associated Press contributed to this report