News Flash Home
The original item was published from 3/27/2014 11:08:00 AM to 4/20/2014 12:05:02 AM.

News Flash

Danville, VA Local Government News and Announcements

Posted on: March 19, 2014

[ARCHIVED] Virginia agencies provide update on coal ash spill

Danville city seal

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality led a public meeting Tuesday in Danville regarding the coal ash spill and the response from Virginia agencies. Officials said they will continue to assess conditions in the Dan River and monitor remediation efforts.

"We're in this for the long-haul, we're going to make sure the right thing is done for the river and the right thing is done for the citizens," said David Paylor, director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

In assessing conditions, agencies are analyzing water quality data from water samples collected along the river. Agencies also are studying tissue from fish samples collected.

Paylor told a packed City Council chamber that initial tests on the river’s fish showed no immediate contamination by heavy metals found in coal ash, though the fish continue to test positive for mercury and PCBs — as they have for many years.

State agencies have reposted warning signs along the river regarding fish consumption limits. “Those signs were there before,” Paylor said. “They are only for the PCBs and mercury, but they are back in place.”

While the first tests on fish show no build-up of heavy metals in their tissue, Paylor said agencies will continue to test fish tissue to make sure the heavy metals do not build up in their flesh over time.

Danville’s drinking water continues to be safe, Paylor said.

Remediation efforts currently are focused on removing large deposits of coal ash from the river. Duke Energy has completed the removal of the deposit created below the discharge point at its Eden, N.C., plant. Duke Energy next will remove a deposit left near the Schoolfield Dam in Danville. Duke Energy is in the process of securing permits for removal of that deposit.

Paylor said only large deposits of coal ash would be removed from the river. “In other areas, the coal ash is so dispersed it would cause more harm to try to remove it. You would collect more mud than ash.”

Paylor said state and federal officials are in the process of setting up a natural resource damage assessment program. The assessment will try to put a dollar amount on the ecological, recreational and economic damage caused by the spill.

“We will then hold Duke Energy responsible for that,” Paylor said.

A pipe under the main coal ash pond at Duke Energy’s shuttered Dan River Steam Station located 20 miles upstream from Danville broke on Feb. 2 and spewed up to 39,000 tons of coal ash into the river.

Paylor addressed whether a coal ash spill could happen in Virginia. He said Virginia has 11 ash coal pits, and they have all undergone state and Environmental Protection Agency inspections to ensure a similar environmental mess won't occur. He said five of the impoundments are scheduled to be retired.

The meeting was held in the City Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building. In addition to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the agencies included representatives from the state Health Department and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Danville, VA Local Government News and Announcements

Installation of pavement markings scheduled

Posted on: September 22, 2023

Casino generates $19.6 million in August

Posted on: September 21, 2023

City awards grants to 29 small businesses

Posted on: September 20, 2023
Fall 2023 IDDU Graduation

Police Department honors IDDU graduates

Posted on: September 19, 2023
VACP Valor Award

Five officers receive VACP Valor Award

Posted on: September 13, 2023

City receives grant for Oak Hill cemetery

Posted on: September 12, 2023
Chris Wiles

City manager names interim police chief

Posted on: September 12, 2023

Regional housing summit registration opens

Posted on: September 12, 2023
Mayor delivers keynote address.

Mayor speaks at 9/11 commemoration

Posted on: September 11, 2023

City to hold ceremony at Oak Hill cemetery

Posted on: September 7, 2023

Project Imagine partners with CIS program

Posted on: September 6, 2023

Life Saving Crew to host 9/11 ceremony

Posted on: August 28, 2023
map - Memorial Drive resurfacing

Memorial Drive resurfacing scheduled

Posted on: August 28, 2023

Health data published through dashboard

Posted on: August 23, 2023

Housing Extravaganza set for Saturday

Posted on: August 23, 2023
Curtis Artis, Shakeva Frazier

Project Imagine staff members honored

Posted on: August 17, 2023
K.N. Kuper

First female added to Police SWAT team

Posted on: August 14, 2023