Showing posts tagged “North Carolina”
Lisa Sorg ·
29 Jun 2009, 4:49 PM ·
1 Comment
North Carolina is home to ore than a quarter of the nation’s coal combustion residue (CCR) impoundments that carry a “high hazard potential rating,” meaning that if the impoundment failed, it would probably cause loss of human life. This is according to an Environmental Protection Agency report released today, which designated 12 North Carolina coal residue impoundments with the rating. Ten are operated by Duke Energy; two are operated by Progress Energy. The EPA identified 44 such impoundments nationwide.
According to the EPA, the rating is not an indication of the structural integrity of the unit or the possibility that a failure will occur in the future; it allows dam safety and other officials to determine where significant damage or loss of life may occur if there is a structural failure.
There are three CCR impoundments in Spencer, which is near Salisbury. The following towns have two: Arden, south of Asheville; Eden, north of Greensboro near the Virginia-N.C. line; and Mt. Holly, just northwest of Charlotte. Belmont, which is south of Mt. Holly, Walnut Cove, north of Kernersville, and Terrell, which is near Lake Norman north of Charlotte, have one each.
Here’s more from the EPA announcement:
The EPA made its determination using the criteria developed by the National Dam Safety Program for the National Inventory of Dams. Hazard potential ratings are generally assigned by the State Dam Safety officials.
These impoundments contain fly ash, bottom ash, coal slag and flue gas desulfurization residue. CCRs contain a broad range of metals, for example, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead, and mercury, but the concentrations of these are generally low. However, if not properly managed, (for example, in lined units), CCRs may cause a risk to human health and the environment and, in fact, EPA has documented cases of environmental damage.
EPA’s assessment of the 26 facilities that have units with high hazard potential ratings continues to be an Agency priority. EPA has conducted on-site assessments, which are undergoing Agency review, at 11 of these facilities. The remaining 15 of these facilities have had state inspections within the past 12 months and EPA will be reviewing the reports from those inspections. EPA plans to make public the results of our assessments as soon as they are completed.
North Carolina, environment Arden, Belmont, coal residue impoundments, Duke Energy, Eden, Environmental Protection Agency, high hazard potential, Mt. Holly, North Carolina, Progress Energy, Terrell, Walnut Cove
Vernal Coleman ·
25 Nov 2008, 11:15 AM ·
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As the president-elect’s transition team continues its vetting, the good folks over at the New York Times are running thumbnail profiles of all of the prospective members of the new administration, this one a longtime Tar Heel.
The abbreviated story on Ms. Butts:
-She’s being considered for a position in the White House Counsel’s office.
-She’s a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Harvard Law School.
-Her first post-undergrad job was at a Durham YMCA.
-She at one time worked for Dick Gephardt.
-According to the NYT, she has an affinity for “hot” cars.
Well, alrighty then.
news, politics Barack Obama, North Carolina, politics
Vernal Coleman ·
21 Oct 2008, 9:39 AM ·
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With the opening of the bear hunting season last week, it seems that North Carolinians not pleased by the prospect of an Obama presidency are finding increasingly creative (also read: deplorable) ways to express their opposition.
The AP reports that a dead bear cub covered in Barack Obama campaign paraphernalia was found dumped on the campus of Western North Carolina university Monday.
School officials say the 75 pound bear was found shot to death in front of the campus administration building. Two Obama yard signs were stapled together and draped across its head.
University police are investigating the incident.
[Update 10/21/08]
The Western Carolina campus police are saying that there was no political motivation behind the incident and that the dead bear cub was part of a prank. Now I’m the biggest fan of sophmoric shenanigans that you’re likely to ever meet, but even I fail to find the humor in leaving a dead bear cub in a public way.
North Carolina, news Election, North Carolina, politics, Western North Carolina University
Vernal Coleman ·
14 Oct 2008, 12:53 PM ·
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North Carolina’s largest city will be the site of the nation’s 57th immigration court, reports the Charlotte Observer. The Executive Office for Immigration Review court will begin hearing cases in Charlotte as soon as next month, saving immigrants detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in the Carolina’s from reporting to Atlanta (the site of the closest immigration court) to have their immigration status’ resolved.
North Carolina, news immigration, North Carolina
Vernal Coleman ·
14 Oct 2008, 11:56 AM ·
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More insight into North Carolina’s role in the upcoming presidential election; this bit from NC governor Mike Easley who last week weighed in on Barack Obama’s chances of winning the Tarheel state during an appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. The Easley interview begins at the 3:45 mark. Hat tip to New Raleigh for the video.
North Carolina, politics Barack Obama, Gov. Mike Easley, North Carolina
Vernal Coleman ·
2 Oct 2008, 4:17 PM ·
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Those of you who gravitate towards vice presidential candidates that are more on the folksy side are in luck; the News & Observer reports that Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin, will make her first appearance in the Tarheel state next week. Palin is scheduled to speak Minges Collesium at East Carolina University on Tuesday.
North Carolina, politics Election, North Carolina, Sarah Palin
Vernal Coleman ·
5 Sep 2008, 3:00 PM ·
1 Comment
Now that the revels in Denver and St. Paul have ended, it seems an appropriate time to check in with Facing South to see which presidential hopeful is leading in the race for North Carolina’s electoral votes.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain leads, but just by a nose. The latest poll from Real Clear Politics has McCain 4.2 points ahead of Barack Obama, while the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee, and Mr. Monopoly lookalike, Bob Barr, is tracking at 3.9 percent.
North Carolina Barack Obama, Election, John McCain, North Carolina
