Monthly Archives: February 2014

NC Dan River Coal Ash Spill Photos

On February 4th, Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand. (Photo: Eric Chance)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

Duke University students collect sediment samples of coal ash pulled from the river bottom at Draper Landing, approximately two miles downstream from the spill. Note the difference in between the normal river sediment (on the stairs) and the sediment contaminated with coal ash (in the containers). (Photo: Eric Chance

Duke University students collect sediment samples of coal ash pulled from the river bottom at Draper Landing, approximately two miles downstream from the spill. Note the difference in between the normal river sediment (on the stairs) and the sediment contaminated with coal ash (in the containers).
(Photo: Eric Chance

Sediment on the left is from downstream of the spill, and sediment on the right is from upstream.

Sediment on the left is from downstream of the spill, and sediment on the right is from upstream.

North Carolina Division of Water Quality Employees taking reference water samples upstream of the spill. (Photo Eric Chance)

North Carolina Division of Water Quality Employees taking reference water samples upstream of the spill.
(Photo Eric Chance)

Dan River Stream Station. Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand. (Photo: Eric Chance)

Dan River Stream Station. Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand. (Photo: Matt Wasson)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.
(Photo: Matt Wasson)

Coal ash contamination in the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill. (Photo: Eric Chance)

Coal ash contamination in the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

Matt Wasson samples the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill. (Photo: Eric Chance)

Matt Wasson samples the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

WV MCHM School Water Sample data January 31- February 3

School water sample information provided by the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This sampling was conducted between 1-31-14 and 2-3-14. The department has not published any information about who did these tests. These results are all for 4-methylcyclohexane methanol.

Copy of SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 1440_31JAN14 SCHOOL SAMPLE

COLLECTION AS OF 1720_31JAN14 SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2145_31JAN14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2221_31JAN14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2330_31JAN14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2000 1FEB14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2045 3FEB14

DEP Spill Hotline Audio from Freedom Industries

The following is the audio from the phone call reporting the MCHM spill at Freedom Industries on January 9th.  Some key parts of the phone call include the caller, Dan Reynolds, when asked what happened, responding by saying, “umm all i can tell you is they discovered a hole in the back and there is material leaking out of the tank…” When asked what was leaking, he responded, “It is a mixture of a lot of things, principally it is 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol…”  When asked if the material was hazardous or toxic he responded, “No.” He also said the spill, “…is located right on the elk river and right now the dike is containing materials and we do not anticipate it going into the river.”

Spill Hotline Audio

 

Dan River Coal Ash Spill February 3, 2014

 

On Monday, February 3rd, 2014 Duke Energy reported that 50,000 to 82,000 tons of coal ash and up to 27 million gallons of water were spilled into the Dan River from a pond at a retired power plant in Eden, NC.  According to Duke Energy, a 48-inch stormwater pipe that was beneath the 27-acre ash pond ruptured, causing the spill. The Charlotte Observer is covering the spill.

Dan River Coal Ash Spill February 3, 2014

Dan River Coal Ash Spill February 3, 2014