The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold public hearings near ten Duke Energy coal ash storage sites around the state starting next week, from Monday, February 10, to Monday, February 24. They will gather neighbors’ opinions on the state’s new plan to clean up those sites.

That plan resulted from a settlement agreement reached in December between DEQ, Duke, and environmental and citizen groups. It calls for the excavation of 80 million tons of coal ash from unsafe, unlined storage pits, and its removal to lined landfills in lower-risk locations.

Each hearing will start with an explanation of the plan, followed by Q&A, and then a public comment period. Details for all the hearings can be found here.

NCLCV and other citizen advocacy groups praised the cleanup deal when it was announced at the end of December. Click here for a look at NCLCV’s coverage of this critical issue.

You can still thank Gov. Cooper and DEQ for making Duke clean up its coal ash mess!