Federal court approves Duke Energy's ash compliance plans
A federal judge has approved two Duke Energy environmental compliance plans filed in connection with a $102 million settlement of coal ash-related criminal charges last year.
The plans include naming oversight officials, conducting audits and training and producing reports to demonstrate Duke will comply with ash-related laws.
Duke pleaded guilty in May to nine criminal violations of the Clean Water Act for its 2014 ash spill into the Dan River and other ash problems.
Duke agreed to pay $68 million in fines and $34 million for environmental project, and will serve five years’ probation.
Senior U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard signed off on the compliance plans for federal and state laws last Thursday.
Bruce Henderson: 704-358-5051, @bhender
This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 10:58 AM with the headline "Federal court approves Duke Energy's ash compliance plans."