5. Written Public Comments received

Comment on Duke Energy Coal Ash Pond at Lake Norman
To: NC D.E.Q From: Anne Lion,
Attn. Debra Watts 2731 Hemlock Ct., Nebo, NC 28761
1636 Mail Service Center (Lake James Resident)
Raleigh, NC 27699-1611
Re: Marshal Coal Ash Site at Lake Norman
Flint, Michigan has been in the news lately because of the water pollution that has
been present for a long time. It has adversely affected the health of its citizens due
to the lack of timely government intervention. It appears that NC is in a similar
situation. Duke Energy has not cleaned up coal ash sites and people nearby have been
told not to drink the contaminated water. How can this be tolerated? How can it be
said that site clean up can wait until 2019 for high -risk, 2024 for intermediate -risk,
and 2029 for low -risk ponds !? How many children to you want to hurt while waiting?
If it affected your children or grandchildren, would it still be OK to wait? If
excavation is the only way to prevent groundwater contamination and structure
failure, do it NOW. Do the responsible, right thing and show you care. No excuses.
We need immediate action to protect our citizens. I care about my family and our
fellow citizens here in NC. Show that you do too. Thanks.
RECEIVED/NCDE00M
MAR 312018
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RECEIVED/NCDEO/DWR
5109 Independence Lane MAR 17 2�15
Denver, NC 28037
March 14, 2016 Water Quality
Regional Operations Section
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1611
Attn: Debra Watts
Re: Marshall Steam Plant Coal Ash Site
Dear Ms. Watts,
I recently became aware of a pending Public Hearing regarding the classification of the Marshall Coal Ash
Site. I understand that this hearing is scheduled for March 29, 2016 at the Catawba Valley Community
College and we expect to attend in person. However, in the interim, I wish to register the following
comments regarding the impact this site has and/or will have on us directly as well as the communities
near the Marshall Steam Plant and continuing downstream.
My wife and I recently moved to the Denver, NC area from the upper Midwest. We selected a home on
Lake Norman for its waterfront recreational attributes, including its perceived high quality water resources.
We are very distressed to learn of the negative impact the Duke Energy Coal Ash ponds are creating on
the Lake, especially since we are directly affected. In addition, there are more than 1 million people
downstream that are relying on Lake Norman for their drinking water supply.
We are located on Mountain Creek, south of the Marshall Steam Plant. We are very concerned about the
impact the coal ash ponds are having on our ground water supply, as we are on a residential well for
drinking water. According to our information, both Duke Energy monitoring wells and the wells of
immediate neighbors have recorded metals concentrations that exceeded regulatory and health -based
standards until these standards were recently relaxed.
We understand that Marshall has the largest coal ash site in the state of North Carolina and that this
unlined, leaching coal ash site is one of the oldest in the Duke system, almost 60 years old. It is
imperative that the Marshall site be included in the cleanup process that is ongoing at other sites. Proper
excavation of the coal ash ponds is the only proven way to prevent groundwater contamination and
subsequent infrastructure failure in the Catawba and Lincoln County area.
We strongly suggest that the Marshall site be designated a 'high priority' site, ensuring the secure
excavation of the coal ash ponds to permanently remove this threat to the public health and
economic well-being of the region.
Sincerely,
/Cho�es H. Reed
Pamela J. Reed

My name is Dawn Robinson Grant. I live at 8665 Island Point Road
in Sherrills Ford, NC. I have lived in the same house since October,
1981. I live on land that has been in my first husband's family for
generations. My husband was born on Island Point Road in 1941.
His mother was born on this same land in 1918. In other words, my
family has been on this land for over 100 years. They farmed an 80
acre farm which was bought out by Duke Power when Lake Norman
was formed. Three acres were given to each of the children in the
family and I now live on one of those parcels of land. My property is
bordered by Duke Power on two sides. Little did this family know
that their beautiful farm would be turned into a coal ash dump!
I have been fighting fly ash for many years. I remember when my
kids were young, I would take them outside for a picnic and all of a
sudden fly ash would be raining down on us. I would have to rush
them back into the house until it passed. I have an UNLINED coal
ash mound less than a quarter mile from my house. I have had
numerous incidents when fly ash would settle on my house, car and
surroundings. Because of the location of my house, I have now been
drinking bottled water for about a year. I feel that Duke Energy
should pay to have my house hooked into the water line in front of
my house for my safety and the safety of my family. One of my
main concerns is that the value of my house has been devalued
because of Duke Power. My husband and I would like to retire some
time in another location but I am very concerned about the value of
my property and my house. I told a Duke rep one time about one of
these fly ash incidences and he said, "Well, we were fined for that."
Well, mighty Duke Power was fined a few thousand dollars and
meanwhile I was breathing the ash as my lungs filled up with arsenic
and boron and whatever else is in that stuff. My first husband, Ben
Robinson died in the year 2000 from multiple myeloma which is
bone marrow caffffiVER"yas having his second bone marrow
transplant at Baptist Rots it� nn Winston-Salem one of the doctors
Water Quality Regional
Operations Section

asked if we lived near a power plant. I said, "Yes. In fact, it is in
our back yard." About seven or eight years ago, the Charlotte
Observer published an article about the cancer cluster around the
Marshall Steam Plant. It was very eye opening as there is definitely
a cancer cluster in this area. I can't tell you how many friends,
neighbors and relatives around me have had, or are now, fighting
cancer. My brother-in-law who lives even closer than me to the coal
ash mound also has been fighting cancer for many years. Many
from the church I have attended in Terrell also have had cancer.
I am personally asking you to classify the Marshall Steam Plant as
high risk for pollution and contamination before more people are
stuck down with cancer and other ailments. They are piling more
and more coal ash next to Island Point Road and in our
neighborhood.
We need help!!
Duke Power is huge and I know we need electricity but the needs of
the community must also be met by the state and local government.
We rely on you to protect us. Thank you!
RECEIVEDUDEWWR
APR 18 2016
Water Quality Regional
Operations Section
Dawn Robinson Grant

Marshall Steam Station, Catawba County
Dear NCDEQ,
Duke Energy's Marshall Steam Station stores more than 16 million tons of coal ash in its active,
leaking, unlined coal ash basin and an estimated 30 million tons of total coal ash is stored on site in
landfills on top of old, unlined sections of the coal ash pond, including a landfill used to dispose of
sulfur dioxide scrubber waste and an unlined asbestos landfill.
State health officials warned families living near the coal ash pit at the Marshall site that it was not
safe to drink the water in many of their wells due to the presence of harmful pollutants. Even Duke
Energy was advised not to allow its employees to consume water from the well at the Marshall plant
due to unsafe levels of vanadium and the carcinogen hexavalent chromium.
The coal ash pit at Marshall seeps into streams and discharges into Lake Norman, a popular lake
with swimmers, boaters, and fishers.
Boron, sulfates, and other pollutants have been detected in Duke's own monitoring wells in levels that
far exceed the health -based standards. Boron, which is associated with reproductive problems and
gastrointestinal illness, has been detected at 547% above standard in nearby groundwater_
For the reasons listed above, Marshall should be classified as Intermediate.
While I support an Intermediate ranking at Marshall, I also stand with other communities and rivers
across North Carolina that face the prospect of having coal ash left submerged in groundwater sitting
in leaking, unlined pits next to rivers, lakes, and drinking water supplies.
Sin rely,

Francis and Paula Martin
Date: March 7. 2016
Attn: Debra Watts
N.C. DEQ
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC
27699-1611
Dear Debra Watts:
RECENEDINCDEQIDWR
MAR 0 9 2016
Water Quality
Regional Operations SecWn
20125 Riverchase Dr• Cornelius, NC 28031
Phone: [phone] • E-Mail: pagoolka(q,)uncc.edu
We live on Lake Norman and we are very concerned about the coal ash retention ponds at Duke
Power's Marshall plant. Marshall is the largest coal ash site in the state and I understand that the
unlined site at Marshall is almost 60 years old. More than I million people rely on the drinking water
that flows downstream of this site. We are very concerned about the families that live near the site who
take advantage of the recreational opportunities that the Lake provides. It is our understanding that the
wells of neighbors have metal concentrations that are higher than regulatory and health -based
standards.
Excavation is the only way to prevent groundwater contamination and structure failure. Marshall
needs and warrants an "intermediate" or "high" prioritization to secure excavation and to permanently
remove this threat.
Sin
Francis Martin
Paula Martin

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Water Quality
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Regional Operations SOCtion
1908 Gateway Boulevard main 704393 9393
loftinco.com Post Office Box 669407 toll free 800 849 4871
Charlotte, NC 28266-9407 fax [phone]

MICHAEL P. JONES
RECEIVEDINCDEQMR3244 LAKESHORE ROAD SOUTH
APR 2 0 2016 DENVER, NC
April 17, 2016
Water Quality Regional
Operations Section
Ms Debra Watts
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1611
Dear Ms Watts:
My wife & I are property owners on the west side of Lake Norman and have lived here
since 2003. We enjoy swimming; fishing and spending time watching our granddaughter
play in the water. It is of much concern that we learned that the mountains of coal ash
that leaks into or water is being considered low risk for our drinking water when these
discharges ultimately flow south near our Lincoln County water intake that supplies fresh
water, not only to our immediate area, but too much of Lincoln County and even to parts
of Catawba County along the highway 150 corridor. If we experience an event like the
one on the Dan River, our property values will surely suffer.
Specific concerns that we have which should be addressed in DENR/DEQ evaluations are
below and we would like to see each addressed in the final determination report:
1. The Marshall site has more acreage than any other coal ash repository in North
Carolina.
2. Marshall's coal ash sites are over 50 years old and are unlined.
3. There are a number of intakes on the Lake below Marshall coal ash sites that
provide fresh water to surrounding counties, as well as to Mountain Island Lake
that holds a major drinking water intake source for Charlotte, together with others
feeding cities in Gaston County.
4. Residents near the unlined and leaking coal ash storage areas have been advised
to avoid consuming well water because of unhealthy chemicals found in water
samples. Some may also be naturally occurring but so long as Duke continues to
store ash on site, the burden, in an abundance of caution should fall on Duke. The
only way We see this question to be resolved is to remove the suspected source
ash.
5. Duke monitoring wells and neighboring fresh water wells present concentrations
of metals that exceed regulatory and health recommended levels.
6. Lake Norman property in Lincoln County provides a significant part of the overall
County property and sales tax base. A coal ash spill and/or leakage could
significantly impact the desirability of shoreline proximate properties.

7. North Carolina implemented important buffer rules for the Catawba River and its
tributaries to protect these waters from silt and chemical pollution runoff. Why
should our citizens be less concerned about the coal ash discharges into our River
than the runoff from our yards and hard surfaces?
8. South Carolina Utilities, in cooperation with the State have agreed to remove and
clean up their sites and protect customers/citizens from coal ash stored near the
Catawba waters.
9. Removal of all coal ash from the banks of the Catawba River is the only sure way
to assure our water won't be polluted in the future. Unlined pits, lined pits,
burritos are subject to risk of failure. Relocation to a site that doesn't drain and is
away from significant population concentrations is the only viable solution.
I thank you for reviewing our concerns and expect that our drinking and recreation waters
will be protected.
Very truly yours,

RECEIVED
MAR 2 8 2016
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Comments on Duke Energy Ash Pond at Lake Norman
To: N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
Attn: Debra Watts
1636 mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1611
Marshall requires an "intermediate" or "high' prioritization in order to permanently
remove the threat to our WATER SUPPLY. Clean water is NOT an inexhaustible resource.
We know and you are aware of the following facts:
• This ash pond is unlined and leaking
• This ash pond is almost 60 years old
• Nearby water wells are contaminated
• Duke's own monitoring show metal concentrates that exceed health standards
• Time will not make it better, only worse
• One reason for very LOW electric rates as compared to the rest of the country has been
the failure to pay for safe disposal over the years
• Delay in removal will shift the burden to the younger generation
• Electricity should not be cheap at the expense of the safety of WATER
• Saving money now will only increase the expense to future generations
Let us not put our heads in the sand and push the problem onto future generations who DID NOT
cause this health risk.
��
Steven C. Lian
2731 Hemlock Ct
Nebo, NC 28761
(Lake James resident)
REDENEDINCDEQIDWR
MAR 31 N15
water Quality
Regional Operations Section

March 20,2016 REOEivEDimcDEQIDWR
Susan Fogel MAR 2 3 2016
16100 Henry Lane
Huntersville, NC 28078 v QW[ ty
Rego it:d vpur wm seckm
Debra Watts
NC DEQ
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1611
Dear Ms. Watts;
Living in North Carolina along the shores of Lake Norman gives me and my family the
opportunity to appreciate this beautiful region and all the forms of life that are around us.
I view the steam rising into the sky from the Marshall Steam Plant from the northern end
of the lake. I am writing to ask that the unlined coal ash ponds at the Marshall Steam
Plant be warranted a `Intermediate' or `High' prioritization to ensure excavation and the
removal of the contaminated coal ash threat. These unlined ponds are a potential threat to
our public water we ingest and enjoy for recreation.
Below are my concerns:
Marshall is the largest coal ash site in North Carolina.
Marshall's unlined, leaking coal ash ponds are almost 60 years old.
More than 1 million people rely on drinking water intakes downstream
Families living near the unlined coal ash ponds at Marshall have been told not to
drink the water because of contamination. Even Duke Energy employees were advised
not to drink water at the plant.
Both Dukes own monitoring wells and the wells of neighbors have metals
concentrations that exceed regulatory and health -based standards.
Lake Norman is critical to the regional economy, providing a significant
proportion of property tax base for surrounding counties.
Most of Lake Norman's 520 miles of shoreline are lined with homes.
Water quality is a huge concern across the world. Please help to keep North Carolina
water quality safe for our future generations! Require Duke Energy to line the coal ash
ponds at Marshall Steam Plant.
Sincerely,
usan Fogel �j 1

RECEIVED
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