By Elizabeth E. Payne
August was an eventful month for the coal ash saga in North Carolina. Early in the month, the transcript of the sworn testimony of Dr. Ken Rudo, a toxicologist at the N.C. Department for Health and Human Services, became public.
Rudo raised concerns about language used by state environmental and health officials that downplayed the risks of last year’s “do not drink” warnings issued to hundreds of families living near Duke Energy coal ash impoundments.
Two top officials at state agencies responded with an open editorial defending their actions and criticizing “Rudo’s unprofessional approach to this important matter.”
Following the release of this editorial, Dr. Megan Davies resigned from her position as state epidemiologist at DHHS. “Upon reading the open editorial yesterday evening, I can only conclude that the Department’s leadership is fully aware that this document misinforms the public,” Davies wrote in her resignation letter. “I cannot work for a Department and an Administration that deliberately misleads the public.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Quality has proposed permits to allow Duke Energy to dispose of wastewater from its coal ash impoundments at its Dan River, Mayo and Roxboro sites directly into nearby waterways. Dan River was the site of the 2014 spill.
Public comments about the plans can be emailed to the agency at [email protected] until Nov. 4.
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
Signs of Life
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment