RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Duke Energy and North Carolina's environment agency are negotiating over a fine for that Coal Ash Spill in the Dan River. The fine in question is worth nearly $7 million.
Attorneys for the state agency and Duke Energy Corp. said delaying Monday's scheduled hearing may help resolve the disputed fine for polluting the Dan River in 2014. Duke Energy has called the proposed fine disproportionate and arbitrary.
Spokeswomen for both sides declined comment.
Duke Energy also objected last year when the Department of Environmental Quality proposed an unprecedented $25 million fine for persistent groundwater pollution at a Wilmington power plant.
The agency later reduced that to $7 million and agreed to expand it to cover groundwater contamination at all 14 coal-burning Duke Energy plants in North Carolina.