A Spill That Won’t Clean

NORTH CAROLINA

The air pollution created by burning coal is hard to miss–but it’s not the only toxic by-product of one of the nation’s biggest sources of energy. There’s also coal ash, residue left over after combustion that can contain unhealthy levels of heavy metals. The ash is usually kept in storage ponds or dumps. When those leak, the environmental damage can be tremendous. That’s what happened in early February when a North Carolina dump owned by Duke Energy ruptured, releasing enough coal ash to cover 70 miles of the state’s Dan River. Weeks later the spill, the third worst in U.S. history, is still being cleaned up.

The fallout may last longer. A federal grand jury convened on March 18 to probe the relationship between Duke and state regulators, according to the Associated Press, and even GOP Governor Pat McCrory, a former Duke executive, is criticizing the company’s handling of the spill. But coal ash is an issue beyond the Tar Heel State. The U.S. produces over 140 million tons each year, yet there is little federal regulation.

–BRYAN WALSH

ABORTION RIGHTS

12

Weeks into a pregnancy after which an Arkansas law would have banned most abortions, one of the nation’s most restrictive measures. A federal judge declared the law unconstitutional on March 14.