Environmental groups angry over groundwater laws

A group of environmental activists in North Carolina have gone up in front of court in a bid to protect Carolina communities and groundwater from toxic coal ash contamination.

The law suit is aimed at 14 coal-fired power plants across the state, which threatens the groundwater in the local community.

Among those targeted are Belews Creek Steam Station in Belews Creek, the Dan River Steam Station in Eden and the Buck Steam Station in Spencer near the Yadkin River.

The groups want the government to honour a North Carolina law that requires industrial polluters to stop groundwater contamination.

Instead, however, these activists are arguing that the coal-fired power plants instead create a lot of toxic waste which negatively effects the groundwater.

"Twenty years ago, North Carolina required utilities to take immediate action to stop groundwater contamination from these outdated facilities," said DJ Gerken, a senior attorney at the southern environmental law centre who represents the groups.

"Thanks to the state’s misapplication of its own laws, we’re still waiting for these polluters to stop and clean up known contamination of groundwater from their old industrial operations."

It is hoped that there will be a clean up of the contaminated groundwater.

"The fight against toxic coal ash is gaining momentum here in North Carolina and nationwide. This is another step toward our goal of protecting North Carolina families from coal ash contamination," said Kelly Martin, beyond coal campaign representative with Sierra Club.

"Our health and our water resources are too important to gamble with. The state of North Carolina and Duke Energy need to take action to clean up this toxic contamination now."

Other activist groups have echoed her sentiment, and it is hoped that the problem will be resolved after the case.