"RALEIGH -- Conservation groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the state Environmental Management Commission, Duke Energy and Progress Energy seeking the cleanup or shut-down of 14 ash pits that collect tons of waste from coal-burning power plants across the state."

"The groups -- Cape Fear River Watch, Sierra Club, Waterkeeper Alliance and Western North Carolina Alliance -- are challenging a ruling in December by the Environmental Management Commission.

In a 9-2 ruling, the commission said Duke and Progress ash pits were subject to less stringent regulations than conservation groups contended and were not out of compliance with groundwater contamination standards."

Anne Blythe reports for the Raleigh News & Observer January 8, 2013. [2]