A decade ago, thousands of tons of toxic coal ash poured into the Dan River. The spill—the third largest of its kind in US history—was a devastating environmental disaster. But today, the event is perhaps best known for its legacy of legislation, as environmental activists and communities across North Carolina turned a local disaster into a national rallying cry for change.

Featuring:

Celeste Gracia, Environmental Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio
Brian Williams, Program Manager at the Dan River Basin Association
Tiffany Hayworth, Executive Director at the Dan River Basin Association
Frank Holloman, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center
Amy Adams, former Campaign Coordinator at Appalachian Voices
Bill Norton, Spokesperson at Duke Energy

Links:

Check out Celeste’s recent reporting for WUNC on the ten year anniversary of the Dan River coal ash spill and its lasting impact on environmental policy.
You can find a transcript of the episode here.

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The toxic spill that left a legacy of change