North Carolina's environmental agency said it was wrong to declare the arsenic levels in the Dan River safe for people after a massive coal ash spill.MOBILE USERS: Tap here to watch Talitha Vickers' Sunday night report. If you're on our main website, just click above.The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Sunday a water sample taken two days after the spill was four times higher than the maximum level for people to have prolonged contact, such as swimming.The drinking water from the nearest town downstream has not been affected. Officials say the water treatment plant in Danville, Va., is removing the arsenic and other toxins from the water.Duke Energy said it permanently plugged the leak Saturday, six days after it was discovered. Duke said up to 82,000 tons of ash from a coal-burning power plant mixed with 27 million gallons of contaminated water escaped.A top executive at Duke Energy has apologized for the company's massive coal ash spill.Duke Energy president for North Carolina operations Paul Newton made the apology Friday as he visited with residents in the affected towns of Eden, N.C., and Danville, Va. The company said it is developing a long-term clean-up plan for the river.

North Carolina's environmental agency said it was wrong to declare the arsenic levels in the Dan River safe for people after a massive coal ash spill.

MOBILE USERS: Tap here to watch Talitha Vickers' Sunday night report. If you're on our main website, just click above.


The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Sunday a water sample taken two days after the spill was four times higher than the maximum level for people to have prolonged contact, such as swimming.

The drinking water from the nearest town downstream has not been affected. Officials say the water treatment plant in Danville, Va., is removing the arsenic and other toxins from the water.

Duke Energy said it permanently plugged the leak Saturday, six days after it was discovered. Duke said up to 82,000 tons of ash from a coal-burning power plant mixed with 27 million gallons of contaminated water escaped.

A top executive at Duke Energy has apologized for the company's massive coal ash spill.

Duke Energy president for North Carolina operations Paul Newton made the apology Friday as he visited with residents in the affected towns of Eden, N.C., and Danville, Va. The company said it is developing a long-term clean-up plan for the river.