This post has been corrected to reflect the fine only regarding the Dan River spill, not the $25 million assessed to Duke for the Sutton facility and the groundwater contamination across the state.

The Friday surprise out of the NC Department of Environmental Quality is that it has reduced the fine against Duke Energy related to the February 2014 coal ash spill in Eden.

In February, state regulators fined the utility $6.8 million for the spill at Dan River. Duke Energy challenged the fine. The $6 million settlement prevents the state from incurring additional legal costs associated with lengthy litigation and allows the state to focus all its resources on permanently closing coal ash ponds.

From WFAE:

In a statement, DEQ said: “The $6 million settlement prevents the state from incurring additional legal costs associated with lengthy litigation and allows the state to focus all its resources on permanently closing coal ash ponds.”

From the DEQ press release:

“This is yet another example of the McCrory administration’s commitment to environmental protection,” said Secretary Donald van der Vaart. “Unlike previous administrations, we will take enforcement actions against anyone that does not comply with the law so that we can prevent future environmental catastrophes.”

However, for environmental advocates, state toxicologists and people who live near the coal ash ponds, this is yet another example of the tail — Duke Energy — wagging the dog — DEQ. They have repeatedly criticized and in some cases, sued, DEQ for its leniency toward the utility, the former employer of Gov. Pat McCrory.

Contamination is still leaking into waterways. Just last week, third-party testing paid for by the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is suing Duke, showed high levels of arsenic in the Yadkin River near the Buck Plant in Salisbury.

Under the Coal Ash Management Act, Duke Energy is required to provide permanent alternative water supplies to residents around coal ash facilities by the fall of 2018. The utility must also excavate and close the Dan River facility’s coal ash ponds by Aug. 1, 2019. All Duke coal ash ponds must be closed by 2029.