Our deepest concerns, in a way bring us together.

January 22nd marked the fourth meeting that community activists, river advocates along with the Robeson County community have met to address concerns regarding W.H. Weatherspoon Power Plant.

“This is an issue that is kind of like a sleeping giant,” mentioned Christine Ellis, River Advocate for the Winyah Rivers Foundation.

The coal-fired Weatherspoon Plant in Lumberton was built in the late 1940’s.

It was the Carolina and Power Light Company’s first major construction project in the post-World War II expansion, before retiring in 2011.

However, what to do when Robeson County’s biggest asset at the time is now perceived as a potential threat to its own water supply.

“The [Lumber] river is the lifeblood of this entire region,” said Rev. Mac Legerton, Executive Director of the Robeson County Center for Community Action.

“We think the coal ash at the Weatherspoon Plant needs to be removed,” added Ellis.

To trace environmentalists concerns, go back to February 2, 2014, where 39,000 tons of coal ash spilled into the Dan River.

The problem was a failed storm water pipe under an ash basin at the retired Dan River coal plant.

It caught the attention of not only the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, but environmentalists.

“Hey, if this happened at the Dan River, which really isn’t a very large coal ash pond, it can happen here at the lumber river,” Ellis explained.

Not to mention, the Robeson County Legislative Delegation who wrote a letter in June of 2014 to NC DENR Secretary John Skvarla requesting coal ash removal. 

“The river connects many people.  I know people in this area that live off this river,” stated Walter Dodge, who lives nearby the river and a regular at the meetings.

“It’s just something you think about very strongly. And the people in our community,” explained Clarence Davis, a long-time resident.

Davis’ property sits on the other side of a stream that connects into the Lumber across from the facility.

“Our family moved out here in the 1900’s and it’s been a part of our family ever since,” he said.

“Definitely there is a concern because of the location here at the river,” NC Representative Charles Graham added.

So began the community meetings.

Back in June of 2014, DENR issued a Notice of Deficiency for the plant, classifying the dam as an “intermediate hazard”.

Months later, it was reclassified as a high hazard and “potential impact to downstream communities.”

However in November, Duke Energy announced coal ash removal plans for four of its 14 sites (Asheville Steam Electric Plant, Dan River Steam Station (Eden), Riverbend Steam Station (Mount Holly) and L.V. Sutton Steam Electric Plant (Wilmington) facilities).

“There are other places true, but our concerns are right here in this community,” Davis mentioned.

“I’m not an environmental scientist but i do know that if we have leakages and seepages occurring and if we get a massive amount of water in this area it could be devastating,” Graham said.

According to Duke Energy, Weatherspoon is one of the 10 plants in North Carolina that will move through the classification process outlined in the coal ash management act.

The coal ash management commission is the one assigning classifications.

Advocates and community members plan to meet with local representatives to discuss a possible meeting with the commission.