Duke fined $7 million, will speed up coal ash remediation

COAL ASH:
• Duke Energy agreed to $7 million in fines and will speed up remediation at coal ash pits under a settlement with North Carolina. (SNL)
• Some environmental lawyers say North Carolina regulators capitulated in the settlement with Duke Energy and tied the state’s hands in enforcing compliance. (Charlotte Business Journal)

OZONE POLLUTION:
• Analysts predict neither environmental groups nor manufacturers will like the new ozone limits expected tomorrow from the EPA. (National Journal)
• Health advocates are hoping the EPA’s new ozone limits due tomorrow will be the lower bound recommended by many scientists. (Climate Progress)

CLIMATE: Al Gore says the Internet is beginning to push television off center stage in debates over politics and climate. (Miami Herald)

OIL & GAS:
• Most visible flare emissions at refineries nationwide would be reduced under new EPA rules. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
• Drillers are finding a new shale play that stretches from southern West Virginia to eastern Kentucky. (The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register) 

VOLKSWAGEN EMISSIONS VIOLATIONS: VW plans a massive recall of affected diesel-powered vehicles to update software that evaded emissions tests. (The Wall Street Journal)

COMMENTARY:
• In its settlement with Duke Energy, North Carolina abdicated its responsibility to ensure the public’s groundwater is protected from coal ash contamination. (Southern Environmental Law Center)
• Congress should insist that lifting the ban on U.S. oil exports should be coupled with measures to mitigate the impact on wildlife and natural resources. (The Wall Street Journal)
• With recent advances in vehicle emissions limits, the long-term cost of VW’s diesel violations are no worse than the carbon dioxide that cars pump out legally. (Politico)