North Carolina officials tell Duke Energy to address pipe systems at 6 coal ash impoundments

State officials are ordering Duke Energy to address piping systems in dams at six coal ash impoundments across North Carolina.

The N.C. Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources on Thursday issued four notices for leaks and other structural concerns. Problems were discovered at the utility's power plants in Chatham, Person and Rockingham counties. Duke Energy was ordered to provide a schedule for repairing the piping systems within 30 days.

The state also told Duke Energy to provide engineering assessments for piping systems at impoundment dams where inspectors noticed smaller leaks or concerns. The letters target the Chatham, Stokes and Person facilities, as well as Wayne County.

Division director Tracy Davis says none of the leaks or other concerns poses an imminent threat to the structural integrity of the dams.