Senate Bill 856 - Coal Ash Management Act of 2014

• Prohibits electric utilities from recovering costs related to coal combustion residuals management and unlawful discharges from coal ash surface impoundments from retail customers, effective January 1, 2014.

• Bans construction of new and expansion of existing coal combustion residuals surface impoundments effective July 1, 2014, and prohibits disposal of coal ash into these impoundments after August 1, 2014; requires new coal ash be disposed in sanitary landfills or used beneficially.

• Requires coal ash impoundment owners to survey drinking water supply wells within one-half mile and replace contaminated wells with alternate potable water supplies by January 1, 2015.

• Establishes risk-based closure schedule for all coal ash surface impoundments: high-risk by August 1, 2019; intermediate-risk by August 1, 2024; low-risk by August 1, 2029; four specific Duke Energy sites must close by January 1, 2017.

• Strengthens reporting requirements for wastewater discharges containing coal combustion residuals within 24 hours, requires emergency action plans for high and intermediate-hazard dams, mandates annual independent engineer inspections of coal ash impoundments, and appropriates $1.75 million for implementation.