NC H687

Prohibits electric public utilities from recovering costs from retail customers for managing coal combustion residuals in surface impoundments and for unlawful discharges to state surface waters (except when due to force majeure), effective January 1, 2014.

Requires all coal combustion residuals surface impoundments to be dewatered and closed by removing all residuals to a municipal solid waste landfill on the same property, with the landfill requiring specific liner system specifications including two flexible membrane liners with leak detection and two feet of soil underneath.

Establishes closure deadlines based on risk classification: high-risk impoundments by August 1, 2019; intermediate-risk impoundments by August 1, 2024; and low-risk impoundments by August 1, 2029.

Requires the Department to assess and classify all coal combustion residuals surface impoundments by considering factors including hazards to public health, structural condition, proximity to surface waters, soil and groundwater contamination, proximity to 100-year flood areas, and other relevant risk factors.

Repeals existing provisions for low-risk and intermediate-risk classification criteria and provides public participation procedures including newspaper publication, mailings, and public meetings for proposed impoundment classifications.