RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Duke Energy has been give the go-ahead to make repairs at Catawba County's Marshall Steam Station. State regulators said yes to a plan to lower the level of a coal ash storage pond to do so.

Permission was given Thursday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The utility requested it be allowed to lower the level of the coal ash impoundment to make necessary repairs to a corrugated metal pipe that is part of the decant system that filters wastewater in the ash pond. The Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources has approved repairs to the pipe.

The EPA and state regulators determined the repairs are authorized under a provision of the utility’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that allows lowering pond levels for essential maintenance to a dam as long as the utility does not exceed permitted wastewater discharge limits during maintenance.