NC: "Top Aides To Be Questioned About Coal Ash Well Water Warnings"

"Top aides in the McCrory administration will have to testify under oath about a 2015 meeting on how to word do-not-drink warnings to well owners who live near Duke Energy coal ash ponds.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has served notices of depositions on Gov. Pat McCrory’s chief of staff, Thomas Stith, and his communications director, Josh Ellis. Discussions are underway with state health department attorneys to set a deposition date for that agency’s communications director, Kendra Gerlach, according to SELC spokeswoman Kathleen Sullivan.

In addition, the SELC has subpoenaed a sweeping array of records from the governor’s office, including three years’ worth of emails and other documents related to coal ash and Duke Energy, as well as records relating to state toxicologist Kenneth Rudo, Gerlach and comments Stith made at a news conference this month aimed at discrediting Rudo. Records relating to coal ash pond neighbors with private wells are also sought."

Craig Jarvis reports for the Raleigh News & Observer August 16, 2016.