A federal criminal charge has been filed against Duke Energy for illegal dumping at NC power plant.

Criminal charges against three subsidiaries of Duke Energy Corp.: Duke Energy Business Services LLC, Duke Energy Carolinas LLC, and Duke Energy Progress, Inc. have been filed by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, along with the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section for multiple violations of the Clean Water Act.

The three U.S. Attorney’s Offices filed separate criminal bills of information in their respective federal courts, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act at the following Duke facilities: Dan River Steam Station (Rockingham County); Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant (Chatham County); Asheville Steam Electric Generating Plant (Buncombe County); H.F. Lee Steam Electric Plant (Wayne County); and Riverbend Steam Station (Gaston County).

The alleged violations include unlawfully failing to maintain equipment at the Dan River and Cape Fear facilities and unlawfully discharging coal ash and/or coal ash wastewater from impoundments at the Dan River, Asheville, Lee, and Riverbend facilities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Middle and Western Districts also filed papers asking their courts to transfer the cases to be heard in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The defendants face a maximum penalty on each charged count of five years probation; a fine in an amount of the greater of not less than $2,500 nor more than $25,000 per day of violation; $200,000; or twice the gross gain or loss; restitution; and a special assessment of $125.

Duke said Friday it expects to pay $102 million in fines and restitution.