WOODFIN, N.C. (WLOS) — Twenty months after Helene, thousands of pounds of PVC pipe linked to international pipe manufacturer IPEX continue to be removed from the French Broad River, according to local environmental groups.
The ongoing cleanup has raised questions about accountability and enforcement, as nonprofits say they have spent significant time and taxpayer resources removing debris that washed into the river during the storm.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said state rules prohibit the intentional dumping of waste into waterways but do not specifically address releases caused by unexpected events such as natural disasters…