Ervin Hayes, who farms land along Old Whiteville Road, told state Department of Environmental Quality officials Thursday that coal ash from the former Weatherspoon coal generating plant has over the years damaged and negatively impacted the ability of his property to produce quality crops. Ervin Hayes, who farms land along Old Whiteville Road, told state Department of Environmental Quality officials Thursday that coal ash from the former Weatherspoon coal generating plant has over the years damaged and negatively impacted the ability of his property to produce quality crops.