RALEIGH -- Recently acquired internal e-mails show that Duke Energy reached out to North Carolina's environmental agency before DENR intervened in a citizen group's lawsuit against the company for pollution seeping into waterways from coal ash dumps.

The Associated Press received e-mails from the Southern Environmental Law Center, who had filed a notice in January 2013 of their intent to file a suit against Duke under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The e-mails show that, within days, a lobbyist for Duke had contacted DENR. Department staff then exchanged e-mails discussing "how Duke wants to be sued."

The agency, ultimately, intervened in the lawsuit. Then negotiated a settlement with Duke Energy, where the $50 billion company - the nation's largest utility - was fined $99,100. There were no environmental sanctions as part of that agreement between Duke and DENR.