Parker Waichman LLP

TVA Fly Ash Spill Subject of Senate Hearing on Thursday

A Senate committee will look into last month’s Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)  fly ash spill at a hearing scheduled for Thursday.  According to a report on Bloomberg.com, the hearing before the  Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will focus on whether more federal oversight of coal waste storage sites is needed. The Tennessee fly […]

A Senate committee will look into last month’s <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/Tennessee_Fly_Ash_Spill">Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)  fly ash spill at a hearing scheduled for Thursday.  According to a report on Bloomberg.com, the hearing before the  Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will focus on whether more federal oversight of coal waste storage sites is needed.

The Tennessee fly ash spill occurred  around 1:00 a.m. on December 22 after  a wall holding back 80 acres of sludge from the TVA’s facility in Roane County, Tennessee broke.  Though the exact cause of the accident was not known, it was thought that six inches of rain over the previous 10 days and overnight temperatures in the teens contributed to the dam breach.

The TVA said that at least 300 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it  larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. The authority now says that  5.4 million cubic yards of potentially toxic fly ash was released from a retention pond. According to the Knoxville News, that’s triple the estimate of  1.7 million cubic yards the TVA first released. The fly ash spill damaged  15 homes. All the residents were  evacuated, but at least three homes were deemed uninhabitable.

According to Bloomberg.com, TVA CEO Tom Kilgore will be among the witnesses who testify at Thursday’s Senate hearing.  Since the spill some have voiced concerns that the TVA was able to avoid closer oversight prior to the catastrophe because it got deferential treatment from both federal and state regulators, Bloomberg said.

According to the Bloomberg report, The TVA provides power to industry and about 9 million people in the river valley that runs from southern Virginia to northern Mississippi.  The federally owned company receives no government funds and isn’t publicly traded, although it sells bonds.  Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, said last week that the TVA may have been given too much leeway because it is federally owned, Bloomberg reported.

Since the spill, calls for change in the way coal wastes are regulated have come from several quarters.  According to Businessweek.com, Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, a Republican, said the spill should be a “wake-up call” for greater environmental and regulatory oversight.

Businessweek.com also said that Bredesen has promised to review state regulatory practices and the federal Environmental Protection Agency has suggested taking on greater oversight of  coal waste piles.  And according to Bloomberg.com, Representative Nick Rahall, the West Virginia Democrat who heads the House Natural Resources Committee, may offer legislation mandating that coal-ash storage sites meet federal standards similar to those already in place for storing waste from coal-mining.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Kathleen M Snedecor is the Paralegal from Parker Waichman LLP. whom I've had the pleasure of dealing with during the process of my lawsuit. I would highly recommend the Parker Waichman Law firm because of Kathleen's professional, courteous, and prompt response to my calls and questions. Thank you Kathleen and Parker Waichman for all your help.
Michael Sorger
5 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Parker Waichman helped me. Joanne was helpful as well.
Charlene Hakimi
5 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
PARKER WAICHMAN LLP, Excellent Professionals with experiences and very kind, and in particular I want to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Jorge Peniche for helping with all my questions and being in constant communication regarding my case. We won it!!! and without a doubt I recommend them
Yosselyn Castillo
3 months ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038