Yourlawyer.com (Tennessee Fly Ash Spill News)

TVA Says 2/3rds of Coal Ash from Last Year's Spill Cleaned Up

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is stating that most of the coal ash “deemed critical” following last year’s historic spill, has been cleaned up, said WDEF. The authority said some two-thirds of the “critical” spill has been cleaned out of the Emory River

The catastrophic fly ash spill took place last December and released an unimaginable 5.4 million cubic yards of toxic coal sludge, dumping toxins into Tennessee’s Emory and Clinch rivers and the 300 acres surrounding the TVA’s Kingston plant. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report states that some “potentially toxic pollutants,” such as mercury and arsenic, found in coal ash, could present serious problems.

Mike Scott, the recovery project’s operations manager said, speaking to Chattanooga's Engineers club, "We had some heavy rains earlier after the spill had occurred which put some of the ash and washed it further down river which is one of the reasons why we're trying so hard to get it out before the Spring come next year," quoted WDEF. According to Scott, three million cubic yards of the 5.4 million cubic yards of fly ash were labeled "critical," and should be fully cleaned up by spring 2010, reported WDEF.

Earlier this year we wrote about how information pointing to “significantly higher cancer risks” for those living near coal-fired power plant ash dumps was allegedly covered up by the recent Bush Administration, citing a report by EnvironmentalIntegrity.org. The massive TVA spill involved over one billion gallons of toxic coal sludge and ravaged the environment, the economy, and the lives and health of the families, wildlife, and aquatic life living in the area. KnoxNews previously noted that the toxic sludge destroyed three homes and damaged about two-dozen others. The report also states that the pollutants can converge in considerable quantities, which are released into waterways or groundwater, said the Tennessean.

Numerous studies have concluded that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, including frightening guarantees of developing cancer from drinking contaminated water and suffering damage to the liver, kidney, lungs and other organs from toxic metal exposure, such as cadmium, cobalt, lead, and other pollutants far above levels considered safe,” said Environmental Integrity. The group noted that the danger to wildlife and ecosystems is “off the charts, with one contaminant—boron—expected to leach into the environment at levels two thousand times thresholds generally considered to be safe.”

The report also discusses cases in which the toxin has killed aquatic wildlife, contaminated wells, and adversely affected wildlife, reported the Tennessean, with the causes linked to coal ash wastewater. The waste has been both accidentally and “routinely” released as a result of coal-fired plant daily operations, the Tennessean noted. “Many of the common pollutants found in coal combustion wastewater (e.g., selenium, mercury, and arsenic) are known to cause environmental harm and can potentially represent a human health risk,” said the report, quoted the Tennessean.

EPA Report Details Coal Ash Threat

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

We have been following events since the catastrophic fly ash spill that took place last December in Tennessee in which an unimaginable 5.4 million cubic yards of toxic coal sludge was dumped into the Emory and Clinch rivers and the 300 acres surrounding the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Kingston plant. Now, an emerging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report states that some “potentially toxic pollutants,” such as mercury and arsenic, which are found in coal ash, could present serious problems.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, we wrote about how information pointing to “significantly higher cancer risks” for those living near coal-fired power plant ash dumps was allegedly covered up by the recent Bush Administration, citing a report by EnvironmentalIntegrity.org. The historic TVA spill’s involved over one billion gallons of toxic coal sludge and The spill ravaged the environment, the economy, and the lives and health of the families, wildlife, and aquatic life living in the area. KnoxNews previously noted that the toxic sludge destroyed three homes and damaged about two-dozen others.

The new report states that the pollutants can converge in considerable quantities, which are released into waterways or groundwater, said the Tennessean. The report is in excess of 230 pages and has been met with positive responses from environmentalists who are hoping this will pave the way for improved regulations, added the Tennessean.

"We applaud the EPA for addressing coal's toxic legacy head on, for delving deeper and completing this long overdue investigation," said Mary Anne Hitt, deputy director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, in an emailed statement, quoted the Tennessean. Hitt added that she is hoping that the EPA will institute “strong federal regulations in place for coal ash" and removal of sludge.

Numerous studies have concluded that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, including frightening guarantees of developing cancer from drinking contaminated water and suffering damage to the liver, kidney, lungs and other organs from toxic metal exposure, such as cadmium, cobalt, lead, and other pollutants far above levels that are considered safe,” said Environmental Integrity, previously. The group also noted that the danger to wildlife and ecosystems is “off the charts, with one contaminant—boron—expected to leach into the environment at levels two thousand times thresholds generally considered to be safe.”

Officials at the agency said they would make a decision by year-end regarding the regulation of coal ash as a hazardous waste; however, industry officials say this move is not necessary and “would undermine” recycling efforts, said the Tennessean. The waste is sometimes recycled into concrete.

But, the report discusses cases in which the toxin has killed aquatic wildlife, contaminated wells, and adversely affected wildlife, reported the Tennessean, with the causes linked to coal ash wastewater. The waste has been both accidentally and “routinely” released as a result of coal-fired plant daily operations, the Tennessean noted.

“Many of the common pollutants found in coal combustion wastewater (e.g., selenium, mercury, and arsenic) are known to cause environmental harm and can potentially represent a human health risk," said the report, quoted the Tennessean.

TVA Fly Ash Cleanup to Last Three Years

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Efforts to complete cleanup on last year’s massive Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) fly ash spill is expected to take three years, according to Steve McCracken, the newly-named recovery project’s general manager, reported KnoxNews.

According to McCracken, speaking at a news conference at the plant, the properties impacted by the historic and decimating spill will be safe for habitation and that he claims he would feel safe living near the utility’s plant following cleanup, said KnoxNews. "I feel confident we can do that," he said, quoted KnoxNews, of McCraken’s comments on the cleanup plans.

The December 2008 catastrophic fly ash spill dumped an incomprehensible 5.4 million cubic yards—over one billion gallons—of toxic coal sludge into Tennessee’s Emory and Clinch rivers and the 300 acres surrounding the TVA Kingston plant. The spill ravaged the environment, the economy, and the lives and health of the families, wildlife, and aquatic life living in the area. KnoxNews noted that the toxic sludge destroyed three homes and damaged about two-dozen others.

Citing officials, KnoxNews reported that one-third of the sludge dumped into the river has been removed, to date. The river is expected to be cleared at the end of Phase 1, which is scheduled for completion by next spring, said KnoxNews. The rest of the sludge should be cleared from a creek and the land surrounding the TVA plant, reported KnoxNews.

Earlier this year, we wrote about how information pointing to “significantly higher cancer risks” for those living near coal-fired power plant ash dumps was allegedly covered up by the recent Bush Administration, citing a report by EnvironmentalIntegrity.org.

Numerous studies have concluded that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, including frightening guarantees of developing cancer from drinking contaminated water and suffering damage to the liver, kidney, lungs and other organs from toxic metal exposure, such as cadmium, cobalt, lead, and other pollutants far above levels that are considered safe,” said Environmental Integrity, previously. The group also noted that the danger to wildlife and ecosystems is “off the charts, with one contaminant—boron—expected to leach into the environment at levels two thousand times thresholds generally considered to be safe.”

Residents have some valid and serious concerns regarding the heavy metals that were released with the spill, such as arsenic, lead, selenium, and radioactive products including chromium and barium, reported CNN previously. Some of these toxins and chemicals have been known to cause cancer, as we have long been reporting.

McCracken is taking over for Anda Ray, TVA's senior vice president for environment and research, said KnoxNews. Ray was in the spot temporarily and is now returning to her prior post and will also continue serving on the board of the Roane County Economic Development Foundation. According to KnoxNews, McCracken has managed three large cleanup projects for the U.S. Department of Energy, worked as assistant manager for environment management for the Department of Energy (DOE), and managed contaminated industrial facility cleanups in Missouri and Ohio.

Coal Ash Cancer Risks Detailed in Suppressed Report

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Information pointing to “significantly higher cancer risks” for those living near coal-fired power plant ash dumps was covered up by the Bush Administration, according to a report just released by EnvironmentalIntegrity.org. Apparently, a 2002 report—EPA Risk Screening Report—was only finally released in 2009 after Barack Obama and his administration took office, said Environmental Integrity.

Although about three-dozen states were cited, 21 contain no less than five high-risk sites. The complete list can be found here.

Environmental Integrity accused the Bush Administration of dragging its feet for over five years on a “partial release” of data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that points to a very high risk of cancer for an alarming one out of every 50 Americans who live near ash and sludge dumps. There are over 200 landfills and wet ponds, said Environmental Integrity, that contained disposed “ash and scrubber sludge” which comes from coal-fired power plants in this country, based on the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and Earthjustice.

About 100 million tons of “toxic fly ash, bottom, ash, and scrubber sludge” are dumped into landfills and wet ponds, said Environmental Integrity, citing 2008’s catastrophic fly ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, which we have long been covering. On December 22, 2008, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill dumped a massive 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge in Tennessee’s Emory and Clinch rivers and 300 acres surrounding its Kingston plant.

Environmental Integrity accused the Bush-era EPA of making “a concerted effort to delay the release of the information about cancer, noncancer, and general environmental risks,” noting that partial information on coal ash sites was delayed for five years from 2002 to 2007, with the full report only being released after the Bush Administration exited. The report was only released following significant delays and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) pressure, said Environmental Integrity.

EIP and Earthjustice believe the Bush Administration was trying to hide information on 100 landfills and 110 surface impoundments that were examined by the EPA and that do not contain appropriate synthetic liners to prevent leaks, posing serious human health and ecosystems risks.

This new release points to significant, toxic, life-threatening responses to these sites pointing to frightening guarantees of developing cancer from drinking contaminated water and suffering damage to the liver, kidney, lungs and other organs as a result of toxic metal exposure, such as “cadmium, cobalt, lead, and other pollutants at concentrations far above levels that are considered safe,” said Environmental Integrity. The group also noted that the danger to wildlife and ecosystems is “off the charts, with one contaminant—boron—expected to leach into the environment at levels two thousand times thresholds generally considered to be safe.”

Numerous studies conclude that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, but the TVA, for example, claims that sampling results indicate its air and water quality tests meet government standards and that heavy metal levels are below hazardous waste classifications, said KnoxNews in a prior report. Water samples reveal mercury levels above and below the criteria for protecting fish for consumption and, while some tests indicated levels that passed the Chronic Water Quality Criteria test, they failed the domestic water supply test, said Volunteer TV/WVLT previously.

Long History of Flaws at TVA Facility

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

We have long been reporting about the December 22, 2008 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill that dumped a massive 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge in Tennessee’s Emory and Clinch rivers and 300 acres surrounding its Kingston plant. Now, Knoxville News is reporting about numerous issues that likely led to the catastrophic spill that left mountains of waste and destruction in its wake.

According to Knoxville News, a review of the records provided in response to the accident have revealed a variety of issues, for example:

Engineers raised questions about the walls' stability for decades. In-house engineers noted that the dikes holding ash sludge were incorrectly built and not designed to rise as high as they did.
Dike C, which failed, leaked chronically; was not built to engineers' specifications; was used as a foundation for dredge cells, which would increase risk of seepage; and was never intended to be a foundation.
Dike B, which failed, was designed to be built as earth, but was built of ash; "The exterior dikes were not designed for additional interior loads”; showed apparent seeps and erosion; revealed danger due to water movement; and suffered a “blowout” in 2003 due to excessive piping of water through the ashen walls. In 2006, the cell ruptured in the same spot for the same reason.
Dikes required constant re-engineering and maintenance; in-house and consulting engineers continually proposed fixes.
TVA did not halt dredging this winter but had been known to in past during “the rainier winter months.”
The pond was built on clay, which has led experts to speculate that failure was inevitable since increasing the stack also increased pressure on the foundation.

TVA has spent in excess of $68 million in cleanup and $11 million in property acquisitions, to date, with total costs estimated at about $845 million, not including “litigation, penalties and settlements,” said Knoxville News.

There are environmental dangers resulting from the TVA spill, which are exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. In an earlier report, the Tennessean discussed the potential for dangerous amounts of selenium being released in area waterways and ReadItNews noted that no known coal burning site—including the now infamous Kingston site—are subject to federal regulation, inspection, or environmental monitoring.

Numerous studies conclude that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, but the TVA states that sampling results indicate its air and water quality tests meet government standards and that heavy metal levels are below hazardous waste classifications, said KnoxNews in a prior report. Water samples reveal mercury levels above and below the criteria for protecting fish for consumption and, while some tests indicated levels that passed the Chronic Water Quality Criteria test, they failed the domestic water supply test, said Volunteer TV/WVLT previously.

TVA Claims Water Near Fly Ash Spill Safe for Recreation, Tests Disagree

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) just announced that damaged roads are being resurfaced, river dredging continues, and word should be released soon regarding to where the massive mountain of coal fly ash that spilled on December 22 will be moved, reports KnoxNews. The TVA spill dumped 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge in Tennessee’s Emory and Clinch rivers and 300 acres surrounding its Kingston plant in Eastern Tennessee.

Volunteer TV/WVLT reported that over 100 residents attended last night’s status update, the second since the spill occurred. According to KnoxNews, among other initiatives, the TVA is preparing a policy in which independent medical professionals will meet with those who filed health claims. KnoxNews also reported that TVA announced it dredged over 7,500 cubic yards of ash from the Emory River since mid-March, with work extending three additional hours daily, effective immediately.

We have long been reporting on the environmental dangers resulting from the TVA spill and how that accident is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. In an earlier report, the Tennessean discussed the potential for dangerous amounts of selenium being released in area waterways and ReadItNews noted that no known coal burning sites—including the now infamous TVA Kingston site—are subject to federal regulation, inspection, or environmental monitoring, adding that such oversight likely would have prevented the historic TVA fly ash spill.

Numerous studies have concluded that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, but the TVA states that sampling results indicate its air and water quality tests meet government standards and that heavy metal levels are below hazardous waste classifications, reported KnoxNews. Bonnie Swinford an environmental activist with United Mountain Defense said that it is conducting its own testing and feels the TVA should be releasing information on minimum acceptable levels on the tests it conducts said KnoxNews.

TVA said the area nearest the spill should be avoided, but water sports up and downstream are fine, reported Volunteer TV/WVLT; however, others argue the water is not safe anywhere near the spill and heavy metals are present in the affected Emory and Clinch rivers. Although the TVA reports the area is safe, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) stated that “several” water samples revealed metal levels that did not pass the “Tennessee’s Chronic Water Quality Criteria for protecting aquatic life,” reported Volunteer TV/WVLT, saying such metals included aluminum, cadmium, copper, iron, and lead; some samples from the Emory River and near the spill failed to pass because of high arsenic levels.

Also, water samples tested with mercury levels above and below the criteria for protecting fish for consumption and, while some tests indicated levels that passed the Chronic Water Quality Criteria test, they failed the domestic water supply test, said Volunteer TV/WVLT.

Meanwhile, the Tennessean is reporting that a Congressional committee is meeting today to learn why the accident occurred and will look at response and implication issues, citing the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. In addition to the TVA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), TDEC, and Duke University representatives will appear, said the Tennessean.

EPA Responds to TVA Fly Ash Catastrophe

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The devastating Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill that released 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge in Eastern Tennessee last December is a catastrophe that never should have happened, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ReaditNews is now reporting that the EPA is working on plans to prevent future spills, including collecting coal ash impoundment information from electrical utilities, conducting on-site integrity and vulnerability assessments, issuing clean-up and repair orders, and enhancing safety regulations, said ReadItNews. Critics say these steps should have been taken by the agency charged with environmental protection long ago, ReadItNews reported.

The 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge translates into a land flood of over 300 acres as well as water pollution destruction in large portions of the Emory and Clinch rivers. Wildlife, water life, homes, and property were damaged, with some houses decimated irreparably. According to ReadItNews, the clean-up costs have been recently estimated to run anywhere between $525 million and $825 million, which, it pointed out, does not include necessary long-term cleanup.

Earlier this month, we wrote about another accident that dumped 4,000 gallons of coal ash sludge into the Potomac River in Maryland after a pipeline ruptured at a coal-burning power plant. The spill began on a Sunday evening and continued until that Monday morning, continuously spilling the slurry until a routine inspection by employees discovered the accident. Now, ReadItNews reports that over 1,300 similar dumps exist nationwide, with most “unregulated and unmonitored” and containing an aggregate in excess of billions of gallons of fly ash and other “by-products of burning coal for energy.”

We have been reporting on the environmental dangers resulting from the TVA spill and how that accident is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure, as well as the potential for dangerous amounts of selenium being released in the area waterways, according to an earlier report by the Tennessean. ReadItNews noted that the known dumps—some of which can encompass 1,500 acres—also contain dangerous heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium. Worse, none of the sites—including the now infamous TVA Kingston site—are subject to federal regulation, inspection, or environmental monitoring, said ReadItNews, adding that such oversight likely would have prevented the historic TVA fly ash spill.

And, even though the EPA issued a warning in the past decade about coal ash containing high arsenic levels, the residue is used for “construction fill, mine reclamation, and other ‘beneficial uses,’” such as in agriculture to “improve the ability of soils to hold water,” said ReadItNews. Not surprising that the EPA has partnered with the American Coal Ash Association, the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group, the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Federal Highway Administration, and Electric Power Research Institute to promote Coal Combustion Products (CCPs). Perhaps the need to promote its use might be linked to the 131 million tons of CCPs produced in 2007, alone, a significant increase from 90 million tons in 1990, said ReadItNews.

Numerous studies have concluded that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in “humans, fish, bird, and frog populations,” but state regulations are uneven and there are no federal standards in place, said ReadItNews. And, while the EPA has been looking at the issue for about three decades, it has never stated that the toxic residue is, in fact, a hazardous waste, which is contributing to the lack of regulation, ReadItNews added.

Maryland Fly Ash Spill

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

We have long been reporting on the catastrophic Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill that took place this past December and spilled 5.4 millions cubic yards of fly ash, decimating the environment in that state. Now, another accident has dumped 4,000 gallons of coal ash sludge into the Potomac River in Maryland this weekend.

Nashville Scene reported that a pipeline ruptured on Sunday at a coal-burning power plant, which contaminated the West Virginia banks of the Potomac. The hole that caused the spill that began on Sunday evening and continued until Monday morning was reported to be about the size of a dime, but continuously spilled the slurry until a routine inspection by employees turned up the slurry accident.

We have also been reporting on the environmental dangers resulting from the devastating TVA fly ash spill that is exposing area Tennessee residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Radium—a Group-A carcinogenic material according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—exposure can lead to cancer. Arsenic, a dangerously toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

Dredging the coal sludge in Tennessee could release dangerous amounts of selenium in the area waterways, said the Tennessean in an earlier report. Selenium, while necessary to humans and animals, could result in catastrophic outcomes on fish when released at high levels, according to scientists, noted the Tennessean, when the dredging often needed to clean such spills releases toxic levels of the mineral into the water. Similar effects could be expected in Maryland based on the known dangers from ash sludge. Now, the EPA is considering storage pond regulation and many hope the government will see the issue of coal ash as a hazard not limited to Tennessee, but one that originates with coal and coal-burning plants, the Nashville Scene noted.

The Associated Press reported that, according to a spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment, the spill occurred where New Page Corporation—a papermaker—maintains an ash storage lagoon; New Page also operates a coal-burning power plant to produce the electricity needed to run the paper mill.

Fly ash is a residue that results from coal combustion and is one of two ashes that, combined, are called coal ash. This waste product can contain—depending on the coal from which it originated—toxins such as arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, chromium VI, cobalt, dioxins, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, PAH compounds, elenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium. According to the Cumberland Times News, the Maryland sludge contained high concentrations of selenium, sulfate, arsenic, iron, and manganese.

The damaged Maryland pipeline was shut down; two other lines continue to operate, carrying ash slurry from the power plant to an ash storage lagoon about 800 feet away in West Virginia. “Obviously, fly ash is not something that one wants in the water,” Harley Speir, a fisheries biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, told the Cumberland Times News. The mill is planning on conducting a thorough inspection of the pipelines and also plans on enhancing its preventative maintenance program.

Possible Dredging at TVA Fly Ash Spill Could Create Health Risks

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

We have been reporting on the environmental dangers resulting from the devastating Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill that is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Now, it seems, dredging the 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge could release dangerous amounts of selenium in the area waterways, said the Tennessean.

Selenium, while necessary to humans and animals, could result in catastrophic outcomes on fish when released at high levels, according to scientists, noted the Tennessean, which reported that the TVA received approval from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for its Phase I dredging plan. A. Dennis Lemly, a research biologist at Wake Forest University and an expert on the effects of selenium from coal ash on fish, told the Tennessean that dredging could release toxic levels of selenium into the water.

Lemly told the Tennessean that, “The hazard occurs because selenium bio-accumulates in the aquatic food chain." What happens, said Lemly, is that the metal builds up in fish eggs, causing spine, fin, and other deformities as well as infertility. "They're essentially poisoned at birth," Lemly said. Looking at fish contaminated by the spill just after the accident revealed a variety of health problems including, said the Tennessean, signs of stress, scale abrasions, and discolored gills, and ash filling the bellies of catfish.

Bryce Payne, a soil scientist from Pennsylvania who informed investigators from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee about selenium dangers linked to the TVA spill, suggested turning the waste into concrete before removal, said the Tennessean. Payne explained that exposing selenium to air or aerated water would release the metal downstream noting that, "It could kill fish in the Emory, the Clinch, and maybe down the Tennessee. To do the dredging (TVA's) way could be a disaster. You might have a dead river."

Payne’s suggestion involves injecting the ash with cement because concrete made from fly ash and cement sets quickly and once set, could be broken and removed from the water and then stored safely with the toxins trapped within the concrete. "The trick is doing it under water," Payne told the Tennessean adding that, "It's not going to be a simple matter, but there's the possibility the river will come out of this cleaner than before."

The spill caused much area destruction of property and the environment, including trapping felled trees and debris in the sludge. Also, said the Tennessean, there are some areas in which the ash sludge is 30 feet thick. Payne’s plan would be ineffective in these areas.

Phase I of the dredging plan involves clearing the Emory River channel; however, significant work is required to clear the river bed which had prior contamination with mercury and PCBs. TVA remains unclear about how long the cleanup will take and continues to investigate the cause of the spill, which followed a dike break. Of note, the massive spill was not TVA’s first accident and its records confirmed that a1984 annual inspection report indicated that an interior dike failed and that exterior walls were not meant for additional loads, according to an earlier report by the Knoxville Biz. At that time, additional studies were recommended; it is unclear if such studies occurred. Also, in 1984, a dike failure resulted in dredged material spilling into a then-dredged area as a result of a problem with an interior wall. In 2003, another accident, which dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road occurred.

TVA May Stop Using Ash Ponds in Kingston

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Following the monumental and catastrophic Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill that dumped over five million cubic yards of sludge into East Tennessee and its surrounding waterways, the TVA has come up with a plan to replace its fly ash ponds, says the Times Free Press. The devastating million gallon spill decimated homes—some beyond repair—and water and wildlife, destroying about 300 surrounding acres.

Now, the TVA is looking to replace the fly ash ponds at its Kingston Fossil Plant with dry ash storage, according to its 73-page correction action plan it submitted to state regulators, said the Times Free Press. The switch is expected to take two years, if approved. According to the TVA, collecting the fly ash in dry storage “will allow more flexible marketing and disposal options” and help minimize the risk of another ash pond leak.

The TVA also detailed its corrective plan of action to remove the spilled ash that had been accumulating for 50 years, half of which spilled in late December following heavy rains and cold temperatures. The weather conditions caused the “earthen dam” to break, creating the spill, explained the Times Free Press.

Fly ash is a waste product generated when coal is burned and, according to studies, contains significant quantities of heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and selenium, which can cause cancer and neurological problems. Of note, several days after the spill, the TVA had not issued any environmental warnings to nearby residents, and insisted there was no evidence yet of toxins in the waste.

Most recently, Tom Kilgore, TVA head, admitted that the fly ash spill was much worse than the TVA first admitted. Just prior, and of significant concern, researchers discovered that the massive fly ash spill is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Radium—a Group-A carcinogenic material according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—exposure can lead to cancer. Also, arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

Meanwhile, the TVA claims that it will restore the area damaged by fly ash to a condition “as good, if not better than before” the accident, reported the Times New Press.

According to an earlier Knoxville News report, inspectors found the TVA Kingston pond sound based on the report of three engineers who inspected the facility and said that despite the raised pond’s walls seeping water and some scars in the structure as a result of erosion, the TVA plant was in “good shape.” The inspection was conducted on October 20, 2008 and was completed after the December 22 TVA fly ash spill.

Also, the massive spill was not TVA’s first accident and its records confirmed that a 1984 annual inspection report indicated that an interior dike failed and that exterior walls were not meant for additional loads, according to an earlier report by the Knoxville Biz. At that time, additional studies were recommended; it is unclear if such studies occurred. Also, in 1984, a dike failure resulted in dredged material spilling into a then-dredged area as a result of a problem with an interior wall. In 2003, another accident, which dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road, occurred.

TVA Fly Ash Pond Given Clean Bill of Health Two Months Before Spill

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston’s Fossil Plant fly ash spill that dumped 5.4 million cubic yards of sludge into East Tennessee and its Emory River was seemed structurally sound only two months before the catastrophic accident that has decimated homes and water and wildlife, said Knoxville News. The damage to some homes was so severe that repair is impossible.

According to Knoxville News, inspectors found the TVA Kingston pond sound based on the report of three engineers who inspected the facility and said that despite the raised pond’s walls seeping water and some scars in the structure as a result of erosion, the TVA plant was in “good shape.” The inspection was conducted on October 20, 2008, said Knoxville News, and was completed after the December 22 TVA fly ash spill.

The report contains over 25,000 pages and was submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), said Knoxville News. TVA engineer Chris Buttram included a note at the end of the report he authored that acknowledged that the spill took place following the inspection and that its cause is under investigation; Buttram also wrote, reports Knoxville News, "None of the observations noted during this inspection indicated a dike failure was likely to occur in the foreseeable future." Prior inspection reports describe leaks, erosion, seepages, and water-soaked walls, said Knoxville News.

Most recently, Tom Kilgore, TVA head, admitted that the fly ash spill was much worse than TVA first admitted. Just prior, and of significant concern, researchers discovered that the massive fly ash spill is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Radium—a Group-A carcinogenic material according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—exposure can lead to cancer. Also, arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

The clean up is expected to cost anywhere between $525 million and $825 million—said WBIR in a prior report and Kilgore said he will take a pay cut, reducing his 2009 compensation to half, which is still expected to still bring him about $1 million. Phase I of the clean-up plan was submitted to the TDEC for approval and was reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers, among others, said WBIR. The groups provided feedback to TVA and await its revised plan.

TVA remains unclear about how long the cleanup will take and continues to investigate the cause of the spill, which followed a dike break, said WBIR. Of note, the massive spill was not TVA’s first accident and its records confirmed that a1984 annual inspection report indicated that an interior dike failed and that exterior walls were not meant for additional loads, according to an earlier report by the Knoxville Biz. At that time, additional studies were recommended; it is unclear if such studies occurred. Also, in 1984, a dike failure resulted in dredged material spilling into a then-dredged area as a result of a problem with an interior wall. In 2003, another accident, which dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road occurred.

Two Months Later, Agencies Await TVA Revised Phase I Clean-Up Plan

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

It has been two months since the catastrophic Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spilled dumped 5.4 million cubic yards of sludge into East Tennessee and its Emory River and residents continue to remain confused and unsure as to what is taking place to make their homes and neighborhoods whole again. The spill has devastated water and wildlife and damaged a variety of homes, some beyond repair.

Just last week, Tom Kilgore, TVA head, admitted that the fly ash spill was much worse than TVA first admitted. Just prior, and of significant concern, researchers discovered that the massive fly ash spill is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental problems, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Radium—a Group-A carcinogenic material according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—exposure can lead to cancer. Also, arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

WBIR reports that residents hit the hardest by the ash spill describe a horrific environmental disaster that has left some families facing overwhelming disruption of lives and destruction of property. One family told WBIR that living just on the river, they are subject to barriers in their backyard, erected pending clean-up, and questions about the noise and commotion to which they will be subject for an unknown length of time. Residents describe their neighborhood as looking like a war zone and many are still in shock over the events, said WBIR. One family told WBIR that the enormous “mountain of sludge” pushed their home from its foundation, moving it into the street.

Families are working with the Authority regarding damaged land; some are looking at selling homes and moving away from a neighborhood they loved, said WBIR. And, many homeowners are upset over property value appraisals they have been given, which are not close to their expectations.

The clean up is expected to cost anywhere between $525 million and $825 million—said WBIR in a prior report and Kilgore said he will take a pay cut, reducing his 2009 compensation to half, which is still expected to still bring him about $1 million. Meanwhile, the Phase I of the clean-up plan was submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for approval and was reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers, among others, said WBIR. The groups provided feedback to TVA and await its revised plan. Once the Phase I clean-up plan is finalized and approved, the Clinch River can be dredged, an operation that will be overseen by state and federal agencies, according to Tisha Calabrese-Benton, TDEC spokesperson, reported WBIR.

TVA remains unclear about how long the cleanup will take and continues to investigate the cause of the spill, which followed a dike break, said WBIR. Of note, the massive spill was not TVA’s first accident and its records confirmed that a1984 annual inspection report indicated that an interior dike failed and that exterior walls were not meant for additional loads, according to an earlier report by the Knoxville Biz. At that time, additional studies were recommended; it is unclear if such studies occurred. Also, in 1984, a dike failure resulted in dredged material spilling into a then-dredged area as a result of a problem with an interior wall. In 2003, another accident, which dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road occurred.

TVA Head Admits Spill Worst Than First Said

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The head of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Tom Kilgore, admitted that the now-famous fly ash spill that dumped 5.4 million cubic yards of sludge into the Emory River and surrounding land in East Tennessee was much worse that originally presented by the utility authority, reports the Associated Press (AP).

We recently reported that the December spill was not the first accident of its kind at the Fossil Plant. TVA records showed that a 1984 annual inspection report indicated that an interior dike failed and that exterior walls were not meant for additional loads, the Knoxville Biz said in an earlier report. At that time, additional studies were recommended; it is unclear if such studies occurred. Meanwhile the spill—in addition to devastating water and wildlife, damaged a variety of homes, some beyond repair. Also, in 1984 a dike failure resulted in dredged material spilling into a then-dredged area as a result of a problem with an interior wall. In 2003, another accident, which dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road occurred, said Knoxville Biz.

The clean up of the 2008 spill is expected to cost anywhere between $525 million and $825 million—said WBIR. Kilgore said he will take a pay cut, reducing his 2009 compensation to half, which is still expected to bring him about $1 million.

Most alarming, researchers have found that the massive fly ash spill is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental outcomes, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Radium is a Group-A carcinogenic material, according to the Environmental Protection Agency; radium exposure can lead to cancer. Also, arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

Meanwhile, the AP reported that Kilgore admitted that the fly ash spill was much more severe than the TVA originally acknowledged with Kilgore admitting to the AP, “It was a ‘catastrophe.’” This statement, notes the AP, flies in the face of an earlier description written in a TVA memo in which the sludge fill’s description was changed from “catastrophic” to a “sudden, accidental” release. When asked about this and a variety of other description changes, Kilgore told the AP, "We all edit things. I don't apologize for us editing our material. It is just that the first writer was the best writer, in that case."

Another change, reported the AP, involved editing to remove the words "risk to public health and risk to the environment" as a reason to measure water quality and the potential of an "acute threat" to fish. Kilgore admitted that he wished some of the TVA’s responses were expressed differently, said the AP. When asked about TVA activities associated with the spill, Kilgore said, "Honestly, we let ourselves down in some ways. This is regrettable. I don't like it. I want to see what the failure investigation shows. And I am dismayed that we didn't catch this," quoted the AP.

The AP also reported that the ash pile in the recent spill took over 50 years to develop and covered 40 acres and was upwards of 60 feet high.

TVA Faces Big Fly Ash Spill Clean Up Bill

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The December 22 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill is expected to cost the agency hundreds of millions of dollars in clean-up, litigation, fines, and regulations reported the Knoxville Biz.

Pond dike walls failed at the Kingston Fossil Plant, dumping 5.4 million cubic yards of sludge into the Emory River and surrounding land, damaging homes, at least three irreparably, said the Knoxville Biz in a prior report. According to Sustainable Business, that translates into 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash sludge across 400 acres and into the Emory River.

The estimated clean-up costs are about $825 million, said the TVA. Its President and CEO, Tom Kilgore, told the TVA board that the clean-up alone will run no less than $525 million, with final numbers dependent on issues surrounding the final disposal plan and that current estimates do not take into account “regulatory actions, or litigation, or any fines or penalties that may be assessed,” said TVA in its quarterly filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), reported the Knoxville Biz. The report also listed a net loss of $305 million for the three months ending December 31 for TVA, which said the Knoxville Biz, TVA attributed to the Fly Ash Spill.

As of the end of last month, TVA spent $31 million on the cleanup. Kilgore said that while he was unable to provide estimates on how long the full cleanup would take, it would be no less than one year. Also, when asked if any costs would be passed on to TVA ratepayers, he said that, “The worst-case scenario would be 100 percent,” quoted the Knoxville News.

Meanwhile, reported the Knoxville News, four lawsuits have been filed and notices of intent to file three others have been recorded. Also, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified TVA that the Fly Ash Spill violated the Clean Water Act. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is also conducting an investigation that could result in fines being levied against TVA, which could also face future regulatory requirements, the filing notes, long-term environmental monitoring. and environmental impact studies. And, if planned dredging disturbs pollutants—such as PCBs and mercury—that were in the Emory River prior to the Fly Ash Spill, filing notes and additional remediation might also occur.

A Congressional Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing is also underway, said The Tennessean, which noted that the hearing is looking at the structural soundness of coal ash impoundments nationwide and is calling for an oversight bill for federal standards to better ensure landfill/pond integrity in those areas used to dispose of ash from coal-burning power plants. The hearing is focusing on the emerging Coal Ash Reclamation, Environment, and Safety Act of 2009 (H.R. 493).

Earlier inspections at TVA’s facility found wall failures and called for further analysis. There was also an earlier “blowout” that dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road. And, now, researchers say area residents and the environment are being exposed to some serious and dangerous health and environmental toxins, such as radium and arsenic. Radium is a Group-A carcinogenic material, according to the EPA; radium exposure can lead to cancer. Also, arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

TVA Fly Ash Pond Had Failure in '80s

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The notorious December 22 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Fly Ash Spill is apparently not the first accident of its kind at the Fossil Plant, reported the Knoxville Biz, according to TVA records.

TVA's 1984 annual inspection report indicates that one of the pond’s interior dikes failed, exterior walls were not designed for additional loads, and an analysis of the walls’ strength was urged; records reviewed, to date, did not indicate if the review was conducted. The pond dike walls failed and dumped 5.4 million cubic yards of sludge into the Emory River and surrounding land, damaging a variety of homes, three irreparably, said Knoxville Biz.

The inspection conducted in August 1984 by D.R. Galloway, a TVA civil engineer revealed that, at the time of the inspection, an interior dike, which was tto maintain dredged sludge separately from incurring slurry, failed, according to Galloway, who wrote, "On the morning of August 8 a failure of this dike resulted in the loss of much of the dredged material to the previously dredged area," said Knoxville Biz. That accident involved an interior wall.

Galloway also noted that exterior walls were not designed for the work being done and wrote, said Knoxville Biz, "The exterior dikes were not designed for additional interior loads which may occur as a result of this dredging future stacking operation." Galloway suggested a slope stability analysis be conducted to determine if the walls could handle such loads. While it is not known if the analysis was conducted, it is clear that the exterior walls failed in 2008, causing one of the most massive accidents of is kind.

In 1985, another civil engineer at TVA, R.D. Powell, wrote in his inspection report, "After the failure of an internal dredge dike on August 8, 1984, another dredge area was formed in the northwestern portion of the ash disposal area by extending the deflector dike constructed of bottom ash to intersect with the raised ash dike adjacent to Swan Pond (Road)," quoted Knoxville Biz. Powell’s report does not state if the slope stability analysis was performed and does not repeat the 1984 recommendations.

Also revealed were the follow-up measures to a 2003 “blowout” that dumped water and fly ash on to Swan Pond Road. While analysis was performed on one of the walls, none was performed on this road, according to the 1985 report, said Knoxville Biz.

In response to the overwhelming cleanup costs—between $525 million and $825 million—said WBIR, one of TVA’s executives is planning to take a pay cut and will push off incentive compensation, cutting his 2009 compensation package by half. Also, his direct reports will receive no merit increases and nonunion employees will not be receiving corporate incentives.

Most alarming, researchers have found that the massive fly ash spill is exposing area residents and the environment to some serious and dangerous health and environmental outcomes, such as radium and arsenic exposure. Radium is a Group-A carcinogenic material, according to the Environmental Protection Agency; radium exposure can lead to cancer. Also, arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

TVA Fly Ash Spill Clean Up Plan Details Released

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The debris and toxins left behind following late December’s historic Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) massive fly ash spill are finally seeing plans for clean up. WBIR reported that an official with the TVA met with area residents this weekend to discuss how it will clean up the Emory River; dredging is among the steps that will be taken next month.

A senior official at the TVA’s Office of Environment and Research presented the group with details about its proposed first phase of clean up, which was recently submitted to state and federal agencies for approval, said WBIR; answers are expected within the next week. The first phase of the clean up will focus on removing much of the three million cubic yards of fly ash from the Emory River; phase two, which has not been finalized will address removing the remainder of the sludge from the river’s bottom, reported WBIR. The fly ash spill released over one billion gallons of coal sludge waste from a holding facility at TVA’s Kingston coal-burning power plant, flooding over 400 acres, spilling into a major drinking water source, and damming the Emory River tributary.

Phase one will concentrate on removing ash from the Emory River and bringing it to TVA’s sluice channels for “dewatering,” a drying process that will enable to end product to be moved to another area for additional drying, reported WBIR. When the ash reaches a state in which it is 80 percent solid, it will be stacked at a nearby TVA ball field until it is permanently moved to an as-of-yet undetermined location, said WBIR.

Meanwhile, the massive fly ash spill is revealing some serious and dangerous health and environmental outcomes. Science Daily reported that a Duke University report, conducted on samples from the accident found that “exposure to radium- and arsenic-containing particulates in the ash could have severe health implications” in the affected areas. “Our radioactive measurements of solid ash samples from Tennessee suggests the ash has radiation levels above those reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for typical coal ash,” said Avner Vengosh, associate professor of earth and ocean sciences at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. The research team found the radium contents in spill samples measured at levels higher than occur in most bottom and fly ash samples, which means that the fly ash in Tennessee is testing with higher radium levels.

Radium is a Group-A carcinogenic material, according to the EPA; radium exposure can lead to cancer. Also, high arsenic levels were detected in water samples, at 95 parts per billion (ppb), which is drastically higher than the EPA’s safe public drinking water standard of 10 ppb. Arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems.

Now, residents are worried about the effects of what they describe as “mini-tornadoes” of ash occurring at the spill site when wind is present. Also of concern is that the sludge is plugging up water flow, which means that if a major flood were to occur in this year’s rainy season, a number of homes—in addition to the homes already damaged, some irreparably—could suffer serious damage, wrote WBIR.

TVA Fly Ash Health Fears

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) massive fly ash spill is revealing some serious and dangerous health and environmental outcomes. Science Daily reported that a Duke University report, conducted on samples from last month’s accident found that “exposure to radium- and arsenic-containing particulates in the ash could have severe health implications” in the affected areas.

“Our radioactive measurements of solid ash samples from Tennessee suggests the ash has radiation levels above those reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for typical coal ash,” said Avner Vengosh, associate professor of earth and ocean sciences at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. “Preventing the formation of airborne particulate matter from the ash that was released to the environment seems essential for reducing possible health impacts.”

The December 22 fly ash spill released over one billion gallons of coal sludge waste from a holding facility at TVA’s Kingston coal-burning power plant, flooding over 400 acres, spilling into a major drinking water source, and damming the Emory River tributary, said Science Daily.

The research team discovered some disturbing facts, said Science Daily. For instance, the combined content of radium-228 and -226 in spill samples measured at levels higher that occur in most bottom and fly ash samples, which means that the fly ash in Tennessee is testing with higher radium levels. Radium is a Group-A carcinogenic material, according to the EPA; radium exposure can lead to cancer.

Also, high arsenic levels were detected in water samples, at 95 parts per billion (ppb), which is drastically higher than the EPA’s safe public drinking water standard of 10 ppb. Arsenic, a toxic metal, can increase the risk of some cancers, skin damage, and circulatory problems, reported Science Daily. Vengosh is an internationally cited expert on the chemistry of radioactive elements in surface and ground waters said, “The TVA spill is one of the largest events of its kind in U.S. history. It raises questions concerning the safety of storing coal ash and the potential effects of coal ash on environmental and human health,” quoted Science Daily.

According to the Knoxville News, the 5.4 million cubic yards of toxic fly ash released also damaged 15 homes, with three deemed uninhabitable, and all residents requiring evacuation.

Meanwhile, critics have accused the TVA of downplaying the spill’s dangers. And, in an earlier Associated Press (AP) report, it noted that a memo—sent to the AP in error—prepared by TVA’s public relations department for a press briefing held the day after the spill, was edited to call the fly ash spill a "sudden, accidental release," rather than "catastrophic" and was also edited to remove "risk to public health and risk to the environment" as a reason for measuring water quality and the potential of an "acute threat" to fish, said the AP. Finally, a rewritten description of fly ash noted it mostly "consists of inert material not harmful to the environment," while references to "toxic metals" in the ash were moved to a section on water sampling.

TVA Memo Shows Attempt to Downplay Fly Ash Spill

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been accused by critics of downplaying the seriousness of last month's fly ash spill at it's Kingston Fossil Plant. Now, the Associated Press is reporting that those critics may have had a point.

According to the Associated Press, a memo prepared by TVA's public relations department for a press briefing held the day after the spill was edited to call the fly ash spill a "sudden, accidental release", rather than "catastrophic". The memo, dated Dec. 23, was accidently sent to the Associated Press, and according to the news service, was once labeled "risk assessment talking points".

The memo was also edited to remove "risk to public health and risk to the environment" as a reason for measuring water quality and the potential of an "acute threat" to fish, the Associated Press said. Finally, a rewritten description of fly ash noted it mostly "consists of inert material not harmful to the environment," while references to "toxic metals" in the ash were moved to a section on water sampling.

Emily Reynolds, a TVA senior vice president who oversees agency communications, issued a statement to the Associated Press regarding the memo: "From day one our priority has been to provide our stakeholders, especially Roane County residents, with accurate and timely information about the Kingston spill. TVA will continue to be open and transparent with the media and public in addressing questions and concerns ... " The Associated Press report said Reynolds was not available for an interview.

The TVA coal ash spill occurred 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.

TVA Fly Ash Spill Victims Seek Medical Monitoring

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Two Tennessee families have filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the wake of last month's fly ash spill at the agency's Kingston Fossil Plant. The lawsuit is seeking medical monitoring for people who may have been exposed to the potentially toxic fly ash.

The TVA coal ash spill occurred 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.

Following the spill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detected high levels of arsenic and heavy metals in the Clinch and Emory rivers near an area where the sludge spill occurred. Residents were told to avoid drinking water from private wells and springs, but officials insisted municipal water supplies were safe. However, many people living around the Kingston plant are skeptical of those claims.

The latest TVA lawsuit was filed by the Giltnane family of Kingston and Rockwood, Tennessee, along with Ian and Sabrina Cullen, of Kingston. The claim, which was filed in federal district court in Knoxville, alleges that the TVA had knowledge that its coal ash sludge containment pond was in danger of releasing massive amounts of toxic substances into the community, and failed to take reasonable steps that would have prevented the disaster.

"Our primary concern is the health impact of this massive release of toxic materials into our community," said Levi Giltnane, said in a press release announcing the suit. "We have a two-year-old daughter, Skylar. For her and for the other children in this area, we want the TVA to give us honest answers about what is in this toxic ash."

The lawsuit is asking the court to require the TVA to:

Fund medical testing and monitoring for their family and other families exposed to the toxic coal ash, and any medical treatments and procedures determined necessary as a result of their exposure;
Fund environmental monitoring in residential communities and waterways affected by the release.
Provide monetary compensation for the Giltnanes and other families, for the costs of environmental remediation, damage to property, loss of property value, and loss of income by local businesses affected by the massive release.

Despite Heavy Rain In Days Prior to Spill, Fly Ash Dumping Continued at TVA Site

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) continued to dump fly ash into a coal waste retention pond all through the wet autumn of 2008. According to the Knoxville News, that activity contrasted to activity last winter when the TVA stopped deposits at the Kingston Fossil Plant detention pond over fears that heavy rain would raise water beyond the pond's capacity.

Last month, the wall around that retention bond in Eastern Tennessee ruptured, pouring more billion gallons of fly ash across more than 300 acres of land. Though the exact cause of the fly ash spill 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.

According to the Knoxville News, much less rain had fallen in the 2007-2008 winter when the TVA stopped dumping fly ash there as a precaution. According to the TVA's February 2008 inspection report, the agency's consultants advised the November 2007 stoppage as a precaution against leaks that had plagued the pond since the 1980s, the Knoxville News said. "This preventative measure was taken to reduce water levels in the dredge cell through the winter months in an attempt to avoid another blow out." the report read. Deposits resumed at the site after surface repairs were made.

Despite heavy rains in the days leading up to the December spill, the TVA continued to dump fly ash in the pond. According to the Knoxville News, TVA officials maintain that newly installed monitoring devices didn't indicate there was a problem prior to the spill.

We did not stop dredging in '08 because we put in place monitoring devices in the pond and monitored them every day," a TVA spokesperson told the Knoxville News. "Those levels didn't indicate any need for concern."

TVA Mulling Fly Ash Disposal Options

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is trying to determine the best way to dispose of over a billion tons of a fly ash following a spill that devastated hundreds of acres in Eastern Tennessee last month. According to a report on knoxnews.com, representatives from the TVA said yesterday that the main goal of the massive cleanup going on near Kingston, Tennessee is to make whole those residents whose lands were harmed by the spill and to retrieve all the muck that spilled from the retention pond at the Kingston Fossil Plant on Dec. 22.

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.

At a standing-room-only meeting in Kingston yesterday, TVA CEO Tom Kilgore said that so far, the authority is spending $1 million a day to clean up the spill. According to knoxnews, Kilgore also said that property owners have filed about 250 damage claims so far.

Several options are under discussion for disposal of the waste, knoxnews said. These include sending the sludge by rail and barge to Class II landfills near Knoxville and Alabama or converting it into dry storage at the Kingston plant. Another possible option is blending the gunk with "fibrous materials" to form a solid. Any of these disposal methods would first need to be approved by the state.

The TVA will need to come up with a comprehensive cleanup and disposal plan soon. Today, the state of Tennessee issued the TVA an enforcement order requiring its full cooperation in assessing the mishap and developing a corrective action plan soon to "ensure safe operations in the future." The detailed corrective action plan for cleanup must be submitted within 45 days.

The order also requires the TVA to submit to the state within 20 days all relevant documents that may explain why the spill occurred and any warnings about the dangers that existed leading up to the disaster. Finally, the order also says the TVA will reimburse the state for overseeing the cleanup.

TVA Gets an Earful at Senate Hearing

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Late last week, the head of a Senate committee blasted the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for its failures related to last month's fly ash spill in Kingston, TN. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., head of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, charged the TVA with trying to dispose coal wastes in the cheapest possible manner at the expense of the environment.

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 Kingston Fossil Plant 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 the Associated Press, at last Thursday's hearing, Sen. Boxer questioned why the TVA decided in 2006 against a $25 million plan to replace a leaking ash pond with a dry ash disposal process. "The cost of that $25 million is going to seem like pennies compared to what it is going to cost to clean this mess up," Sen. Boxer told TVA officials. "You didn't pick the right fix."

TVA CEO Tom Kilgore tried to reassure Boxer and other members of the panel that it will not use the same ash disposal method in Kingston once the spill is cleaned up.

Boxer also took issue with the TVA's assertion that the sludge spilled from the Kingston retention pond posed no threat to public health, the Associated Press said. She said higher levels of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium and lead in the Emory River after the spill prove the sludge "isn't a harmless mud."

According to the Associated Press, Boxer said she would work with the incoming Presidential administration to regulate coal ash through the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Right now, the EPA doesn’t regulate the waste because it isn’t considered a hazard. But coal ash can contain heavy metals and other toxins, as the TVA spill proved. The EPA has been studying the issue for 28 years, and regulation has largely been up to the states. Sadly, as the TVA spill illustrates, states often aren’t up to the job.

Rupture Reported at Another TVA Retention Pond as Calls for More Oversight Grow

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Unbelievably, another waste pond at a coal-powered plant owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has ruptured - this time in Alabama. TVA officials say that unlike another incident which spilled a billion gallons of coal ash in Eastern Tennessee last month, this spill has been contained. But news of this latest accident is sure to increase calls for greater regulation of waste retention ponds.

According to the Associated Press, the latest spill occurred at a TVA plant near Stevenson, Alabama, which is about 30 miles southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This pond contained gypsum, which is different than the fly ash spilled at the authority's Kingston Fossil Plant in December.

A TVA spokesperson told the Associated Press that most of the material from the Alabama leak flowed into a settling pond at the plant site, but some spilled into nearby Widows Creek. The leak has stopped and the TVA is conducting temporary repairs on the pond, the Associated Press said.

This is the latest retention pond spill at a TVA plant in the past several weeks. On December 22, the spill at the TVA's Kingston plant decimated more than 300 acres, 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.

On Wednesday, the Kingston spill prompted four environmental groups to call for new federal and state regulations on wet coal ash storage. Right now, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t regulate the waste because it isn’t considered a hazard. But coal ash can contain heavy metals and other toxins. In fact, it is known that the waste that spilled from the TVA pond contained dangerous substances, including arsenic. The EPA has been studying the issue for 28 years, and regulation has largely been up to the states.

At a news conference Wednesday, representatives from the Environment Integrity Project, EarthJustice, United Mountain Defense, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy called for more oversight of coal waste ponds. According to an Environmental Integrity Project report called "Disaster in Waiting", 16 wet ash facilities around the country received more toxic metals in recent years than the Kingston facility. In fact, the report said the coal ash pond in Stevenson, Alabama may contain even more toxic compounds than the Kingston plant's waste site.

The report criticizes the Bush administration and state governments such as those in Alabama and Tennessee for not doing enough to monitor wet fly ash disposal. Alabama has no regulations for such ponds, and states like Tennessee and North Carolina do not require liners for the ash pond/landfills, the report said. And prior to the Tennessee spill, that state left most inspections up to the TVA itself.

Former Regulator Said TVA Could Have Prevented Coal Ash Spill

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

A former federal regulator claims the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) ignored two leaks at its Kingston Fossil Plant's fly ash retention pond that could have been a warning of the disaster to come. Retired engineer Jack Spadaro told the Associated Press that the leaks, which occurred in 2003 and 2006, were an indication of a serious stability problem with the pond's retention walls.

Those stability problems may have led to the December 22 breach that sent a billion gallons of potentially toxic coal ash into neighborhoods around the Eastern Tennessee TVA plant. The TVA has 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 the Associated Press, a 2008 inspection report said the TVA stopped dredging operations in a main pond after the 2003 leak, but continued using a smaller temporary pond while repairs were made. TVA resumed dredging in 2006, only to find ash seeping out of the dike just nine months later. The authority then installed a system to relieve pressure on the walls.

Glen Pugh, program director for Tennessee's division of solid waste management, the state agency charged with regulating coal ash ponds, told the Associated Press that his agency was "focused on the effect on the environment". Pugh said nothing in the TVA's inspection reports led to concerns about the retaining wall's structural integrity.

But Spadaro, who directed the National Mine Health and Safety Administration's training academy, told the Associated Press that VA's last inspection report indicated the agency was irresponsible for failing to see these previous failures as an indication of a serious stability problem. According to the Associated Press, Spadaro is all-too familiar with coal ash spills - he investigated a similar disaster in 197 that killed 125 people in West Virginia.

Spadaro told the Associated Press that after the leaks were discovered, the TVA should have drained the pond and rebuilt the dam, rather than attempt repairs.

Spadaro also said that the TVA spill shows that states are not doing enough to regulate coal ash, and the federal government should take on the job. Right now, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn't regulate the waste because it isn't considered a hazard. But coal ash can contain heavy metals and other toxins. In fact, it is known that the waste that spilled from the TVA pond contained dangerous substances, including arsenic.

Unregulated coal ash ponds pose a danger in many states, according to report in The New York Times. There are currently around 1,300 unregulated coal ash ponds across the U.S., the Times said. Numerous studies have shown that the ash can leach toxic substances that can cause cancer, birth defects and other health problems in humans, and can decimate wildlife populations around the dumps.

According to the Times, a 2007 EPA report identified 63 sites in 26 states where the water was contaminated by heavy metals from such dumps, including three other TVA sites. Environmental advocacy groups have said that at least 17 additional sites should be added to that list.

The EPA has been studying the issue for 28 years, and regulation has largely been up to the states. Sadly, as the TVA spill illustrates, states often aren't up to the job.

TVA Fly Ash Spill Subject of Senate Hearing on Thursday

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

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 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.

Leaks Reported at TVA Fly Ash Pond in Years Before Spill

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Disturbing questions are being raised about last month's Tennessee fly ash spill. According to a report in The Chattanooga Times Free Press, the fly ash retention pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant had experienced several leaks over the past decade. Yet even though it knew about such problems, the TVA continued to allow coal waste to be dumped there.

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 up to 400 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it 48 times 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 the Chattanooga Times Free Press, in 2003 and 2006, leaks at the Kingston plant's retention pond were so bad that TVA repaired drainage and dikes around the pond. In fact, the authority suspended all deposits in the landfill for nearly 18 months to allow the dredge cell to dry out and stabilize, the Free Press said.

Once the repairs were made, the TVA believed the problems were solved. According to the Free Press, a report on a 2007 TVA inspection of the pond found no hazards, and concluded previous issues had been corrected. Another performed just this past October was not yet available, the Free Press said. But just two months after that last inspection, the dike at the retention pond broke.

What's worse, even after the spill, the TVA didn't even know how much coal waste had been released. As previously reported, the authority revised the initial estimate just days after the spill, nearly tripling it. The director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy told the Free Press that a lack of regulation likely contributed to the confusion.

According to the Free Press, state agencies, such as the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), control how utilities dispose of coal ash from power plants. During a tour of the site over the weekend, Tennessee's governor said that the TDEC may have relied too much on TVA’s own inspections of the pond.

TVA Fly Ash Spill Could Bring Tougher Regulations

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

In the wake of last month's Tennessee fly ash spill, the governor of that state is promising more oversight of coal ash retention ponds. While touring the area around the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant were the spill occurred, Gov. Phil Bredesen said the adoption of tougher regulations for coal waste storage was long overdue.

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 Kingston Fossil Plant in central 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 up to 400 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it 48 times 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 released earlier this week. The fly ash spill damaged 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, but at least three homes were deemed uninhabitable.

Earlier this week, the TVA warned residents in the area against drinking water from private wells or springs, as tests in the area showed high levels of arsenic. The TVA has also released an inventory of the toxic compounds that had been deposited into the coal ash retention pond during 2007. These include more than a million pounds of barium compounds, and tens of thousands of pounds of lead, manganese and arsenic compounds.

According to the Associated Press, on Wednesday, Bredesen promised that during the clean up of the spill, Tennessee environmental regulators would be closely watching the TVA. He also voiced hope that the spill would be a catalyst for change.

"The regulations we operate under now were written in the '70s; 2009 is a different world in terms of environmental regulation than the 1970s," Bredesen said at the time. The Governor also said the state had started immediate inspections of all other TVA retention ponds and a review of state regulations for the ponds, the Associated Press reported.

State officials are not the only ones asking questions about coal waste regulation. The Associated Press is also reporting that the U.S. Senate Environment Committee is scheduled to hear testimony next Thursday from TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore, environmental advocates and local officials who responded to the disaster.

Tennessee Fly Ash Spill Lawsuit Seeks $165 Mil From TVA

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

A developer is the first Tennessee landowner to file a lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for last week's devastating fly ash spill. The lawsuit is seeking $165 million in damages from the TVA.

The Tennessee fly ash spill occurred around 1:00 a.m. last Monday morning after a wall holding back 80 acres of sludge from the TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant in central 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 up to 400 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it 48 times 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 released earlier this week. The fly ash spill damaged 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, but at least three homes were deemed uninhabitable.

Earlier this week, the TVA warned residents in the area against drinking water from private wells or springs, as tests in the area showed high levels of arsenic. The TVA has also released an inventory of the toxic compounds that had been deposited into the coal ash retention pond during 2007. These include more than a million pounds of barium compounds, and tens of thousands of pounds of lead, manganese and arsenic compounds.

Developer Jot Raymond and his wife Brenda were among the property owners whose land was damaged by the fly ash spill. Their lawsuit, which was filed in Roane County Circuit Court, says that coal ash sludge from the retention pond spilled into their North Lake Estates development, causing two home sales to fall through. The suit claims a creek running through the development has been damaged and is backed up as a result. According to CNN.com, Jot Raymond said he has not been allowed to take potential buyers into the subdivision for showings or visit his daughter who lives there.

"TVA possessed or reasonably should have possessed knowledge and data which indicated the retention pond was subject to collapse or breach," the lawsuit says.

The Raymonds are seeking 15 million in compensatory damages and $150 million in punitive damages. TVA, its board of directors, President and CEO Tom Kilgore and other TVA executives are named as defendants.

Arsenic, Other Toxins Found in Water Near Tennessee Fly Ash Spill

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) said that some tests done in the wake of last week's fly ash spill showed high amounts of arsenic in water, the Associated Press is reporting. State and federal officials are urging residents around Kingston, TN to stop drinking water from private wells or springs, the report said. However, they continue to reassure people that municipal water supplies are safe.

The Tennessee fly ash spill occurred around 1:00 a.m. last Monday morning after a wall holding back 80 acres of sludge from the TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant in central 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 up to 400 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it 48 times 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 released earlier this week.

The fly ash spill damaged 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, but at least three homes were deemed uninhabitable. The spill also clogged the nearby Emory River, which provides drinking water for millions of people living downstream. In the days after the spill, hundreds of fish were seen floating dead downstream from the plant.

According to a NewsChannel5 report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detected high levels of arsenic and heavy metals in the Clinch and Emory rivers near an area where the sludge spill occurred. TVA spokesman Jim Allen told the Associated Press that there are four private drinking water wells in the area affected by the spill and the agency should have tests from them this week.

As the Associated Press pointed out, arsenic can occur naturally in the environment. However, excessive exposure to the toxin can cause everything from nausea to paralysis. And long-term exposure can has been linked to cancer.

The EPA said it didn't detect arsenic in a water intake facility near Kingston, which is about 40 miles west of Knoxville. So even as they warn residents to avoid wells and springs, officials continue to be confident about the safety of municipal water supplies.

In addition to toxins in the water, many residents in the area of the sludge spill have expressed concerns about air quality. There is worry that once the fly ash dries, it will become airborne and pose a breathing hazard. According to the Associated Press, fly ash dust can contain metals, including arsenic, that irritate the skin and can aggravate pre-existing condition such as asthma

On Sunday, a posting on the TVA website said that air quality testing conducted near the plant found particulate levels far below applicable standards. However, the EPA is monitoring the air, and on Monday advised people to avoid activities that could stir up dust, such as children or pets playing outside, the Associated Press said. The report also said the TVA is going to begin installing sprinklers in the area in an attempt to keep the dust moist.

TVA Promises to Clean Up Fly Ash Spill, Faces Criticism Over Response

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has promised to clean up more than a billion gallons of fly ash that spilled from one of its retention ponds near Knoxville last week. Meanwhile, an environmental group is faulting the TVA for failing to adequately warn residents in the area of the spill of possible toxins that might be contained in the sludge.

The Tennessee fly ash spill occurred around 1:00 a.m. last Monday morning after a wall holding back 80 acres of sludge from the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant in central 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 up to 400 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it 48 times 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 released earlier this week.

The fly ash spill damaged 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, but at least three homes were deemed uninhabitable. The spill also clogged the nearby Emory River, which provides drinking water for millions of people living downstream. In the days after the spill, hundreds of fish were seen floating dead downstream from the plant.

According to the TVA, water quality tests showed elevated levels of lead and thallium. But other tests last week showed water quality was within state and federal requirements at the water intake for the city of Kingston six miles away. The authority has yet to release results of tests to measure toxins in the coal ash.

The spill was the worst of its kind from a coal ash pond in the nation's history. The TVA said it could take months, if not years, to clean up the Tennessee fly ash spill. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was supervising the cleanup, and was also trying to determine if the area engulfed by the fly ash should be deemed a Superfund site.

According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the TVA has promised to pay to test local wells for contamination and will start air quality testing to help allay concerns about environmental problem. But according to the report, many residents attending an emergency meeting yesterday weren't reassured by the TVA's promises. They said that so far, the authority's response has been inadequate at best.

Some complained that when they were contacted in the early hours of the morning last Monday and told to evacuate, they were given little information about the scope of the disaster, the Chattanooga Times said. Several attendees said they had yet to receive any help from the TVA.

Many also voiced concerns about the dangers that they could face once the fly ash sludge dries out, and becomes airborne and breathable. According to the Chattanooga Times, the TVA is considering installing sprinklers in yards to limit the fly ash from being blown around and causing respiratory problems.

The Chattanooga Times said the authority is still insisting that the fly ash is not toxic. But during the meeting, Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, called upon TVA Sunday to release tests done on the coal ash itself.

“It is unacceptable that we are six days into this disaster and TVA has yet to release sampling data from the ash pile,” Smith said.

Smith's organization also criticized the TVA for downplaying the dangers posed by the sludge. According to the Associated Press, Smith said TVA officials should more strongly encourage residents to avoid the sludge that surrounds their homes.

Barbara Martocci, a spokeswoman for TVA, told the Associated Press that while the company has not issued an official warning not to come in contact with the ash, she encouraged people to avoid the area. Martocci said that anyone who touches the fly ash should wash their hands.

Tennessee Fly Ash Spill Lawyers

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Tennessee Fly Ash Spill Lawyers

The lawyers / attorneys at our firm are offering free consultations to anyone affected by the Tennessee fly ash spill that occurred on December 22, 2008. The spill, which was the result of a dam break at the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant, was thought to be the largest fly ash spill in U.S. history.

The massive Tennessee fly ash spill damaged and destroyed homes, as well as hundreds of acres of land and surrounding waterways. Fly ash, also known as coal ash, has been shown to contain large quantities of toxic chemicals that can cause cancer and other diseases. Our Tennessee fly ash spill lawyers are offering representation to anyone who sustained property damage, or is facing serious environmental consequences as a result of this disaster.

The fly ash pond at the TVA Kingston plant had a history of safety problems. In the days following the spill, the TVA released inspection reports showing there had been two other breaches of the same fly ash pond during the previous six years. A report in The Tennessean also said the plant's neighbors had reported previous "baby blowouts" that caused less severe contamination. Our Tennessee fly ash spill lawyers are working hard to determine if negligence on the part of the TVA caused or contributed to this devastating catastrophe.

If you or someone you know were damaged by the TVA coal ash spill, you may be entitled to compensation. We urge you to contact one of the Tennessee fly ash spill lawyers at our firm right away to protect your legal rights.

Tennessee Kingston Fossil Plant Fly Ash Spill

The Tennessee fly ash spill occurred around 1:00 a.m. on December 22, 2008 after a wall holding back 80 acres of sludge from the TVA coal plant in central Tennessee broke. Initial estimates said as much as 500 million gallons of waste engulfed the surrounding area. The TVA plant is located in Roane County, on a tributary of the Tennessee River called the Clinch River.

The TVA said that up to 400 acres of land had been coated by the sludge, making it 48 times larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. 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 fly ash spill damaged 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, but at least three homes were deemed uninhabitable. The spill also clogged the nearby Emory River, which provides drinking water for millions of people living downstream.

By December 26, the TVA had tripled the estimated amount of fly ash thought to have been released by the dam burst. An aerial survey conducted the day after the spill revealed that a total of 5.4 million cubic yards of waste had been released. The TVA previously estimated that around 1.7 million cubic yards had been spilled.

Environmental Impact of Fly Ash Spills

It could be years before the environmental impact of the Tennessee fly ash spill is truly known. In the days after the spill, hundreds of fish were seen floating dead downstream from the plant, and state and federal agencies had yet to complete water quality testing. The contaminated rivers put the water supply at risk for major downstream cities like Chattanooga as well as millions of other people in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Fly ash is one of the waste products generated when coal is burned. Studies have shown that fly ash contains significant quantities of heavy metals like arsenic, lead and selenium, which can cause cancer and neurological problems. However, several days after the spill, the TVA had not issued any environmental warnings to nearby residents, and insisted there was no evidence yet of toxins in the waste.

One environmental advocate told The New York Times that it was "mind boggling" that the TVA had failed to issue any health warning to residents. He expressed concerns that many residents living near the spill were "walking around, checking it out.” Various environmental groups also warned that the situation would become more dangerous when the toxic muck dried out and became airborne and breathable.

According to The New York Times, a 2006 study by the National Research Council found that coal-burning byproducts such as fly ash contain metals and other chemicals in amounts large enough to "pose public health and environmental concerns if improperly managed.” The study said “risks to human health and ecosystems” might occur when these contaminants entered drinking water supplies or surface water bodies. A 2007 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report also said that over about a decade, 67 towns in 26 states had their groundwater contaminated by heavy metals from similar fly ash dumps.

The TVA estimated it could take months, if not years, to clean up the Tennessee fly ash spill. The EPA was supervising the cleanup, and was also trying to determine if the area engulfed by the fly ash should be deemed a Superfund site.

Legal Help for Victims of the TVA Fly Ash Spill

If you or someone you know suffered property or environmental damage as a result of the December 2008 TVA fly ash spill, you have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form, or call 1-800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636) to discuss you case with one of our Tennessee fly ash spill lawyers.