TVA Submits Corrective Action Plan for Ash Spill Recovery

This plan proposes how TVA will remove ash from the Emory River channel and store it temporarily at the Kingston plant site until a final disposal plan has been developed and approved. Removing the ash from the channel will help reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and mitigate impacts to aquatic life. TVA says the plan includes measures to control upstream flooding along the Emory River and to continue to accommodate recreational use of the river system.

The Kingston coal ash spill as of February 9, 2009. Earth moving machinery works in the foreground, the bright green area has been sprayed with dust suppressing chemicals. (Photo courtesy TVA)

TVA's plan must now be approved by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the enforcement order issued by TDEC and letter from EPA in January.

The coal-fired Kingston power plant is located on the Watts Bar Reservoir on the Tennessee River near Kingston, Tennessee. The plant is about 35 miles west of Knoxville, at the junction of the Emory and Clinch Rivers.

In the early morning of December 22 a retaining wall failed at the Kingston Fossil Plant. More than 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash spilled from an on-site holding pond to cover nearly 400 acres of surrounding land and water.

While there were no immediate injuries caused by the ash slide, the area's physical and natural environment has been dramatically impacted by this spill. Citizens' lives have been disrupted; water quality has been impaired and aquatic habitat has been destroyed.

"TVA is working diligently to recover and restore the site of the ash spill at Kingston Fossil Plant," said TVA Senior Vice President of Environment and Research Anda Ray. "We are working as quickly and safely as possible to recover the area, and we are working with local residents to address their needs and concerns."

"We have committed to making things right for the people in the area, and that's what we will do," Ray said.

The dredging of ash from the Emory River channel near the Kingston plant is the next big task. The dredging plan TVA submitted to TDEC and EPA has now been approved; the next step is for TVA to submit a sampling plan to TDEC and EPA for approval before actually starting the dredging work.

Ray says TVA is starting some preliminary activities now to prepare for the dredging work and to ensure it will be done safely and efficiently.

Ash removed from the river will be separated from the water it is in and temporarily stored on-site until TVA has an approved process in place for long-term disposal or storage.

Meanwhile, TVA officials say air quality and water quality in the local area continue to meet government standards. More than 16,000 air, water and soil samples have been collected by TVA and other agencies.

Monitoring of water quality shows that water from municipal water systems and private wells meets state standards, and dust levels in the air are better than National Ambient Air Quality Standards. TVA continues to take measures to suppress dust from the spill and from roads in the area.

Work by the TDEC includes ongoing water quality monitoring and assessment within the major waterways impacted by the ash slide - the Emory River, Clinch River and Tennessee River.

This has included sampling and analysis for public drinking water systems to assess whether the raw water entering and the finished water produced by the Kingston Water Treatment Plant meets public health standards. The TDEC says all samples received to date indicate municipal water supplies are safe.

TVA has worked with more than 600 area families on their questions, concerns and property damage claims. To date, TVA has purchased more than 40 affected properties, and discussions continue with other property owners. Two local roads have been cleared for construction traffic, and the damaged rail line at the site has been repaired.

TVA officials say the federal power provider will follow the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act for community involvement and evaluation of alternatives as it makes long-term decisions on site recovery and remediation.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.