Father's restraining order to keep kids from swimming in contaminated river
June 17th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
The Emory River in east Tennessee was once an area of water sports and recreation until dangerous coal sludge from the nearby Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal-firing plant spilled from an impoundment pond into the river and onto neighboring property. Now locals are afraid to enjoy the water, which has tested positive for arsenic and other contaminants by the Environmental Protection Agency.
One local resident, Roane County attorney Tom McFarland, was so concerned about his children swimming in the water there that he filed for and received a temporary restraining order against his ex-wife ordering her not to take their children swimming in the Emory River near the spill site.
“Like any parent who protects his children, I’ll do what I have to do to protect my children,” he said. “I consulted with the children’s pediatrician who says the children should not be swimming in it.”
The restraining order was sought after McFarland says his ex-wife took their two young children for a day on the river not far from where more than a billion gallons of toxic coal ash spilled. Coal ash has been found to contain dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which have been linked to serious health problems from cancer to liver damage.
Currently, recreational advisories have been issued for parts of the Emory River by both the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Source: WVLT-TV