Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Fourty-four coal ash storage sites near communities in 10 different states have been targeted for inspection because they pose a “high hazard potential … (of) probable loss of human life if there is a significant dam failure,”  according to Matt Hale, director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office of research, conservation and recovery. Hale added that the high hazard rating is more a measure of what would happen if the dam failed rather than a measure of the stability of the dams.

The coal storage sites are similar to the one at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston, Tennessee, coal-firing plant which last December burst, sending more than a billion gallons on to 300 acres of a neighboring community. While the wave of toxic material did not harm anyone initially, it destroyed homes and damaged property in its wake.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead, which have been associated with serious health concerns such as cancer and liver damage. Several individuals who have been affected by the east Tennessee spill have reported heightened respiratory problems and anxiety issues. A few, including a toddler, have tested positive for heavy metal in their blood.

While the TVA is undergoing a near-$1 billion clean-up of the area, residents and environmentalists say it is impossible to restore the land to is previous luster and safety.

North Carolina has the most coal storage ponds on the EPA’s list of sites to inspect. The largest concentration is Cochise, Arizona, where seven storage ponds are located. The EPA has inspected about half of the 44 sites and plans to issue reports on their status soon.

Source: Associated Press

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