EPA approves TVA's bid to store recovered coal ash in Alabama
July 6th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
More than half of the toxic coal ash spilled on to an east Tennessee community can be stored in a landfill in Perry County, Alabama, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will begin immediately shipping the coal ash by rail.
Perry County is populated by predominantly blacks and is one of the poorest counties in the state where more than 30 percent of families live in poverty. Residents there will benefit from the plan, gaining about 50 jobs and earning millions off dumping fees. However, opponents say the plan is unjust.
More than a billion gallons of coal ash poured on Kingston, Tennessee, last December after a TVA coal ash impoundment breached. The massive wave of coal ash toppled houses, destroyed property and contaminated nearby waterways.
Coal ash contains dangerous toxins that have been associated with serious health concerns such as cancer and liver damage. Those living in and around Kingston, Tennessee, where the coal ash spilled, have reported more respiratory problems and heightened anxiety. Some, including a toddler, have already tested positive for heavy metals in their blood.
“As if the initial spread of sludge from the TVA was not bad enough, shipping that much coal ash to Perry County, Alabama, seems very short sighted,” says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen Law Firm. “I feel certain that many residents of Perry County share our concern that this plan is not in the best interest of Perry County citizens.”
Source: New York Times