Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU),

More than a billion gallons of coal ash spilled from an impoundment pond at the plant and poured on to a neighboring community, destroying homes and damaging property. Coal ash contains dangerous toxins that have been associated with serious health concerns such as cancer, liver disease and neurological disorders. Some residents already have tested positive for heavy metals in their bloodstream.

ORAU is developing protocols for testing and questionnaires about exposure and will notify the community about the program and which residents quality for screening. Local physicians and toxicologists from Vanderbilt Medical Center will meet with individuals at local clinics. Any trends discovered in the screening process will be submitted to the TVA.

Critics of the health plan argue that the TVA is still too much involved in the process, and that more should have been done sooner to ensure safety of residents affected by the spill. “TVA reserves all decision-making to itself about whether it will pay for any individual’s medical expenses,” says Sarah McCoin, who lives near the plant. “TVA can use the information obtained from the program it controls to downplay the legitimate health concerns of the community.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › ORAU to address health concerns of those affected by coal ash spill

Kentucky baker and former Republican Party chairman Mike Duncan, who has signed on to oversee the nation’s largest utility, made the comment at the board’s meeting earlier this week. He said the agency is already facing an uphill battle with lower electric sales from the downturn in the economy and mounting costs to clean up the mess left behind by the spill.

Those cleanup costs are estimated to ring in at more than $975 million. TVA is also facing numerous lawsuits from property owners and some are looking to the utility to foot a $1.9 million public relations campaign to restore the tattered image of the area since the coal ash spill.

Coal ash, which contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, has been associated with serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological damage. Some residents in the area – including a young child – have tested positive for heaving metals in their blood.

Duncan says he is confident the utility can find “new efficiencies in our costs at the same time that we find new ways to protect our environment.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA’s new chairman says coal ash disaster must not happen again

“Our farm is the largest acreage affected,” said Sandy’s husband Terry in an interview to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “TVA does not want to admit that the spill has devastated our lives, tainted our land and reduced our livelihood to a fraction of what it was before the spill.”

The Guptons herd Gelvy cattle on their land, and worried for their cattle’s safety after the TVA’s coal ash pond failed last December and dumped more than a billion gallons of coal ash on to 300 acres of an east Tennessee community. Now, they are worrying about their own health. “We have both tested positive for heavy metals in our bodies,” Terry said. “We both have increased respiratory problems with asthma… We feel that we need to relocated to get away from the spill site.”

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead, which have been associated with increased risk of cancer, liver damage and other serious health problems. When it rains, coal ash sludge backs up on to the Gupton’s pastures. As it dries, the ash flies into the air.

“I wouldn’t want to inhale either of these things for a long period of time — or even a short period of time if I had lung problems,” said Gregory V. Button, a University of Tennessee at Knoxville professor and medical anthropologist, in the news report. “There’s a lot of possibility here for exposing large populations with what may be very high concentrations of ash contaminated with a combination of toxic materials.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Family worries about cattle, health, livelihood after coal ash spill

McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations LLC, which submitted a proposal and budget for the campaign, would use social media techniques such as blogs, blurbs and Twitter Tweets to highlight the positive side of Kingston.

The Nashville, Tennessee, firm’s budget also includes a two-year advertising campaign; a two-year, $726,000-per-year “news bureau;” and tracking data to gauge success. TVA officials “agreed in principal” that they would pay for the campaign.

Kingston Mayor Troy Beets hopes the campaign will restore the luster of the area. “This is the most beautiful municipal lakefront in the state of Tennessee,” he said.

Last December, an impoundment pond at the TVA’s Kingston fossil plant was breached, sending 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash on to 300 acres of that pristine lakefront community. The wave of toxic material knocked houses from their foundations and destroyed property in its wake.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which has been associated with health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. Since the spill, the TVA has been involved in a massive cleanup effort that could cost the utility as much as $975 million before it is complete.

For now, the area is overrun with cleanup crews, blocking streets and creating constant racket – a far cry from the area that once was a destination for water sports and recreation.

“This is the image that we need to project,” Mayor Beets said. “Kingston is whole. There is nothing wrong with our water supply here. There is nothing wrong with putting your boat in at Kingston.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › PR firm to use social media to improve image damaged by coal ash spill

McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations LLC submitted a proposal and budget, which includes a two-year advertising campaign; a two-year, $726,000-per-year “news bureau;” and tracking data to gauge success. TVA officials “agreed in principal” that they would pay for the campaign.

“I hope they will focus on repairing our damaged image,” said Kingston Mayor Troy Beets.

Last December, an impoundment pond at the TVA’s Kingston fossil plant was breached, sending 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash on to 300 acres of an east Tennessee community. The material stacked as high as nine feet in some areas, knocked houses from their foundations and destroyed property and waterways in its path.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which have been associated with serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. Since the spill, the TVA has been involved in a massive cleanup effort that could cost the utility as much as $975 million before it is complete.

Source: Knox News

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA asked to pay for PR campaign to improve image of damaged area

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic, barium, chromium and manganese, which have been associated with serious health concerns such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

“I don’t know what Tennessee law is, but under Pennsylvania law it would probably have to go to a residual waste landfill,” said Tom Rathbun, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

A TVA spokesperson says it already had given up on storing the recovered coal ash in the Pennsylvania coal mines as the mines were not properly lined to prevent the toxins from leaching into the ground.

Meanwhile, TVA has located landfills in Alabama and Georgia to store the 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash that poured from a breached impoundment pond, destroying neighboring homes and property. Both sites are Class 1 landfills. One is located in Mauk, Georgia and the other in Uniontown, Alabama.

The TVA’s cleanup effort has caused headaches for the utility, which estimates it will spend as much as $975 million to restore the land. It could be months before the cleanup is complete.

Source: Forbes/Associated Press

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Pennsylvania says no to TVA coal ash storage

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in a financial report submitted last week, estimated the cleanup costs to be as much as $975 million, up from a previous estimate of $525 million to $825 million. The utility said those costs may continue to climb as the environmental damage is assessed.

The spill dumped 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash onto a community and into the Emory River. In some areas the sludge stood 9 feet high. It knocked homes off foundations and destroyed property in its wake as it poured from a breached impoundment. The utility already has spent more than $77 million buying up properties and cleaning up the area. Some environmentalists argue it is impossible to completely restore the land.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium that can cause serious health complications such as cancer, liver damage and neurological problems. Some residents in the area say they have experienced respiratory problems as a result of the fly ash in the air. At least one young child has tested positive for heavy metal in his blood.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing independent air monitoring and oversight of the area and is inspecting coal ash storage plants in hopes of preventing future spills.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA ups coal ash cleanup costs to $975 million

The EPA is expected to prepare a public report for each unit assessed, with the goal of completing all assessments by the end of the year.

The inspections are in response to concerns raised by residents, lawmakers and environmental groups following the December 22, 2008, coal ash spill at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston, Tennessee plant, which dumped 1.1 billion gallons of toxic material on to 300 acres of an east Tennessee community and into the neighboring Emory River. Coal ash can contain dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

More than 125 million tons of coal ash combustion waste is produced by power plants in the United States, most of which ends up in dry landfills or in above-ground coal slurry ponds. That material was classified by the EPA in 2000 as non-hazardous and thus was exempt from government regulations. However, since 2000, improved pollution controls have kept toxins from leaving smokestacks and thus have increased the amount of toxins in coal ash, says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen law firm.

“Hopefully, these actions by EPA and Congress will either increase safety near these facilities, require alternative methods of disposal, or both,” says Jones.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › EPA to begin inspection of coal ash storage areas

“We are trying to balance between doing the right thing by the people that were impacted by this (and) keeping in mind that this is ratepayer money,” TVA senior vice president Peyton Hairston told The Associated Press last week.

The buyout is part of a massive cleanup and recovery effort by the nation’s largest utility after its Kingston, Tennessee, impoundment pond failed, dumping more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge onto 300 acres of a rural, east Tennessee community. The sludge piled as high as eight feet in some areas and knocked several homes off their foundations.

TVA received more than 200 requests from property owners wiling to sell property they felt was affected or devalued by the spill, and is deciding which properties warrant buying out. “As we work through this process we have to be able to determine that some people are just outside the area that we feel has been impacted,” Hairston said.

But critics say that even those whose property didn’t suffer immediate damage may still suffer ill effects from the spill, from diminished home values to noise pollution from the 20-hour-per-day cleanup crews. But at higher concern is the environmental issues that may arise as coal ash sludge seeps into the ground, pours into the Emory River, and flies into the wind as it dries up. Coal ash may contain toxins that can lead to serious health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological disorders. Several residents in the area also have complained of respiratory problems and heightened anxiety since the spill.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA leaves some coal ash spill victims high and dry

However, the method for the regulation of coal ash has come under scrutiny after a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impoundment pond failed last December and dumped more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge over 300 acres of an east Tennessee community, destroying homes and damaging property in its wake. Both residents and environmentalists began asking questions about the toxic material that had poured into the neighboring Emory River and heaped as much as nine feet high in some areas.

Since 2000, improved pollution controls have kept toxins from leaving smokestacks and thus have increased the amount of toxins in coal ash, says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen law firm. The material may contain arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium which can contribute to dangerous health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications, to name a few.

Many residents in the area already have complained of respiratory problems and half reported experiencing increased stress and anxiety. “In addition, EPA has improved testing which reveals toxins are leaching into groundwater more than originally thought,” Jones adds.

To date, EPA has found groundwater contaminated with heavy metals from coal ash dumps at 63 sites. An independent report asserts that nearly 100 coal ash dumps across the United States pose similar or even greater potential dangers than the TVA Kingston plant, Jones says.

“On March 9, 2009, EPA sent a survey to the 163 utilities that manage approximately 300 coal ash ponds in the U.S. The survey calls for plant operators to provide information about coal ash pond design, engineering, and inspections and to list any spills or unauthorized releases within the last decade. While a step in the right direction, EPA’s survey does not ask for information on whether the coal ash ponds are lined, whether the ponds have water collection systems to catch toxins leached from the ash, or whether groundwater monitors are in place near the ponds,” Jones says.

After survey results are reviewed, EPA plans to follow up with on-site visits and order improvements where the ponds are found to be unsafe.

In response to the December 22, 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, the EPA committed to propose new regulations governing coal combustion waste by the end of 2009. The EPA also committed to act immediately to prevent accidents such as the TVA spill in Kingston.

“The Kingston, Tennessee, spill and others like it show the need for strict standards on how this waste is disposed. In addition to EPA’s renewed interest in regulating coal ash disposal, the U.S. Congress is looking into the spill,” Jones says. “Hopefully, these actions by EPA and Congress will either increase safety near these facilities, require alternative methods of disposal, or both.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Coal combustion sites need government regulations

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) ordered total remediation so that the utility must clean up the site completely. That cleanup effort is so massive it could take years to complete and is estimated to cost the utility between $525 million and $825 million.

“It is unlikely that the land can be fully restored to conditions present before the spill,” says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen law firm. “It will take a long time for the area to heal, and the long-term effects may not be known entirely for some time.”

Coal ash may contain dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium which can contribute to dangerous health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications, to name a few. Many residents already have complained of respiratory problems and half reported experiencing increased stress and anxiety.

The TVA has offered buyouts to many of the victims of the coal ash spill, “but it is unclear whether residents, in their desperation to leave the hazardous conditions, are getting fair deals,” Jones says. “Our firm is working on behalf of individuals and a class of clients. Through these cases, we are working to 1) Bring about a complete cleanup of the area; 2) Ensure that our clients are fully compensated for the damage to their property (including their property values); and, 3) Obtain long-term medical monitoring relief for area residents who have been exposed to the dangerous contaminants in TVA’s coal ash sludge. “

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Coal ash victims may not get the compensation they deserve

Yet, an October 2008 inspection deemed the Kingston Fossil Plant structurally sound. And life went on as normal for the residents of Kingston. Until December 22, 2008, when the walls of the impoundment pond broke down and poured 1.1 billion gallons of toxic material on to 300 acres of property and into the Emory River.

“The coal ash spill has both immediate and long-term impacts for Kingston residents whose land and homes have been affected by the spill,” says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen Law Firm. As the sludge poured out from the impoundment pond as high as nine feet tall in some areas, it destroyed multiple homes and knocked some completely off their foundations. Several homes were left uninhabitable. “Aside from the immediate impacts of losing one’s home and use of property, other impacts include diminished property values and increased health risks,” Jones says.

The toxins found in coal ash include arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese, and barium. According to news reports, potential health problems associated with these toxic substances include cancer, liver damage and neurological complications, among other health problems.

While cleanup efforts are underway, there is little to stop the dust particles that fly into the air as the sludge dries, which is likely to aggravate the problem, Jones adds.

“In a recent public meeting with Kingston residents, health officials warned that the dust associated with the spill will pose an increasing challenge as the slurry dries and spring winds arrive,” he says. The fine particulate matter also is linked to respiratory illness. “There are reports of residents complaining of increased illness already,” Jones says. “A recent survey by the Tennessee Department of Health found that one-third of residents living near the spill reported breathing problems and one-half reported increased stress and anxiety.”

Those dust particles may also pose a threat to individuals living farther away from the spill site. “From diminished property value to loss of recreational opportunities, residents throughout the Kingston area are affected by the spill regardless of whether their property suffered directly,” Jones says. “Property values may be diminished due to the proximity of the spill. Dust particles may blow into surrounding areas as the sludge dries. Clean-up activities will be disruptive to the area, because the enormous task of cleaning up the spill is similar to a massive construction project. Dredging of the Emory River began in March, and crews are working 20 hours a day. The clean-up involves trucking the dredged sludge to a yet determined location, and the truck traffic not only will be noisy but also has the potential to spread dust along the travel route.”

Recreational opportunities may be lost due to the dredging activities, because fishing, swimming, and other recreation near the site are no longer appealing, he adds. “The impact of the spill will be long-lasting and the entire community will be affected either directly or indirectly.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Coal ash disaster affects those not directly affected by spill

AlterNet.org

More than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge spilled over 300 acres of community property and into the Emory River last December after a coal ash impoundment pond at the TVA’s Kingston, Tennessee coal-burning plant failed. Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead which can lead to serious health concerns such as cancer, liver damage and neurological disorders.

Since the spill, the TVA has undergone a $1 million a day cleanup effort that is expected to ring in between $525 million and $825 million. TVA has vowed to restore the land to as good, if not better, than new.

However, residents are skeptical. Many have complained of breathing problems and at least one young child has tested positive for heavy metal in his blood. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests of water near a drinking water treatment plant the day after the spill showed alarming amounts of arsenic – 149 times higher than allowed by federal drinking water standards.

While the government is claiming that water treatment facilities can effectively filter tap water for toxins, some residents say that they have noticed a gray film in their tap water and have experienced a burning sensation on their skin and in their eyes after taking a shower.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Drinking water may be contaminated by coal ash spill

The new coal ash byproduct, called Cenocell, has good insulating properties and is fire resistant, making it an ideal replacement for concrete, wood and other materials used in various applications in construction, transportation and aerospace.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead which can, as in the case of the TVA spill, damage property and may lead to serious health complications. The new product, however, is not considered harmful and in fact, is being touted as a “green” product because unlike cement, Cenocell does not generate carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

“This material could help develop communities by allowing people living near coal-burning facilities to create a new industry and new jobs,” Doyoyo said. “This could be an engine of development for people who have been struggling. It really is a material with a social conscience.”

This may not be exciting news to those living in communities in close proximity to coal-burning facilities. The alternative uses for coal ash do not stop the coal-burning fumes from polluting the air nor does it eliminate the threat of another devastating coal ash spill, like that caused when a TVA coal ash pond failed last December and dumped more than a billion gallons of toxic material on to a neighboring community. Rather than alternative uses for coal ash, many are asking for greener alternatives to coal-burning all together.

Doyoyo will present Cenocell and his findings at the World of Coal Ash meeting May 4-7, 2009.

Source:
Reliable Plant

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Scientist develops new product from coal ash

Since the spill, the TVA has spent a reported $1 million a day to clean up the mess, estimating its total cleanup cost to ring in between $525 million and $825 million. Clean up efforts include building temporary dams to stop the flow in neighboring waterways, dusting grass seed on dry land to keep the fly ash at bay, and, most recently, dredging the nearby Emory River. The TVA has vowed to restore the land to its previous condition, though affected property owners and environmental groups remain skeptical.

Last month, a smaller spill occurred when a pipeline at a coal-burning plant ruptured, leaking 4,000 gallons of coal ash into the Potomac River and fanning the flames of concern from lawmakers of the safety and lack of federal regulation of coal ash impoundments.

TVA president and CEO Tom Kilgore, Congressman Lincoln Davis and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are among those who testified to members of the House subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment as part of the committee’s investigation into why such spills occurred.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Congressional committee to ask ‘why’ coal ash spills occur

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)

More than a billion gallons of toxic material poured on to 300 acres of an east Tennessee neighborhood late last year when a coal ash impoundment at the TVA’s Kingston, Tennessee, plant failed. The spill destroyed homes and damaged property, and has raised serious concerns about human safety not only among residents but also with environmental groups. Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead that can cause serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

As a result, residents in the area are cautious. “We need more information and increased communications,” said resident Sarah McCoin, a member of the Tennessee Coal Ash Survivors Network. “Many families fear they are poisoning their children by remaining in their homes and they do not have the resources to pay for testing those children. They need help, they need answers.”

ORAU is an education and research consortium of 100 universities including Georgia Tech, Duke, Tennessee, Tulane, Johns Hopkins and Vanderbuilt. According to the TVA, ORAU will bring in toxicologists to design medical tests to identify health problems that can be caused by the toxins in coal ash. The group also will review the results of air, water and soil tests to determine whether the cleanup has been thorough enough not to pose a risk to those living in the area.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Research consortium to guide coal ash cleanup, health monitoring

The TVA launched a massive cleanup effort which includes dredging the Emory River to remove the ash and spreading grass seed over the affected land to keep the ash from flying about. The cleanup operation is costing the TVA about $1 million per day and is expected to ring in between $525 million and $825 million before the cleanup is complete and the land is restored.

The TVA also admitted publicly that it should have been more forthcoming about the possible dangers of the coal ash from the beginning. Since then, the utility has made efforts to keep the public informed of cleanup efforts through community meetings and the media.

Regardless, the cleanup has come under scrutiny by both environmental groups and community members who want more oversight and environmental studies performed.

Source:
WBIR-TV

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA hosts second community open house about coal ash spill

The utility reported that to date, 61 payouts were made to the owners of 40 homes and about 51 properties on 210 acres of the 300 acres affected by the spill. The homes and land acquired by the TVA generated $62,900 a year in Roane County property taxes. Roane County Property Assessor Teresa Kirkham says more parcels of land affected by the spill may be purchased by the utility.

The spill destroyed three homes and damaged a dozen more in the wake. Not just land, but the neighboring Emory River was affected.

The $1 million-a-day cleanup effort is expected to cost the TVA between $525 million and $825 million before it is complete. TVA has vowed to restore the land to its previous condition – if not better condition. However, many property owners are skeptical.

Coal ash may contain dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, barium, manganese and chromium which can lead to potential health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. Many residents in the area have complained of respiratory problems and at least one child has tested positive for heavy metal.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA pays millions to property owners affected by coal ash spill

The spill dumped more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge on to 300 acres in an east Tennessee community. Dozens of homes were destroyed or damaged and property was left a mess. Aside from the physical damage, homeowners in the area are concerned of the risk to human life.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead that can cause serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. Several homeowners in the area already have complained of respiratory problems.

The cleanup already has taken months and could cost the utility between $525 million and $825 million, according to earlier reports. A cleanup plan that included the dredging effort was outlined in a report submitted by the TVA and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The utility vows to restore the property to its original condition, but homeowners wonder if doing so is even possible, given the magnitude of the spill.

More than 100 property owners have filed federal lawsuits against the TVA, but many residents who live closes to the spill have opted to either reach settlements with the TVA or say they plan to wait things out.

Sources:
News Channel 5
iStock Analyst

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Dredging begins at Tennessee coal ash spill site

As part of the campaign, protestors will march Saturday along Palm Canyon in Palm Springs and ask Congress to “quit coal and other fossil fuels and support a clean energy economy,” according to the report. “It is a major source of air and water pollution and leaves in its wake huge, toxic waste piles of ash.”

The protest comes two and a half months after the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston, Tennessee coal ash impoundment failed, dumping 2.2 million pounds of toxic coal ash on to 300 acres of property in rural east Tennessee. Coal ash contains toxins such as arsenic and lead, which contribute to serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. Residents in the area already have reported experiencing breathing problems since the spill occurred.

The utility is shelling out a million dollars daily to clean up the mess, which destroyed homes and damaged property. Total cleanup costs are expected to ring in between $525 million and $825 million, according to the TVA. The utility also has vowed to convert the coal ash ponds at its Kingston plant to dry ash storage, which will take up to two years to complete.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Southern California communities march for safer alternatives to coal-burning

The Obama administration backed up the promise by vowing to propose new regulations governing coal combustion waste by the end of the year and acting immediately to ensure more dangerous spills do not happen again, according to the New York Times.

The EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery is deciding now whether to regulate the waste as hazardous or nonhazardous. In 2000, the material was classified as nonhazardous, but because of better pollution controls, the ash has become more dangerous. Coal ash contains toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium. Those materials can lead to serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

Residents who live hear the Kingston, Tennessee plant have already complained of breathing problems and some have even tested positive for high levels heavy metal.

TVA is undergoing a million-dollar-a-day cleanup program that is expected to total between $525 million and $825 before it is restored.

The coal industry has long opposed regulation, saying the move will cost billions each year. Activist groups say regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of those living near the plants. EPA has raised concerns from improved tests that show more toxins than previously thought leaching from the ash into groundwater, according to the report.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Obama administration vows to propose regulations for coal ash

Homes were destroyed and property was damaged when the coal ash impoundment failed and poured on to the rural east Tennessee community. TVA announced that it plans to buy the damaged properties, including lakeside homes. It will also end wet-ash storage at the plant.

Other efforts include temporarily holding the recovered ash at the Kingston site to allow it to drain before sending it to landfills or possibly recycling it. Officials vow they will work to keep the fly ash from becoming airborne.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium that has been linked to serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. A survey of 368 residents living in the area of the spill found a third of them experienced breathing problems and half experienced increased stress and anxiety.

TVA estimates its cleanup efforts to total between $525 and $825 million before the land is restored.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA granted permission to dredge Emory River

It’s no wonder. The coal ash that poured from a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impoundment in Kingston, Tennessee, contained dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which may lead to serious health problems such as cancer, liver problems, neurological complications and a host of other irritants.

Never mind that houses and property in the wake of the outpour were destroyed or damaged. The utility is shelling out more than $1 million a day to build temporary dams to stop the flow down the Emory River and dust grass seed to keep the fly ash at bay, and carry out other measures to ensure the area returns to its previous beauty. It could cost the TVA as much as $825 million to do that, and even then, it is unsure what toll it will take on wildlife and plants in the area.

According to the Associated Press report, 368 residents within a 1.5 mile radius of the plant were surveyed by the Tennessee Department of Public Health. A third of those surveyed say they experienced worsening upper respiratory symptoms. Half reported mental health issues such as stress and anxiety. Astonishingly, only 66 percent said they “washed their hands after touching the sludge.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › East Tennessee residents waiting for breath of fresh air

The practice of utilities selling coal ash byproducts is not unusual. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently released a report stating that it sells about a third of the 7 million tons of fly ash, bottom ash, gypsum and boiler slag generated in its plants each year. Those byproducts have been mixed into concrete for roads in bridges and in blocks for buildings. The gypsum has been used in wallboard, granules for roofing shingles and grit for sandblasters. The byproducts even have been used as filler material for recreation areas, ball fields and industrial parks, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Yes, this is the same type of toxic material that spilled on to 300 acres of rural east Tennessee last December when one of the utility’s coal ash ponds failed, destroying nearby homes and causing hundreds of millions of damage to property. Environmentalists say the damage to wildlife and plant life is still to be determined, and many locals who live near the site have already suffered health problems. The coal ash contains toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which have been associated with serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

So it comes as little surprise that the Chinese drywall containing coal ash byproducts is also making people sick. The lawsuit alleges that the drywall emits one of several sulfur compounds giving homes made of it a foul odor. Some say those fumes also may cause respiratory health problems, headaches, dry eyes and nosebleeds. The long term affects of exposure are yet to be determined.

Other problems caused by the Chinese drywall include corrosion of air condition coils, putting homes at serious risk for electrical fires.

The class action lawsuit names the Knauf Group, PKT’s parent company; Banner Supply, a Miami-based materials supply company; and Rothchilt International, Ltd. , an export company in China. Legal experts believe many more lawsuits will follow.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Coal ash byproducts used in building supplies making people sick

The spill occurred when a coal ash impoundment pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Kingston, Tennessee plant failed and dumped more than a billion gallons of toxic material on to a rural, east Tennessee neighborhood. Not only did the spill cause immediate damage, its long-term effects may cause even more problems. Coal ash contains toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium, which may contribute to serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

In the Daily Yonder photo essay, Poynter talks about his two experiences photographing the site, during which he had to go through TVA’s public relations department and be escorted in by TVA staff. Most other entrances to the spill site are restricted by police, allowing access to only those who live in the area or their friends and family.

Poynter says visibility in the area is limited – one can only see about a quarter of a mile in the distance. There is no media access to the homes damaged immediately by the spill. Thus, he says, “It looks fairly benign, of out of the larger context of who has been harmed and what has been destroyed.”

Still, the slideshow is worth watching.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Photographers capture images of devastating coal ash spill

An Associated Press report found that there are 162 power plants in the county that have coal ash ponds. Those ponds store anywhere from 500 tons to 653,300 tons of coal ash. While coal ash has stayed somewhat below the environmental issues radar, its safety has come into question recently after the December 2008 spill in Kingston.

That spill fell on 300 acres of rural community, destroying houses, damaging property and pouring into nearby rivers. While cleanup efforts are underway, there is much debate surrounding the safety of the land, water and air. Coal ash contains dangerous toxins that can cause serious health concerns such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

The TVA spill has spurred environmental and industry officials in other parts of the country to take a closer look at coal ash ponds at other sites. According to the Gillette News Record report, industry officials in Wyoming say coal ash ponds there are not in jeopardy of leaking or spilling, adding that the TVA incident likely was the result of bad engineering and not the lack of federal regulation.

Despite the reassurance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has vowed to study the issue and decide whether regulation is necessary. Environmental groups continue to argue that regulating the giant toxic ponds are a must for human safety.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Officials in other states review safety of coal ash plants

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

“When I got the results I was horrified,” Penny said to News Channel 5. “It showed that Evan has increased levels of arsenic and lead and other heavy metal in his system. … They said that his problem was due to the airborne fly ash in the community. He was directly impacted, and we were told that we would have to leave the area.”

The toxic mud and sludge that poured on to the east Tennessee community destroying homes and damaging property in its wake, contained potential toxins such as arsenic, lead, barium, chromium and manganese. Problems associated with those materials include cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

Last week, TVA acknowledged that the spill was worse than initially reported, calling it a “catastrophe.” Lawmakers are looking into the cleanup efforts, which some are calling too slow. Those efforts include building temporary dams to stop the flow into neighboring bodies of water and dusting the area with grass seeds to keep the coal ash from becoming airborne. The cleanup could cost the utility as much as $825 million and the toll on wildlife and plant life – and ultimately, human life – is yet to be known. But some, like Penny, say the worst damage already has been done.

“I carry guilt because we stayed, because I was told that we were going to be safe, and I believed them, and it’s not true – we are not safe,” she said.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Toddler near coal ash spill site tests positive for heavy metal

The coal ash spill is being touted as the worst environmental disaster in TVA’s history. Not only were homes destroyed and property damaged by the massive outpour, the material that was dumped on to the land and flowed into the river contains dangerous toxins that could pose a possible health hazard not only to animals and plants in the area, but also to humans.

A massive cleanup is underway, ringing in at about $1 million per day. Estimates on the total cost of the cleanup could be as high as $825 million. Some environmentalists say it is almost impossible to completely rid the area of toxins, suggesting the spill site be converted to an independent educational and research center. However, TVA officials say they would rather continue to follow the cleanup plan rather than consider turning the damaged land into a research site.

While the proposed legislation is a step in the right direction, activists say it doesn’t solve the whole problem. “The issue of keen importance is fly ash needs to be regulated at the federal level as a hazardous waste,” said Sarah McCoin, a member of the newly formed Tennessee Coal Ash Survivors Network.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Congressional committee considers regulating coal ash ponds, landfills

TVA reported that it sells about a third of the 7 million tons of toxic material it generates at its coal plants each year. Those who purchase the coal byproducts say using it can reduce cost and improve quality of concrete.

However, critics worry about the safety of coal ash in the environment. Coal ash contains dangerous toxins, including arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium. Those materials carry potential health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications, which has heightened concerns of environmentalists and those living in the east Tennessee neighborhood where the spill occurred.

A TVA marketing spokesperson says that up to 70 percent of coal ash is made up of silica, or sand. Twenty percent is aluminum compounds and the remaining 10 percent is sulfur and iron, arguing that the toxicity is minimal and in such small concentrations that it should not be harmful. Mike McDonald with the American Coal Ash Association added that coal ash “is about as toxic as dirt.”

A congressional committee meets this week to discuss federal regulation of coal byproducts.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA sells coal ash to companies for building supplies, crop soil

Coal ash contains toxins such as arsenic, lead, barium, chromium and manganese. These toxins have been associated with serious health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. When the coal ash spilled from the Kingston TVA plant, it poured over property and into nearby rivers. While the contaminants are being cleaned from the ground and waterways, some scientists worry that long term effects on wildlife and plant life could ultimately affect human life.

Indiana has 13 coal ash ponds in 13 different counties. The largest, containing nearly 900,000 tons of ash, is located in Gibson County. Gibson is located in the southwestern part of the state and has a population of about 35,000.

Indiana’s coal-fired power plants export about 24 percent of the electricity they generate. Environmentalists have raised concerns about the serious health concerns associated with coal combustion, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, stroke and sudden infant dath syndrome. According to the report, Indiana has the third highest emissions of sulfur dioxide, which has been strongly associated with human deaths.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Indianans worry about their coal ash impoundments

In a letter released late last week, EPA regional administrator Stanley wrote that the EPA “considers the Kingston spill to be an un-permitted discharge of pollutant in contravention of the Clean Water Act.” The TVA has been ordered to produce a plan to correct the violation as soon as possible and to keep the EPA in the loop with all its data communication with the state Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

Officials hope that data that already has been turned in to TDEC and future data will help pinpoint the why the impoundment failed last December, pouring 2.2 million pounds of coal ash onto a rural neighborhood. The coal ash contains toxins that could be hazardous to human health, including arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium.

A massive cleanup is currently underway, costing the TVA about $1 million per day. Temporary dams have been built to keep ash that’s flowed into a nearby river at bay, and grass seeds have been planted to keep ash from flying about. Officials have said air and water quality tests from the area near the spill “continue to show no contamination above regulatory levels,” according to the news report.

TDEC says it will hold a meeting soon to bring community members up to date on air and water testing results.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA found in violation of federal Clean Water Act

Crops in the Southeast and Midwest are grown in soil that has been routinely supplemented with tons of fly ash. Some of the more common crops grown in this amended soil include a variety of vegetables and peanuts.

Fly ash is a fine powder that is recovered from gases created by the burning of coal. Supplementing soil with the fly ash increases crop yields and stabilizes soil, and lessens the burden on landfills. The fly ash also provides phosphorus, calcium and other nutrients that aide in crops’ growth. It also helps the soil retain water.

However, fly ash also contains toxins, including arsenic, that if used in high levels can soak into crops and become hazardous. Coal ash is not classified as a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency and thus is not federally supervised for use in agriculture. Some states do regulate it but guidelines vary from state to state and there is little to no monitoring of its use, according to the report. Environmentalists fear that inadequate monitoring could lead to overuse of fly ash and possible toxic accumulation, which may ultimately harm human health.

The U.S. currently produces 130 million tons of coal combustion waste each year. Experts say as more coal burning is needed to increase demand, that number could likely increase to 150 million tons in a decade.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Environmentalists worry about safety of fly ash supplementing crop soil

Late last December the TVA coal ash pond spilled over, dumping 1.1 billion gallons of toxic material on to 300 acres of a rural neighborhood in east Tennessee, destroying homes and damaging property in its wake. Temporary dams were built to halt the ash’s flow into neighboring rivers, and grass seeds have been spread on the ground to keep the sludge at bay. But experts still don’t know how long clean-up efforts will take or how the dangerous toxins might affect animals and humans there.

Scientists say that turning the spill site into a educational and research center for the study of long-term effects of coal ash on the environment “could yield scientific dividends that could be used at power plants around the world,” according to the story. Scientists also say that if the fly ash is stabilized, it shouldn’t pose a risk to the health and safety of researchers or residents in the area.

The TVA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation say despite the recommendation plans are to continue with clean-up efforts to remove the ash and restore the environment.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Scientists say spill site should be converted to research center

The material dumped on property and neighboring waterways contained dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, barium, chromium and manganese. If ingested or inhaled in high levels, those toxins could cause serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

A massive cleanup ringing in at about $1 million per day is underway, but many say the damage already has been done. So far 27 families have had to relocate to temporary housing – paid by TVA. To date, families in the area have filed 444 claims with the TVA, related to the spill. Of the 444, 311 are related to real estate, 117 to health concerns, and the remaining 16 deal with personal property damage.

In situations such as the TVA’s coal ash spill where several people are affected, cases are often consolidated into a single class-action suit where claims and damaged are determined based on the number of people affected and the type of damage that occurred.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Property owners file claims against TVA

Exposure to arsenic and radium can have cause serious health issues in humans, including cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is overseeing the cleanup, with assistance from the Tennessee Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Efforts costing $1 million a day include vacuuming ash particles from the river and inlets, building temporary dams to hold back the flow, and dusting the area with more than 80 tons of grass seed to keep the ash from flying in the wind, according to the report.

A spokesperson with TDEC told AP that the agencies are working together to ensure the area is appropriately cleaned for the long-term protection of both the community and the environment. She was quoted: “We have stated throughout this process that coal ash does contain small amounts of some contaminants that could be harmful to human health under certain conditions, primarily ingestion and inhalation. From the point TDEC was initially notified of the ash release, the department recognized the potential inhalation hazard presented by the ash and acted to protect local public health.”

Because trace amounts of toxins were found miles downstream, state and federal agencies will continue to monitor the water and air to ensure that drinking water and air quality remains safe.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Scientists confirm sludge contains arsenic, radium

The Tennessee Valley Authority still is not sure when the cleanup will end or how much it will cost to resolve the issue. The authority, which will file a report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sometime next month, says its early estimates to clean up the spill have the cost at about $1 million per day.

Tests still show high levels of toxins in the air and water.

As a temporary fix, the TVA has scattered winter rye seed and fertilizer over the ash to keep it from flying around. The weather, too, has helped keep the ash at bay, offering a wet or frozen climate. “One it all starts thawing, I don’t know what it’s going to do,” Self says to the newspaper.

The spill’s damage and cleanup efforts have left the 250 residents in the area taking back road detours to get to and from their homes. Construction is underway on a 2,000-foot weir dam to keep more fly ash from getting into the Emory River. Another, smaller weir dam already was laced at the mouth of the Emory to keep ash from getting into the Clinch River.

As for Self, he says he will just watch and wait. “I don’t know that we’ll be able to stay here,” he says.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Homeowner unsure of home value after toxic spill

The inspections are a precautionary measure to ensure that the dams across the state are structurally sound and that there is not threat of another dangerous spill occurring. The dam safety program will require dam owners to provide updated inspection reports and evaluations of the structures including any risk of impoundment breaking through into inactive or abandoned mines. State engineers also will conduct inspections both on ground at the dam sites and with aerial photographs of the impoundments and reservoirs, alerting owners if they see issues that may need addressing.

Engineers have two classifications for fly ash dams – Class 1 fly ash dams have “high hazard potential,” which can likely cause loss of life if the dams fail. Class 2 fly ash dams carry “significant hazard.” If these dams fail, loss of life is unlikely but heavy property damage is likely to occur.

The Tennessee Valley Authority flooding was the largest industrial spill of its kind in the United States, dumping more than a billion gallons of ash and sludge on to 300 acres of a rural East Tennessee neighborhood and pouring into the Tennessee, Emory and Clinch rivers.

The ash that covered the acreage and rivers contain toxins such as arsenic, lead, barium, chromium and manganese. Those dangerous toxins have been associated with serious health conditions in humans, such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › West Virginia dams to be inspected for safety

The first blow to animals in the area came when the spill occurred. Animals that were caught in the spill’s wake died from strangulation or from being buried in the sludge and ash. Stephen Smith, veterinarian and director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, says the animals that remain are not safe. Fish who swam to fresher water to escape the spill have ash coating their stomachs and gills. The damage isn’t just occurring in aquatic specials like fish, mussels and snails. River otters, mink, muskrat, ospreys and block-crowned night herons may also be at risk.

As wildlife in the area continue to live off the contaminated land, toxins can build up in their blood stream over the coming months and years. If the animals are contaminated, those dangerous toxins may eventually work their way to humans through the food chain.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to monitor and assess how the spill is affecting animals there over the next three to five years. As a precaution, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued an advisory against eating striped bass caught in rivers around the spill zone, and precautionary advisory for catfish and sauger.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Spill’s long term effects a concern for wildlife