TVA wants public input on Kingston coal ash investigation plan

“We’ll be looking at everything from soil, groundwater, bugs, fish, etc. to assess the potential impacts of coal combustion residuals on the environment around Kingston and the other 6 sites where we store coal ash in Tennessee.”

– SCOTT BROOKS, TVA SPOKESMAN

The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking for public comment on a proposed environmental investigation plan for coal ash at its Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tennessee.

The plan is part of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s 2015 directive to follow Obama-era coal combustion residual rules put in place after TVA spilled 1.1 billion gallons of toxic coal ash slurry from its wet cells in 2008, damaging dozens of properties and leaving hundreds of cleanup workers dead or dying. The workers are suing Jacobs Engineering, the firm TVA put in charge of the cleanup.

TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said the Kingston plant is the third location of seven fossil plants TVA is investigating.

The plan provides details on how TVA plans to investigate and assess the risks to soil, surface water and groundwater from coal ash stored at Kingston.

The Kingston site investigation will focus on the recovery cell and former stilling pond, since the current landfill is covered by the 2015 rule already.

“We’ll be looking at everything from soil, groundwater, bugs, fish, etc. to assess the potential impacts of coal combustion residuals on the environment around Kingston and the other 6 sites where we store coal ash in Tennessee,” Brooks wrote in an email.

TDEC will analyze the results of the investigations and provide direction under the coal combustion residual rule for corrective action.

“The state has a very specific quality control process they want us to use at each site, but [the investigation] will incorporate current and historical data including that from the EPA and our state permit,” Brooks said.

Bull Run Fossil Plant also will be included in the investigation later in the fall.

HOW TO READ THE PLAN, MAKE COMMENTS

The plan can be viewed at www.tva.com/Environment/Environmental-Stewardship/ TDEC-Order. The public comment period runs until Sept. 28. Submit comments made in writing by email to TDECorder @tva.gov, online at www.tva. com/KIFEIPcomments or by mail to TN Commissioner’s Order Comment, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St. BR 4A, Chattanooga, TN, 37402.

Comments also may be made in person at an open house at 5-7 p.m. Eastern time Aug. 30 at Noah’s Event Venue, 1200 Ladd Landing Blvd., in Kingston.