EPA approves TVA plan for final coal ash cleanup

Nov 7 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has approved TVA's preferred plan for dealing with the final cleanup phase of the 2008 Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill.

A public meeting to discuss details of dealing with the sludge that coat the bottoms of the Emory and Clinch rivers will be held Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Roane County High School, 540 W. Cumberland St., Kingston.

TVA's favored alternative relies on natural processes such as mixing, scouring and burial of remaining materials, which the EPA concludes are of relatively low risk to wildlife. The plan also includes 30 years of annual monitoring. It's expected to cost $10 million over a 30 year period.

Officials with the Tennessee Valley Authority, EPA and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will give a prestentaion and answer questions at the public meeting.

The sludge at the bottom of the rivers is part of some 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash that burst from a ruptured holding cell at the Kingston plant.

For more information, contact TVA Outreach at 865-717-1635 or visit www.tva.gov.