TVA stays mum on land cost for expanded landfill

May 28 - McClatchy-Tribune Content Agency, LLC - Bob Fowler The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.

 

While TVA purchased the needed land more than three years ago, it's just now seeking the public's input on its plan to expand its dry ash landfill at adjoining Bull Run Fossil Plant onto that property.

And TVA is still keeping mum on how much it paid for the 24 homes and 155 acres it acquired. "We aren't disclosing the purchase price for those parcels as it could impact future property negotiations elsewhere," TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said in an email.

The Claxton community property purchases, controversial at the time, were made because TVA is running out of dry ash storage space on the Bull Run site.

TVA executive John Kammeyer in 2012 said more storage space would be needed in about five years. But Brooks said the remaining on-site storage space is a ballpark estimate that hinges on "how much the plant runs."

TVA in a news release says it has "state-of-the-art" air pollution controls at Bull Run and that power plant is "expected to play a continuing role in TVA's coal-fired generating fleet."

The expanded landfill is "consistent with TVA's commitment to convert all wet coal combustion storage system to dry systems," the news release states.

TVA's board of directors in August 2009 passed a resolution to phase out wet handling and storage of coal combustion residuals. That action came on the heels of the disastrous, 2008 collapse of a wet coal ash storage cell, causing 5.4 million cubic yards of the sludge to spill into the Emory River and onto adjoining countryside.

Brooks said it's "way too early in the process to talk about specific storage areas" within the area next to Bull Run purchased by TVA.

For now, TVA is just seeking comments -- electronically and by conventional mail -- on the environmental impact statement for the expansion plans. Those plans would include the design, construction and operation of the new storage age. The deadline to comment is July 6.

Written comments should be sent to Anita E. Masters, Project Environmental Planning, NEPA Project Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St., Mail Stop BR4A, Chattanooga, TN, 37402.

Comments also can be submitted on the project website at http://www.tva.com/environment/reports/index.htm or by email at aemasters@tva.gov.

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