Coal Ash Buries Tennessee River Tribs; Creekkeeper Stymied By Security

On December 22nd in the city of Kingston, Tennessee, a 40-acre coal ash holding pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Power Plant broke, spilling 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash into the Emory and Clinch Rivers. The tidal wave of coal ash sludge destroyed three houses and has affected at least 300 acres of Roane County land.

At this point it is difficult to determine the full extent of this environmental disaster. Mercury, cadmium, lead, nickel, selenium and arsenic may be present in coal ash and can have both short and long term effects on human and ecosystem health. Therefore, health hazards depend on the type and amount of a particular metal in the coal ash. Water tests of private wells and springs show high levels of arsenic; one sample was higher than the maximum level allowed for drinking water. TVA said that municipal water was safe to drink but told residents using private wells to stop drinking their water until test results are processed.

Hurricane Creekkeeper John L. Wathen and his brave staff have been on the ground trying to document this disaster and help wherever possible. Unlike in previous disasters, where emergency personnel utilized Creekkeeper in cleanup and rescue operations, the Creekkeeper crew was far from welcomed on the scene. Creekkeeper staff were harassed and ticketed by TVA security. In an Waterkeeper Alliance email, Wathen wrote, "We were threatened with arrest for delivering water to residents in the area.".

The Kingston Fossil Power Plant serves 700,000 people in Tennessee and neighboring states. Each year 120 million tons of coal ash accumulates in holding ponds in order to satisfy this demand for electric power. A small percentage of the coal ash can be used in cement and other building materials but it is suspected that the affected clay dike could no longer hold the growing pile of coal ash that towered 55 feet in height.

Download a radio interview on the disaster with Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen:
http://server2.whiterosesociety.org/content/kincaid/KincaidShow-(29-12-2008).mp3

For more information please see the articles below:
Coal Ash Spill Revives Issue of Its Hazards
The Associated Press: Spill May Have Permently Alterned Tennessee Community
NPR.org: Coal May Pose Health Hazard

Photos Taken From http://unitedmountaindefense.org/

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