TV Kingston Fossil Plant TV Kingston Fossil Plant Coal Fly Ash Slurry SpillCoal Fly Ash Slurry Spill

Mirinda BrayMirinda Bray

On December 22, 2008 a retention On December 22, 2008 a retention pond wall collapsed at Tennessee pond wall collapsed at Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Kingston Valley Authority's (TVA) Kingston plant in Harriman, Tennessee plant in Harriman, Tennessee

Combination of water and fly ash flooded Combination of water and fly ash flooded 12 homes, spilled into nearby Watts Bar 12 homes, spilled into nearby Watts Bar Lake, contaminated the Emory River, and Lake, contaminated the Emory River, and caused a train wreck. caused a train wreck.

4 to 6 feet of material escaped from the 4 to 6 feet of material escaped from the pond to cover an estimated 400 acres of pond to cover an estimated 400 acres of adjacent land. adjacent land.

Hundreds of fish were floating dead Hundreds of fish were floating dead downstream from the plant.downstream from the plant.

Water tests showed elevated levels of lead Water tests showed elevated levels of lead and thallium and thallium

The wet gray sludge The wet gray sludge buried about 400 acres buried about 400 acres six feet deep. One six feet deep. One house was torn from house was torn from its foundations, and 11 its foundations, and 11 other homes were other homes were damaged and evacuated. damaged and evacuated. No injuries or fatalities have been No injuries or fatalities have been reported. reported.

Environmentalists warn that Environmentalists warn that fly ash contains toxins – mercury, arsenic, fly ash contains toxins – mercury, arsenic, and lead among others - that could seep and lead among others - that could seep into the ground and flow downriver into the ground and flow downriver

BeforeBefore

AfterAfter

The Tennessee The Tennessee Valley Authority Valley Authority was responsible was responsible for a coal ash spill for a coal ash spill outside Knoxville outside Knoxville that federal that federal officials officials say is one of thesay is one of theworst environmental disasters of its kind worst environmental disasters of its kind

TVA reportedly knew about leaks at the TVA reportedly knew about leaks at the Kingston facility for more than two decades and Kingston facility for more than two decades and opted not to pay for long-term solutions to the opted not to pay for long-term solutions to the problem. problem.

Recovery efforts five years after the Recovery efforts five years after the coal ash spilled still are going on. The coal ash spilled still are going on. The incident was one of the worst incident was one of the worst environmental disasters in recent environmental disasters in recent years years