4.

0 Discussion
Coal ash contains a lot of environmental pollutant substance such as toxic metals. Toxic
metal in fly ash includes arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, mercury and zinc. These
pollutant causes both health and ecological impacts due to the coal ash spill. This dangerous
pollutant has been detected from water sampling analysis. In November 2010 a study published
by Duke University scientists conduct a water testing in aquatic ecosystems over an 18-month
period following the TVA coal ash spill in 2008. They have found out that downstream rivers
contained arsenic levels of up to 2,000 parts per billion well above the EPAs thresholds of 10
parts per billion for safe drinking water, and 150 parts per billion for protection of aquatic life.
4.1 Impact
Pollutant

Arsenic

Human Health Impact

Human carinogen; also linked to

Ecological Impacts

cardiovascular and dermal effects,

Accumulates in freshwater plants and

encephalopathy, and periperhal

bivalves, where it enters the food supply.

neuropathy
Can cause gastrointestinal

Barium

disturbances and muscular

Affects development of geminating

weakness. Ingesting large amounts,

bacterial spores and has a variety of effects

dissolved in water, can change heart

on microorganisms, including inhibition of

rhythm and can cause paralysis and

cellular processes.

possibly death.
Chromiu
m

Human carcinogen; exposure has

also caused stomach tumors in
humans and animals.

Can make fish more susceptible to

infection and damage/accumulate in fish
tissues and invertebrates such as snails and
worms.

Some nickel compounds are

Nickel

Mercury

carcinogenic to humans and that

Absorption into organisms\' organs and

metallic nickel may possibly be

bodies can cause growth defects.

carcinogenic to humans.
High levels can permanently

Easily absorbed through organic tissues

damage the brain and other

organisms; can harm developing

and membranes; easily bioaccumulates

fetus, causing brain damage, mental

and can concentrate as it progresses up

retardation, blindness, seizures, and

food chains.

inability to speak.
Ingesting large doses even for a
short time can cause cramps,
Zinc

nausea, and vomiting; inhaling large

mounts can cause a short-term
disease called metal fume fever.

High concentrations in water have been

shown to exert adverse reproductive,
biochemical, physiological, and behavioral
effect5s on a variety of aquatic organisms.

4.2 Area
The coal-fired power plant, located across the Clinch River from the city of Kingston.
The waste from burning coal is stored in wet form in dredge cells. The containment was leaked
and spill all the slurry traveled across river nearby the plant, covering up to 300 acres of
surrounding land. (SouthernStudies 2010)
The ash fill is located 18 meter above ash pond
and 23 meter above the nearby river called Emory
River. The ash is by-product of combustion of
coal that mixed with water so that it can pump into
retain pond and dredge to drying cells.
Source: www.cnn.com
Arial view before and after the coal ash spills after
a month across 300 acres.

4.3 Aftermath
Americas largest coal-ash spill in history only managed destroy three houses and
damaged dozens of others. It also washed out a road (Tennessean 2008), ruptured a major gas
line, obstructed a rail line, downed trees, broke a water main , and destroyed power lines. There were

no injuries and death reported. The water supply for more than 25,000 residents was
contaminated, and aquatic life in the area perished. It took months to clean up the spill. (CNN
2008)
Congress held hearings in the aftermath. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
proposed new rules regulating coal ash, including classifying it as a hazardous material. But five
years later, coal ash remains largely unregulated. The EPA and Congress have not yet acted to
strengthen oversight of the material. Industry groups and some lawmakers continue to oppose
classifying coal ash as hazardous.
4.4 Scene

Before The Spill.

After The Spill.

Source: Greenfield Advisors.

4.5 Recovery
There are no sign of the ash-coal spill site is going to be fully recovered from what have
been lost. The damage to environmental is far more catastrophic than building and infrastructure.

The pollutant come from the sludge is hazardous to both wildlife and human. There have been a
lot of money spent by TVA, its reported around 1.2 billion USD of money used for the clean-up
effort. (USA TODAY 2013).
TVA also has spent $40 million studying the effects of leaving 500,000 cubic yards of ash
in the river, where it has mixed with decades-old radioactive pollution from the Department of
Energy's nearby Oak Ridge nuclear reservation. For the next 30 years, TVA is required to
monitor wildlife in the area. In addition, the agency has contributed $43 million to Roane
County, Tenn., and is building parks, walking trails and other recreational facilities.
After five years, coal ash remains largely unregulated. The EPA and Congress have not
yet acted to strengthen oversight of the material. Industry groups and some lawmakers continue
to oppose classifying coal ash as hazardous. Still a lot of effort on clean up the sludge.

4.6 Contribution
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has conduct an inspections over
the past couple of years showed satisfactory performance, although frequent leaks and minor
problems were noted in the mounting landfill.
On May 11, 2009 TVA and EPA have reach an agreement concerning the clean-up matter.
"TVA and the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced today an EPA Order and
Agreement that documents the relationship between TVA and EPA in managing the clean-up of
the Kingston ash spill and further ensures that TVA will meet all federal and state environmental
requirements in restoring affected areas. This is due to TVA have been receive a letter from
TDEC telling TVA that they in contravention of the Clean Water Act.
TVA had to remove 3.5 million cubic yards of ash that resides in the Emory River subject
to significant migration in heavy storm. TVA must complete the clean-up in 12 month period.
With the time-critical phase, TVA managed to remove the ash with 85% in 10-month period. Its
also accelerated the removal of ash from the river by 75% over original expectations and safely

transported it to a permanent, lined and leachate collecting facility in Perry County, Alabama
called Arrowhead landfill.

Recommendation
1. Environmental groups want the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set national
standards for ash removal and regulate coal residue as a hazardous material, rather that
treating fly ash as an industrial waste with disposal regulated by state agencies.
2. Using a series of ash settling ponds and dredge cells to process and bury fly ash.
3. TVA suspended any ash deposits in the landfill to allow the dredge cell to dry out and
stabilize.
4. Switching the Kingston plant over to "dry" byproduct methods, which would reduce the
chances of another spill.

Glossary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

TVA Tennessee Valley Authority

TDEC Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
Slurry a mixture of fly ash and water
Germinating cause (a seed or spore) to germinate

Reference
1. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

title=TVA_Kingston_Fossil_Plant_coal_ash_spill&oldid=585191
http://www.southernstudies.org/2010/05/disaster-in-east-tennessee.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/23/tennessee.sludge.spill/
https://www.tva.gov/kingston/tva_epa.pdf
https://www.tva.gov/news/releases/aprjun09/epa.htm
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2009/jan/05/tennessee-early-warnings-

ash-pond-leaks/202428/
7. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/22/coal-ash-spill/4143995/
8. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/23/tennessee.sludge.spill/

9. https://www.greenfieldadvisors.com/settlement-finalized-in-tva-coal-ash-spill-classaction/
10. http://www.southernstudies.org/2010/05/disaster-in-east-tennessee.html
11.