EPA confident it's better choice for oversight of ash cleanup

EPA confident it's better choice for oversight of ash cleanup

By ANN KEIL
6 News Reporter

KINGSTON (WATE) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now in charge of the ash spill clean-up at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant, and officials on-site say they're confident the power shift was a good move. 

"Professionally, I would want to see a more aggressive schedule for the ash coming out of the river," says Leo Francendese, the new EPA on-scene coordinator.

Francendese says although the process has been working, the EPA is the more appropriate agency that can speed things up. A two to three year cleanup just won't do, he adds.

"We bring a particular level of expertise, and we like to aggressively attack what we consider uncontrolled source areas," Francendese says.

That doesn't mean the EPA will be financially responsible. TVA will foot the bill for the entire cleanup, which includes paying for EPA's oversight.

Instead, the new responsibility means the EPA will set the priorities and tell TVA the speed at which the work needs to be done.

Francendese says it's a move that could bring relief to affected homeowners and the public alike. "I understand the public's desire to have an objective party come in to oversee and make sure good solid decisions are made to correct the problem."

He says the agency will also look to outside experts for advice, both governmental and private, as it moves forward with the cleanup.

6 News also spoke Tuesday with Beth Alexander, one of the Nashville-based attorneys involved in a class action lawsuit against TVA. She had only positive things to say about the recent power shift.

"Given that TVA was unable to prevent the disaster in the first place, the clients we represent feel it's a good thing that they will not oversee the cleanup going forward that requires such care and attention to detail to prevent any further contamination," Alexander says.

By agreeing to the order, TVA is obligated to keep the public involved.

As part of that obligation the utility has been asked to spend $50,000 on an independent technical advisor who will act as a liaison between the clean-up crews and the public.