KINGSTON (WATE) - The Tennessee Valley Authority said Wednesday it will rely on natural river processes and
long-term monitoring to address the ash left from the 2008 coal ash spill at the Kingston
Fossil Plant.
The
process, known as Monitored Natural Recovery, is the preferred option among
several alternatives proposed to manage an estimated
500,000 cubic yards of remaining ash dispersed intermittently over more than 200
acres in the Clinch and lower Emory
rivers.
The
alternatives were
proposed in an Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis, which was released for
public review and comment in August.
The decision was based on
extensive research, including human health and ecological risk assessments, and
aligns with the majority of public comments received.
The
selection was also approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
A TVA spokesperson said the process avoids disturbing old contaminants from past U.S. Department
of Energy projects in the river system, provides the best balance with respect
to effectiveness and implementation, and is the most cost-effective option for
consumers of TVA power.
TVA will host a public meeting on the plan on Thursday, Nov. 8, at Roane
County High School, at 5:30 p.m.
EST.
Representatives from TVA, EPA and TDEC will be available to provide
information and answer questions about current recovery activities at the
Kingston site and the selected alternative under the Action
Memorandum.
The
Action Memorandum has been posted to the Administrative Record for the Kingston
Ash Recovery Project online.
It also is available for review at the Kingston Public Library in Kingston,
Tenn., and at the Harriman Public Library in Harriman,
Tenn.
TVA
invites the public to review and comment on the Action Memorandum from Nov. 9
through Dec. 8, 2012.
