In an effort to provide an additional outlet for information regarding the ongoing recovery efforts at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant, a message line has been established.  Interested individuals may call 865-632-7777 in order to receive the latest information.

Click here to go to Long Term Recovery Committee page

Contact Point tvarecovery@roanegov.org

TVA's Response to Questions - 1

TVA's Response to Questions - 2

#3
December 29, 2008

Press Release Number 003, December 29, 2008

FYI from Roane County Government:

Roane County Executive Mike Farmer today announces that, in conjunction with the cities of Harriman, Kinston, Rockwood, Oliver Springs, Oak Ridge, and members of the affected public, there has been established a Long Range Recovery Committee.

The purpose of this committee is to ensure all stakeholders are engaged in the long term recovery efforts in Roane County.

#5
December 29, 2008

Fact Sheet – Ash Release at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant

December 29, 2008 – 3 p.m. EST

TVA, local, state and federal agencies continue to work on recovery and clean up of a release of ash caused by a failure of a coal ash containment retention wall at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant in East Tennessee. 

Community Assistance

TVA continues to assist residents affected by the incident. A team of TVA employees and retirees, who will provide one point of contact for each family, has been established.  

A team of two liaisons will work with one or two families to ensure their needs are met and concerns addressed. TVA Police continue to assist local law enforcement with maintaining security for the homes in the affected area. 

Roadway and Railway Cleanup

Public access on Swan Pond Road past the Kingston plant remains closed except for residents and persons with official business.  Though there is no estimate for when the road will reopen, about 2200 feet of Swan Pond Road have been cleared of debris.  About 1200 feet of the railroad tracks have also been cleared of debris.

An aerial survey completed last week shows that about 5.4 million cubic yards of ash has been displaced and covers slightly less than 300 acres outside of the ash storage areas.

Air Monitoring

On December 28, mobile air quality testing conducted in the community around the Kingston plant found particulate levels far below applicable standards.  Air monitoring is continuing and is expanding in scope.

Water Quality

TVA continues to manage river flows on the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers to minimize impact on recovery and monitoring activities associated with the ash release. The Kingston water supply intake is located on the Tennessee River about one half mile upstream from its confluence with the Clinch River coming from the Kingston Fossil Plant. By managing river flows through the Kingston area, TVA expects to keep ash that might be flowing down the Clinch River from moving upstream toward the water intake.

Samples closest to the Kingston water treatment plant continue to meet requirements for primary drinking water standards. TVA and other agencies will continue to monitor for contaminants in the river.

The most recent results of water sampling near the ash release area indicate that the concentrations of sampled contaminants either met or were below detection levels established by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to protect fish and aquatic life. 

#8
December 31, 2008:
Release from Roane County Schools - 105 Bluff Road  - Kingston TN 37763
Dr. Toni McGriff, Director

Roane County School officials have been in continuous contact with authorities who are working directly with the recent TVA Ash Dike spill. These authorities have assured Roane County Schools that there are no reasons why school should not resume as scheduled following the Winter Break. 

All Roane County Schools will re-open Monday, January 5, 2009 as planned.

Only three schools are directly affected by the recent event. Midtown Elementary, Cherokee Middle School and Roane County High School have children who live in the Swan Pond area. Principals of those affected schools, supervisors, and the Director of Schools have met, reviewed concerns, and devised plans to address those concerns.

Bus routes into the affected area of the recent TVA Ash Dike spill will run approximately 15-20 minutes early until routes are settled. Two routes, Bus Numbers 5 and 55 will be most affected.  All students that normally ride those buses will be picked up at their usual stops. Bus number 29 will pick up students on the Highway 70 side of Swan Pond Road. The main impact will be an earlier pick up and approximately twenty extra miles per day due to the backtracking that will occur.

"We have been assured that the drinking water that serves our schools is safe", said Director of Schools Dr. Toni McGriff.

However, any parent, student or employee who has concerns about drinking water is encouraged to bring bottled water with them to school.  Additional bottled water will be available for purchase at each school as well.

Cafeteria meals have been reviewed and any meals normally prepared with water will be prepared with bottled water for the time being.  No meals on Monday require water in the preparation.

Indoor air quality is routinely monitored in Roane County Schools. We will continue to monitor them and replace filters as needed.

No other precautions appear to be warranted at this time. The situation is being monitored regularly and upon the advice or direction of the health department, TDEC or other emergency agencies, adjustments will be made.

All information regarding this event and our response to it is available at www.roaneschools.com.

Specific questions regrding bus routes may be directed to the Transportation Department at 590-0153. Other questions can be directed to the Central Office at 376-5592.

#9
Joint Information Center
Kingston Ash Spill
Release 006 December 31, 2008

Hours of Operations for JIC from January 1 - 4, 2009

JIC Hours of opeation will be 0800 - 1700 for January 1 - 4
      Staffing will be minimal on Jan. 1, returning to normal levels Jan. 2
On Fri. Jan 2, there will be another Unified Command Briefing for the media
      Location: JIC, 2735 Roane State Hwy., Harriman (US Hwy 70, Rescue Squad Bldg)
Following the media briefing at the JIC, there will be a tour of the incident site

#10
Roane County Joint Information Center
Kingston Ash Release
Press Release Number 007, Jan. 2, 2009

• The Roane County Joint Information Center was established to provide as reliable data as available to the media and the residents of Roane County.  All official Roane County information will be released through the Joint Information Center.

• The Roane County School System’s media release on December 31, 2008 to use bottled water for food preparation is not a result from any information received by Roane County from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Regarding the safety of the water, all water sampling testing results for metal contaminants in the water samples at the water intakes are either below standards set for drinking water or were not at detectable levels in the samples.  The official position of Roane County concerning the drinking water provided by all utility districts in Roane County is that it is safe to drink.

#11
Roane County Joint Information Center
Kingston Ash Release
Press Release Number 008, January 2, 2009

Additinal Water Sample Results Indicate Municipal Drinking Water Continues to be Safe
New EDP Data Released for TVA Kingston Fly Ash Release

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Tennessee Valley Authority continue to be involved in sampling activities. All results from each agency have consistently indicated that municipal drinking water supplies are safe. Each agency is using certified labs for analysis, including EPA's facility in Athens, Georgia, the state of Tennessee lab in Nashville and independent certified labs in Maryville and Mt. Juliet. An overivew of each agency's most recent data follows:

TDEC Date Update:
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has received additional water sample results for both treated drinking water and untreated river water collected at the Kingston and Rockwood water treatment plants. All treated drinking water results are well within drinking water standards, indicating both municipal water suppies are safe.

The sample of untreated river water collected on Dec. 24 had an aluminum concentration slightly above the secondary drinking water standard of 0.20 milligrans/Liter. Aluminum is naturally occurring in clay and this value would be reduced by the treatment process. Secondary drinking water standards are non-enforceable guidelines regulating contaminants in treated drinking water that may cause cosmetic or aesthetic effects.

Additional results from both Kingston and Rockwood collected on Dec. 31 also indicate that all treated drinking water results are well within both primary and secondary drinking water standards. All untreated water collected also met the drinking water standards for metals prior to treatment.

The department is also sampling private drinking water wells in a four mile radiius of the site. So far, samples have been collected from approximately 40 private properties. Residents in this area who would like their well tested may call 865-717-4006.

All results from Department of Environment and Conservation sampling are posted on the department's Web site at www.tn.gov/environment. The site will continue to be updated with new results as they come in. The Web site also now contains some historical data obtained from TVA on ash sampling from the years 1990, 1992, 1995 and 2005.

EPA Data Update:
EPA has preliminary data for the fly ash samples collected on the undisturbed portion of the fly ash dredge cell as well as the disturbed portion of fly ash material. Residents are not currently in direct exposure to this material found at elevated levels, and therefore are not subject to a direct health threat from the fly ash material being measured on site.

Ash samples from teh roadway adjacent to the fly ash dredge cell were also taken. This preliminary data shows tht some arsenic levels detected exceed EPA residential removal action levels at 40 mg/kg, but are still well below EPA industrial removal action levels at 177 mg/kg. TVA has taken full responsibility for cleanup and engaged the necessary resources to ensure the fly ash material will be cleaned up appropriately under state and federal oversight.

EPA conducted municipal water intake sampling at the Kingston, Cumberland and Rockwood facilities. Preliminary data indicate that no elevated levels of contaminants were found in the municipal water intake.

EPA also conducted testing of four private drinking water wells along Swan Pond Road in the impacted area on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008. Preliminary data indicates that no elevated level of contaminants were found in the four private drinking water wells sampled.

Surface water and sediment sampling data from Dec. 23, 2008 was posted on Jan. 2, 2009 and is the same data that was earlier reported stating that an elevated level of arsenic was found in the Emory River. This data also indicated that an elevated level of arsenic was found in one sediment sample taken on the Emory River. There have been no indications, to date, showing that drinking water has been affectred by the fly ash material. The advice issued earlier from the Joint Information Center on potential health effects from exposure to the fly ash material addressed the issue of these elevated levels of arsenic found on Dec. 23, 2008.

EPA sample results are being posted as they become available at http://www.epaosc.org/doc_list.asp?site_id-4642.

TVA Data Update:
TVA has received data from a number of locations for Dec. 22, 23, 26, and 29. Results indicate that raw water samples taken at the city of Kingston Water Treatment Plant are within standards for treated drinking water for metal contaminants.

At the Kingston power plant site, water samples taken on Dec. 22 at the release area in the Emory River contained high amounts of suspended material following the ash release. Repeat testing on Dec. 23, 26 and 29 at the power plant site showed amounts of suspended material is trending downwards. The levels for metals met state requirements for protection of fish and aquatic life or were below lab detection limits. Results from other sites sampled on the Clinch and Tennessee River portions of Watts Bar Reservoir show metal contaminants at levels that meet requirements for safe drinking water or were below detection limits.

These sample results can be found at www.tva.com. Both total metals and dissolved metals are reported for the samples. Dissolved metals reflect only the metals that have dissolved within the water column.

JIC Schedule
The Joint Information Center will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5. There will be a media briefing at the Joint Information Center on Monday, Jan. 5 at 11 a.m.

#12
Roane County Joint  Information Center
Kingston Ash Release
Press Release Number 009, January 4, 2009

HELICOPTER SEEDING VIEWING OPPORTUNITY

Media participants are invited to view the helicopter seeding operation at the TVA plant today.

TO PARTICIPATE:

Credentialed media must check in no later than 2:30 p.m. at the Roane County Joint Information Center. Late arrivals will not be able to view the helicopter operation.

Media will be escorted through the security checkpoint to a safe vantage point for both still and videw photography of the on-going helicopter seeding operation.

The seeding flights are dependent on certain weather conditions; inclement weather may delay or cancel operations.

On Saturday, the seeding operation was successfully able to cover approximately seven acres of the dredge cell by spraying more than 8 tons of the seed and fertilizer mixture.

---Roane County Joint Information Center (JIC) remains active as of this date.
---Location:  2735 Roane State Highway, Harriman, TN (Roane County Rescue Squad Bldg.)
---Joint operation of Roane County Office of Emergency Services, Tennessee Valley Authority, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
---Telephone 865-590-7001

#13
Roane County Joint Information Center
Kingston Ash Release
Press Release Number 010, January 5, 2009

Additinal Water Sample Results Indicate Municipal Drinking Water Continues to be Safe
Well Sample Results to Date Meet Safe Drinking Water Standards

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tennessee Valley Authority continue to be involved with sampling activities at and around the Kingston coal ash slide site. All results from each agency have consistently indicated that municipal drinking water supplies are safe. An overview of each agency's more recent data follows.

TDEC Activity Update
---The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has received the most recent sample data for the Kingston and Rockwood water treatment plants. Drinking water samples collected Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 were within drinking water standards, indicating both municipal water supplies are safe.
---The department continues to sample private drinking water wells within a four-mile-radius of the site for heavy metals. Results for 22 wells came back and all were within safe drinking water standards. Anyone in a four-mile-radius of the plant who would like their well tested may call the Department of Environment and Conservation's Knoxville Field Office at 865-594-6035 or toll free at 888-891-8332.
---The department collected river water samples on Friday. Those results will be posted when they are received from the lab.
---Department personnel were in the field today identifying sample locations for ash and soil from the affected area. Sample collection will begin as quickly as weather conditions allow.

Results from the department's sampling activities, along with other information related to response to the coal ash slide, is available at www.tn.gov/environment. This site will continue to be updated with new results and other information as it is available.

EPA Activity Update
---EPA has taken approximately 100 readings for particular matter at nine locations with hand held instruments. To date, there have been no exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
---From Dec. 28 to 30, EPA re-sampled the Clinch, Tennessee, and Emory Rivers. Two out of 16 samples taken on the water had measurements in excess of the Tennessee Water Quality Criteria for Domestic Supply. The results indicate a decrease in previously detected compounds (arsenic and total suspended solids from the December 23rd sampling event).
---EPA collected four residential soil samples and five samples in public areas. None of the values exceeded EPA Region 4's Removal Action Level. RALs identify contaminant levels at which time critical response actions may be required.
---EPA characterized the ash at the top of the cell. Samples of ash deposited on the roadway near the site were consistent with ash constituents measured in the cell and indicated arsenic levels exceeding RALs. EPA is working with TVA and TDEC on the development of a sampling plan to characterize potential arsenic contamination on residential properties.
---EPA continues to review TVA data and monitor response activities.
---EPA is posting data as it becomes available at www.epaosc.org/doc_list.asp?site_id=4642.
 
TVA Activity Update
---TVA continues to assist residents affected by the incident and has scheduled meeetings with area residents to answer their questions and listen to their comments.
---Area residents who need an assessment of property damages should call 865-632-1700.
---TVA has opened an Outreach Center at 509 North Kentucky Street in Kingston. The center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
---All other members of the public should continue to use 865-717-4006 for any questions or concerns.

There will not be a Unified Command press briefing on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.

#15
Roane County Joint Infomration Center
Kingston Ash Release
Press Release Number 012, January 8, 2009

Notice of Media Briefing:

The Incident Unified Command will hold a Media Briefing at 11:00 a.m. at the JIC on Friday, January 9, 2009.

Media Briefing Room
2735 Roane State Highway
(Roane County Rescue Squad Bldg)
Harriman, TN 37748

#16
ROANE COUNTY JOINT INFORMATION CENTER
KINGSTON ASH RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE NUMBER 013, JAN. 9, 2009

AGENCIES PREPARE TO TRANSITION FROM UNIFIED COMMAND TO ONGOING RECOVERY

The local, state and federal agencies involved in the Unified Command responding to the TVA coal ash slide are preparing to transition from the formal unified command phase to ongoing recovery efforts with continued state oversight. The transition marks progress in the initial phases of cleanup at the site, and plans are in place to guide ongoing efforts.

The Joint Information Center and Joint Operations Center will each close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. TVA's operations center will continue to operate uninterrupted with cleanup work and outreach to affected citizens, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will continue to have staff at the site for oversight and independent sampling activities to monitor air, water and soil quality. EPA will remain involved at the site by providing Environment and Conservation with technical support through multiple programs throughout the duration of the cleanup.

The TVA Outreach Center continues to operate at 509 North Kentucky Street in Kingston for residents to file claims or report damages of any kind.

An overview of state, federal and TVA activities is included in this release, and agency contact information for media and the public is attached.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Air monitoring continued in the work zone and surrounding residential areas.  EPA has taken approximately 200 readings with hand held instruments. EPA data indicates that particulate levels have remained below EPA standards for ambient air quality throughout the monitored periods of the response.
EPA provided training to TVA river water sampling teams to improve data collection.
EPA is posting data as it becomes available at:
http://www.epaosc.net/site_profile.asp?site_id=46412 

State of Tennessee

There are several state agencies coordinating ongoing cleanup, recovery and outreach efforts.

---Department of Environment and Conservation--- 
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will continue to have personnel on the scene coordinating state oversight of the cleanup to ensure it is done effectively and with the health of area residents and the environment as the primary focus.
The department is coordinating closely with the Tennessee Department of Health to ensure the ongoing health of citizens remains a priority during the cleanup process. Both departments are looking at options for setting up a joint office in the community until no longer needed to oversee TVA's cleanup.
Environment and Conservations has developed and is implementing plans for the ongoing sampling of air, soil and ash, river water, drinking water intakes and treated drinking water. Analytical data is reviewed as received to insure any results that indicate are recognized quickly and appropriate response may be taken.
The plans, as well as sample results, are available at:
www.tn.gov/environment.
Samples at the Kingston and Rockwood water treatment plants are collected daily and analyzed at the state lab in Nashville operated by the Department of Health. This daily sampling will continue. All sample results to date indicate drinking water continues to be safe.
Well water sampling continues within a four mile radius of the site. Fifty-six wells have been sampled to date, and sampling will continue today. So far, results for 31 wells are back from the lab and indicate all parameters tested meet drinking water standards. Residents in the area may call 865-594-6035 or 1-888-891-8332 to request well sampling. Department personnel will call individual property owners with sample results and follow up with a letter to the residence.
Environment and Conservation is collecting river samples above and below the impact site twice per week or more often as conditions warrant. Analysis will be at the state lab and data will be posted on our Web page.
The department has collected soil and ash samples from yards. Results will be posted to the Web site when they are received from the lab. TDEC will use the soil and ash data to help determine the direction of soil and ash remediation.
Environment and Conservation will review andapprove all TVA air monitoring efforts and split air samples with TVA and evaluate all air monitoring data generated from teh TVA air monitoring system. The Department will also operate an independent air monitor which will serve as a reference for air data. The department will continue operaiton of its air monitor in Harriman.

---Department of Health---
In keeping with its mission to protect, promote and improve the health, the Tennessee Department of Health is working to complete routine health surveys of residents living near the spill site. This effort is aimed at ensuring there are no unexpected health effects being experienced in the community, answering any health questions one-on-one, reminding the public of health messages that have been issued and educating people about resources available for health-related concerns or questions.
The State Department of Health also is analyzing water samples collected by Environment and Conservation to determine the safety and quality of drinking water and the effects of the release to bodies of water in the area. Additionally, Health staffers have assisted at the incident command center to offer expertise and guidance related to public health issues.
For more information about the health surveys or other activities of the Department of Health, call 1-800-404-3006, or send an e-mail to:
TN.Health@state.tn.us.

---Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency---

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) advises until further notice that fishing should be avoided in the lower section of the Emory River, and that existing advisories for Watts Bar should be followed.
TWRA will be collecting bass and catfish and comparing fish tissue results to existing data for those species. TWRA expects to resample on a semiannual basis, probably January and October, and will evaluate findings with the other resource agencies. Environment and Conservation will issue advisories if fish tissue contaminant levels exceed protection criteria.

Roane County

The Roane County Government is committed to serving and protecting the residents of Roane County by working with and gathering information provided by Federal and State agencies.
The Roane County Government will oversee the recovery and complete clean-up efforts of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
The Roane County Government will listen and pay close attention to the residents' concerns. Residents may voice their concerns by calling 865-717-4212 or emailing
tvarecovery@roanegov.org.
The Roane County Government will be the "mouthpiece of people" if the residents are not receiving results in a timely manner.

Tennessee Valley Authority

TVA's extensive recovery effort continues at the site.
More than 1,200 mobile air monitoring samples have been collected. All samples have registered with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.
More than 80 pieces of large equipment are now working on the project.
TVA has almost completed seeding and fertilizing in the area to provide temporary ground cover and control dust. Workers will begin today to cover the seeded areas with straw.
18 tons of cenospheres have been recovered using floating booms, 30 boats and more than a dozen vacuum suction devices.
Construction has been completed on the rail lines damaged at the time of the spill.
The TVA Outreach Center continues operations at 509 North Kentucky Street in Kingston for residents who have a property damage claim or other questons or concerns. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The local phone number for the Outreach Center is 865-632-1700; the toll-free number is 1-800-257-2675.
All other members of the public should continue to call 865-717-4006 if they have questions or concerns.
Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., TVA will staff a local information center at 2919 Roane State Highway for news media inqurieis. The local information center phone number will be 865-590-7001, previously the phone number for media inquiries to the Joint Information Center. Media calls can also be made to TVA at 865-632-6000.

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