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 Urgent - TDEC Kingston Coal Ash Meetings 
Take Action Now to Keep TDEC and TVA From Repeating History 
 

Note: SOCM would like to issue a clarification and apology to the Roane County Community Advisory Group for not allowing the CAG the opportunity to review the final version of this alert prior to issuing it. The views listed below may not reflect the views of the Roane County Community Advisory Group.


 


 

 

In December 2014, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) held a public hearing concerning TVA's modification proposals to another Kingston coal ash landfill. There was a very limited response time and barely any public notice.

 

In February 2015, SOCM rallied local community members to come together to hold TDEC and TVA accountable and request that TDEC extend the public comment period and hold another public meeting. After significant community and media pressure, TDEC agreed. (Click here to read the Kingston permit history).  

 

TDEC recently announced that a public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 9th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT in the New Cafeteria at Roane County High School, 540 West Cumberland Street, Kingston, TN 37763. The public comment period for the revised Work Plan has been extended to Friday, July 3rd. TDEC has also announced that there will be a second meeting to hear comments on June 29th, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm EDT at the Kingston Community Center, 201 Patton Ferry Road, Room C.   

 

SOCM is concerned that TDEC is not allowing adequate time for the community to prepare for comments or to review the Work Plan (and associated documentation).  

 

At least twenty two (22) sinkholes have either developed or have been identified since construction on the landfill began. One sinkhole resulted in a significant release of gypsum into the Clinch River. TDEC has waived a restriction that allows this landfill to encroach on wetlands. There is concern that TVA will create a situation that could result in another catastrophic spill of coal ash or gypsum. 

 

Help ensure that people have a fair and adequate opportunity to be involved in the decision making process. Please attend the public meeting on June 9th.  

 

To inform TDEC of your concerns, contact Mr. Greg Luke at DSWM's Central Office, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 14th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243, tel 615-532-0874, fax 615-532-0938 or email [email protected].  SOCM can help with writing a letter or email to Mr. Luke.  Please contact us at [email protected] or call 865-249-7488 for assistance.  

 

As community members, we are not experts in landfill construction. Therefore, TVA and TDEC must present the material in the Work Plan in terms that we all can understand. Make sure that they do. If you cannot understand a concept, ask them to take the time and use terms and language that will allow you to understand.  

 

Also, if you have concerns with their plans or approach to the work, send your comments to Mr. Luke (contact details above). SOCM and other community group members will be at the meeting and will be willing to help with and questions you may have.  

 

We need as many members of the public that we can get to turn out to this hearing to supply written or spoken comments. Again, please contact SOCM for assistance with writing a letter or submitting comments to TDEC or with answering other questions you might have.   

 

For more information, contact Adam Hughes, at [email protected] or call 865-249-7488


 

 

KingstonpermithistoryKingston permit history

 

On December 20, 2005, TVA applied for an Industrial Class II Landfill permit to construct and operate the Gypsum Disposal Area (GDA) on the peninsula adjacent to the Kingston power plant.  The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issued Permit No. IDL 73-0211GDA to TVA on December 20, 2007. Initial construction of the first phase disposal unit was completed in 2009. 

 

The second phase of the landfill is scheduled for future construction. After the December 22, 2008 spill of 5.5 million cubic yards of coal ash from the former Kingston Ash Pond, TVA no longer had an approved area to dispose of coal ash that was being generated by the steam plant. On January 22, 2013, TVA submitted a major modification request to TDEC to allow disposal of coal ash, among other items, in the Gypsum Disposal Area (GDA). 

 

On October 23, 2013, TVA submitted a minor modification request to TDEC to approve a work plan that TVA would use to identify and mitigate "drop outs" (sink holes) in the GDA. TDEC received several comments from community members and elected officials expressing serious concern with TVA's proposed method of locating and fixing sinkholes that could result in large releases of coal ash into the Clinch River. Because of the community's concerns, TDEC required TVA to provide additional information and re-write the Work Plan. On May 14, 2015, TVA submitted the revised Work Plan to TDEC.  

 

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