Was the Kingston coal ash spill preventable?

TVA Could Have Prevented Tennessee Coal Ash Disaster, Report Finds. A scathing independent report concludes that the massive coal ash spill which devastated a Tennessee town was no accident — it was negligence.

How do you prevent coal ash from spilling?

The best way to prevent toxic spills is to limit activities that create the potential for spills in the first place, for example by transitioning away from coal to an electricity system powered by clean, renew- able energy. Keep risky facilities away from water.

What are the smoke stacks in Kingston TN?

Smoke stacks of the coal-burning Kingston Fossil plant emit steam a by-product of electricity generation. The Tennessee Valley Authority plant is located on the Clinch River near Kingston, Tennessee.

When did the Tennessee coal ash spill happen?

December 22, 2008
Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill/Start dates

On December 22, 2008, at approximately 1:00 a.m., a failure of the northwest side of a dike used to contain coal ash occurred at the dewatering area of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant, located at 714 Swan Pond Road in Harriman, Roane County, Tennessee.

Who caused the Tennessee coal ash spill?

Cause. Engineering firm AECOM was hired by TVA to investigate the cause of the spill. A report released in June 2009 identified the main cause of the spill as the result of slippage of an unstable layer of fine wet coal ash underneath the pond.

How is fly ash regulated?

Fly ash management and use in the United States is regulated by both state and federal agencies. On top of emitting 1.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, coal-fired power plants in the United States also create 120 million tons of toxic waste.

How harmful is coal ash?

Coal ash is incredibly dangerous. Short-term exposure can bring irritation of the nose and throat, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure can lead to liver damage, kidney damage, cardiac arrhythmia, and a variety of cancers.

How do you get rid of coal ash?

Some power plants may dispose of it in surface impoundments or in landfills. Others may discharge it into a nearby waterway under the plant’s water discharge permit. Coal ash may also be recycled into products like concrete or wallboard.

What was done to address the Kingston coal ash spill?

During the cleanup TVA built a new protective levee around the pond, covered the ash pond with a 2 feet (0.61 m) earthquake-proof clay layer, and replanted the areas damaged by the spill.

What plant is in Kingston TN?

TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant is located on Watts Bar Reservoir on the Tennessee River near Kingston, Tenn. At the time it was finished in 1955, Kingston was the largest coal-burning power plant in the world—a distinction it held for more than a decade.

What is fly ash used for?

The use of fly ash in portland cement concrete (PCC) has many benefits and improves concrete performance in both the fresh and hardened state. Fly ash use in concrete improves the workability of plastic concrete, and the strength and durability of hardened concrete. Fly ash use is also cost effective.

Who is affected by coal ash spills?

A 2018 study found children and pregnant women are more vulnerable to the effects of coal ash, which include birth defects, developmental delays, various types of cancer, and damage to the heart, lungs, and nervous system.

Where was the Kingston TVA coal ash spill?

EPA Response to Kingston TVA Coal Ash Spill. On December 22, 2008, at approximately 1:00 a.m., a failure of the northwest side of a dike used to contain coal ash occurred at the dewatering area of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant, located at 714 Swan Pond Road in Harriman, Roane County, Tennessee.

Who is the owner of Kingston coal ash plant?

The Kingston fossil plant outside of Kingston, Tennessee, on 30 July 2020. The plant is owned by Tennessee Valley Authority. Photograph: Morgan Hornsby/The Guardian The Kingston fossil plant outside of Kingston, Tennessee, on 30 July 2020. The plant is owned by Tennessee Valley Authority.

How did the Kingston Fossil Plant spill affect the environment?

The spill did not affect the adjacent retaining and stilling ponds; the other two stayed intact, while only the retaining wall for the 84-acre (0.34 km 2) solid waste containment area was affected. The confluence of the Clinch and Emory Rivers, with the Kingston Fossil Plant in the distance, five days after the spill.

Where are the ash ponds at the Kingston Fossil Plant?

The plant’s ash pond disposal area is located immediately north of the plant along the peninsula’s Emory River shore. The ponds were originally created by diking off part of the lake at the Emory’s confluence with Swan Pond Creek, which flows down from Harriman (just over the ridge to the northwest).