The EPA coal ash hearing is coming up this Wednesday, October 27 from 9:00a.m. – 9p.m. Registration is closed but if you would like to come speak please contact me and I will work to find a slot to swap you into.
Thanks,
Bonnie
865 755-0095
bswinford1@yahoo.com

EPA Coal Ash Hearing in Knoxville, TN

When: Wednesday, October 27 • 9:00am - 9:00pm

Where: Mariott Hotel 500 Hill Avenue Knoxville, TN 37915

How to Participate: Sign up to speak at the hearing by visiting Link... but hurry the spots are filling up fast!

Learn About the Issue

• Read about the proposed rules here: Link....

• Learn about the coal ash hearings here: Link...

EPA's Dannena Bowman has been working hard to make their Kingston TVA website Link... easier to use.
From the home page, she's put the photos, facts, documents, and the calendar in clickable tabs across the top of the page.
She's included before and after photos or slideshows of the progress for Dredging, Excavation, Disposal, Productivity, Nature and Extent (depth of ash in the river, covers 18 river miles), the Calendar, and others. Much of the pictures, etc. haven't been readily available 'till now.
Lisa, I would like to know how the ash depth info on the Nature and Extent tab compares with the reality in your cove.
I know there is still a long way to go to make it right, but it is heartening to see the progress, and the oversight.
Thank you all for letting the rest of the world know what's happening in Roane County, and of course for the photos of her beauty.
Respectfully,
Charlie

A process in the Cleanup of the TVA Kingston Disaster includes as part of the Superfund, the formation of a community group....

In the TVA disaster, it will most likely be what is called a CAG, or Community Advisory Group. A Community Advisory Group is a term EPA uses to define a committee, task force, or board comprised of residents affected by a hazardous waste site.

CAGs are made up of members of the community and is designed to serve as the focal point for the exchange of information among the local community and the EPA, the State regulatory agency, and other pertinent Federal agencies involved in the cleanup of the Superfund site.

CAGs enhance public participation in the cleanup process by providing a public forum where representatives of diverse community interests can discuss their concerns and learn from each other.

The CAG can assist the EPA in making better decisions on how to clean up the site. It offers EPA a unique opportunity to hear and seriously consider community preferences for site clean up and remediation.

The size of the CAG will depend on the needs of the affected community. Typically CAGs have 15-20 members, who are willing to devote at least 2 years to the CAG. Some CAGs continue for longer periods of time, due to the extent of a particular cleanup. Anniston Alabama has a CAG that has been ongoing since September 2003, and continues due to the large scale cleanup needed in that area: Link...

CAGs will also provide information to the public regarding the cleanup and progress. The CAG will received a grant to hire an independent Technical Advisor to assist with the information processes related to data received from all entities working within the clean up site.

To learn more: Link...

Superfund Today - Focus on the Community Advisory Group
Link...

CAGs; Case Studies:
Link...

The TVA/Roane County CAG is now forming. There are currently 12 core members, with nominations being accepted until next Thursday, August 6th.

If you would like more information regarding Nominations, or are interested in applying for the position of Technical Advisor you may contact the group at roanecountycag@gmail.com

Applicants for the Technical Advisor position should be someone who can provide at least the following:

Help our community to better understand cleanup technologies and their effectiveness;

Be responsible for reviewing, interpreting, and explaining technical materials in an understandable way;

Meet with our community to answer questions and to listen to our concerns;

Please note: The technical advisor is a paid position, and the CAG is currently asking for interested persons to send a resume by email to:

roanecountycag@gmail.com with the subject line Technical Advisor.

The group would prefer someone locally (East Tennessee), due to the cost of travel.

If you have any questions, the group will do their best to answer them, just send them an email. roanecountycag@gmail.com

Thank You

It's about time....

EPA press release: Link...

EPA List: Link...

Comment on Docket No.: CERCLA-04-2009-3766

Please comment on the administrative order between TVA and EPA regarding the coal fly ash disaster that occurred at the TVA Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant on December 22, 2008.

Here is a link to the order: Link...

Send comments to:
Leo Francendese at francendese.leo@epa.gov and/or Craig Zeller at zeller.craig@epa.gov

You can also submit comments through the EPA website at: Link...

Mail or fax comments to:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
1-800-241-1754 (phone)
(404) 562-8174 (fax)

Below is a sample letter that could be submitted to the EPA. Include all or some of these comments.

*******

SUBJECT: Comments on EPA/TVA administrative order (Docket No. CERCLA-04-2009-3766)

Dear Leo Francendese,
I write to express my concerns about the recent administrative order (Docket No. CERCLA-04-2009-3766). I am particularly concerned that:

1) That the order has not been widely publicized so that the general public is aware of the matter

2) That significant and appropriate public involvement is missing from the language and structure of the Order

3) That this administrative order deviates significantly from CERCLA; it is unclear to me what role CERCLA serves in structuring clean up efforts

4) I am concerned with how the boundaries of the disaster and ownership of land are defined in the Order. I am very concerned that the Order does not address the problem of work trucks tracking sludge all over the roads and roadsides as they exit the work site. This is a critical and timely issue for the local community.

5) I am concerned that the health impacts of the disaster are not sufficiently addressed

6) I am concerned that the Administrative Order does not specify how monitoring will be conducted

Furthermore, I request that:

1) The time period for public comment be extended beyond June 19th

2) That the EPA schedule a public hearing for the Administrative Order and work plans so that public concerns can be addressed

I would appreciate a response to my comments, at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
XX

*******

Comment on anything else you can think of!
Have questions about the order or comment process? Contact United Mountain Defense at umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com or by phone at 865 689-2778

From the "TESTIMONY OF STAN MEIBURG
ACTING REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, REGION 4
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
March 31, 2009"
Link...
"In the aftermath of the incident, EPA sampled the coal ash and residential soil to determine if the release posed an immediate threat to human health. Sampling results for coal ash contaminated residential soil showed arsenic, cobalt, iron, and thallium levels above the residential Superfund soil screening values. Sampling results also showed average arsenic levels in the Kingston coal ash and coal ash contaminated residential soil above the EPA Region 4 Residential Removal Action Levels (RALs). RALs are used to trigger TIME-CRITICAL REMOVAL actions while soil screening values, are used as a point of departure for EPA to take any action to investigate and/or remediate a release. In response to exceedances of RALs for ash contaminated residential soils, TVA relocated RESIDENTS TO INTERRUPT THIS SOIL EXPOSURE PATHWAY. "

TVA Ash Loading Test Evaluation_052809 report is available on EPA OSC site
Link...
also
Transmittal Cover for Regulatory Submittal - Rail Spur Construction Work Plan Signed Version
Link...

Almost every day new photos are added. Some days the collection gets edited down. Today they are helicopter shots of the "new and better" Swan Pond interim storm drainage (the plans are only on the TDEC website) and I don't know what pile of ash in the X lakeshore baylet.

Link

``How many other Kingstons are out there?''

Just another spinon the EPA story.. this one by WBIR -

there are "Forty-four potentially dangerous coal ash impoundment sites around the country"

and

"the 44 sites are deemed potentially hazardous based on their location, not because of any information about the status of the structures. EPA officials declined to release a list of those sites."

Interesting... read it here: Link...