Hi all,

TDEC will hold a public hearing on the Kingston coal plant clean water permit on Monday, November 22 from 5:00 - 7:00p.m. at the Kingston Community Center. You can also join by phone or computer.

Here is a Sierra Club RSVP form

Here is a page where you can submit comment on the permit.

SOCM is hosting an online community conversation on this public input process on Monday, November 15. https://www.facebook.com/events/440275314143912

The TDEC public notice is here.

Thanks for all that you do for your community!

Comment on the Kingston Coal Ash Landfill
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Solid Waste Management (DSWM), is receiving public comments on its tentative decision to issue a solid waste disposal facility major modification to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for construction, operation, closure, and post-closure care of the existing Class II landfill for the disposal of industrial waste consisting of gypsum waste, fly ash, bottom ash boiler slag, cinders, and clinkers generated onsite from the burning of coal and the operation of air pollution control equipment by the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant – IDL730000211. Comments will be accepted until 4:30 pm CST February 9, 2015.

The Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club and our partners believe that TDEC should revoke this permit and require TVA to find a geologically suitable location for this landfill on-site.

TAKE ACTION

Currently the landfill will be located over karst [limestone] topography, in an area that has significant sinkholes and is generally unstable. A bedrock contour diagram of the area suggests many areas where there is a potential of sinkhole collapse.

TVA already had a catastrophic dropout in 2010, during the first filling of the landfill. This dropout was so rapid it caused a vortex in the waste and resulted in contamination to the Clinch River. More sinkholes were discovered when the leak blowout was repaired. It is highly likely that another dropout will dump coal ash waste into the river if TVA is allowed to move forward with this landfill at this site.

TDEC is violating its own regulations if it permits a coal ash dump in an area that is unstable.

Groundwater monitoring requirements in the draft permit are wholly inadequate and do not require monitoring of all coal ash pollutants. TVA’s failure to monitor for these toxic metals is dangerous. TVA has tested for coal ash constituents previously at this site, knows it has found toxics, and needs to expand and improve monitoring. State solid waste regulations strongly encourage monitoring for coal ash constituents. Given the history of coal ash contamination caused by waste at the Kingston plant, it makes no sense for TDEC to allow TVA to operate this landfill without adequate groundwater monitoring requirements.

Adding coal ash to the previously allowed gypsum creates a greater risk from toxic metals being leached from the ash. Fly ash on average has much higher levels of metals than ordinary soils. Fly ash has twice the arsenic, three times the cadmium, almost twice the lead, twice the mercury, 20 time the selenium. TVA earlier detected a plume of selenium from the liquid gypsum slurry first dumped into stage 1 of this landfill.

The draft permit contains variances that pose a significant threat to the surrounding surface and groundwater. TDEC has specially allowed the landfill too close to the Clinch River. TDEC should require a much larger buffer zone because the 2010 sinkhole blowout show waste can reach the river so fast that is not detected and stopped before it hits the water. This landfill full of toxic ash could be flooded when the Clinch floods.

Please add your own comments to those provided and submit them by e-mail on Tuesday at 4:30. or have them postmarked on Tuesday.

TAKE ACTION! Submit Comments here

From CommonDreams.org today:

"Up to 240 million Americans will now lose protections against dangerous smog and soot pollution, following a decision by a US appeals court on Tuesday.

My family owns and operates Sail Away Homes and Land in Kingston.

For three years now we have tried to maintain and grow our business while the Watts Bar Lake properties recover slowly from the negative impact of the December 22, 2008 Ash Spill. Our business income dropped over 85% from 2008 to 2009...we have recovered a little each year....about 6 months ago we even bought a new coffee pot for our office...yeeehah!!

We will continue to stay here...we love Watts Bar Lake, Roane County and East Tennessee...we are making progress. We believe Watts Bar's lake properties are a great value and we advertise our enthusiasm to the world everyday with wide ranging internet activities.

Like some other businesses that were uniquely tied to Watts Bar Lake, we felt we had economic losses that TVA should be required to compensate. In fact, our studies of the lake property market clearly show that Watts Bar Lake was enjoying a consistent market share growth from 2004 up through 2008. In 2008 Watts Bar attracted well over 25% of all Lake Front property buyers who were looking to purchase in East TN's lake "Corridor"...this market share had increased consistently every year from below 10% in 2004 to over 25% in 2008.

This trend changed immediately and abruptly as of the Ash Spill event...now dropping consistently every year since the spill....in three years, by 2011 it had dropped to 12.9% and if trends continue we will see year 2012 drop below the 10% level. In other words, today Watts Bar lake's Real Estate popularity has been cut in half....this occurring at a time when the baby boomer retirement floodgates were just opening.

Roane County is suffering a huge and increasing economic loss. These missing buyers....50% of them are now not here, would have paid property transaction taxes, they would have brought money to our local banks, they would have eaten in our restaurants, bought boats from our dealerships, supported our retailers, they would have used our new hospital, and because they are usually retirees, they have no requirement for schools or jobs...they quite simply would have brought their money and enjoyed living here and spending it...now they are missing. They would have had friends visit them all through the year and these visitor's would have added to Roane's economic income...visitor dollars circulating among Roane County businesses.

This morning we received word that a Federal Judge has ruled that businesses like ours that have purely economic losses can not recover these economic losses from TVA. TVA has always promised to make us "whole again", I wonder why they asked a judge to rule that they don;t have to do that ???

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As I have been out speaking to voters, people repeatedly ask me, "If elected Roane County Property Assessor, what will you do differently to ensure proper and fair assessments?"

My short answer is this: “I will use real market data, including both the positive and negative sales. The incumbent Assessor does not use this data as she should. I will use real world sales data that coincide with Roane County’s actual real estate economy.”

Basically, Teresa Kirkham has driven assessments artificially high by not including the real data.

As your next Property Assessor, I will correct this. I will include external obsolescence, short sale and foreclosure data into the comparable sales, plus I will calculate the absorption rate and housing supply as I develop an economically sound model. The incumbent Assessor doesn’t; in fact, she is primarily using only the "positive data" while ignoring the lower sales data. This is not an economic reality and it should not be happening. Her assessment methods simply end up driving Roane County’s assessments higher and higher over time. We know the reality: this economy has been horrible. Roane County needs someone in the Property Assessor’s office who can relate to the real world economy. We need someone who will use the real data to ensure fair property assessments. As your next Property Assessor, I will do that.

I am running for Property Assessor because the current assessments are unfair. It is my strong belief that many of Ms. Kirkham’s assessments are grossly inflated. Conversely, it is my driving principle to achieve fair property assessments for everyone in Roane County. I understand that fair property assessments = fairer property taxes paid. Every day, I have people tell me that they could not sell their property for the inflated assessed value provided by Ms. Kirkham’s office. This is not fair, and people are hurting.

Lest we forget, Roane County had one of the worst environmental disasters in history right here in our backyard – the TVA ash spill. The incumbent Assessor made no adjustments whatsoever to account for the economic impact. Ms. Kirkham may have forgotten—but I have not forgotten, and I believe voters in Roane County will not forget.

These are just a couple of the differences between Teresa Kirkham’s and my professional philosophies regarding fair assessment. I am certain that once all the economic data are properly factored into the equation, it will help bring the assessed values and current real estate market closer together.

In closing, Ms. Kirkham continues to say that she has no control over the assessments in Roane County. She incorrectly cites the misconception that the State mandates exactly how her office must conduct the assessments and re-assessment. This is just not the reality. As your next Property Assessor, I will use sound assessment principles. I will take responsibility for the Assessor’s Office, and I will not blame others for unjustly driving up the values on our taxpayers.

I ask for your vote as we fight together for fair property assessments for Roane County.

Thank you.

David

It's time for a change.
Fair Property Assessments for everyone.
fairpropertyassessments.com
David Morgan for Roane County Property Assessor

TVA and the NRC "will address the public ... on Monday, June 20, at noon in Athens, Tenn. ... at the Comfort Inn located at 2811 Decatur Pike." The subject of the meeting will be Unit 2 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

The Rhea Herald News has the story: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

A man just admitted his crime of "report(ing) inaccurate or fabricated readings of power supply cables at the plant." The Herald-News in Rhea County has the story.

-- OneTahiti

Since we lost the private weather station on Joiner Hollow Road in Rockwood earlier this year, the HADS Kingston Fossil weather station at the TVA coal facility has been the one closest to Rockwood and West Roane County available through Weather Underground as well as the NWS. This morning the station was offline.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press has the story: (link...)

-- OneTahiti

Dear Roane County residents,
I hope that this finds you well. I am happy to announce that a Roane County Court clerk informed me that the criminal trespass charges that TVA was pressing against me for my Jan 20, 2010 arrest were dropped on Sept 25, 2010. I just found this out a week or so ago as my paperwork had been lost in a pile at the Roane County courthouse. This is a great relief for me and a sign that justice can be served. I am awaiting paper copies of this decision and will work to get these charges expunged from my record.

You can see the video of the arrest here--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDy2n3Sk94
And read about it here on Roaneviews---http://www.roaneviews.com/?q=node/4449
Thanks to everyone who stood by me during this time,
your support and kind words were greatly appreciated.
Take care, Matt Landon with United Mountain Defense

The Herald-News in Rhea County has the story: (link...)

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...)

Register to speak at the Feb 11, 2010 TVA Board Meeting at this link (link...)

Does anyone want to carpool?

Agenda

(link...)

The TVA Board of Directors will hold a public meeting on February 11, 2010, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Bristol Convention Center, Ballrooms B/C, 3005 Linden Drive, Bristol, Virginia 24202, to consider the matters listed below.

The public may comment on any agenda item or subject at a public listening session which begins at 8:30 a.m. Immediately following the end of the public listening session, the meeting will be called to order to consider the agenda items listed below.

Please note
Speakers must pre-register or before the meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting. The Board will answer questions from the news media following the Board meeting.

Old Business
Approval of minutes of November 19, 2009, Board Meeting

New Business
Chairman’s Report
President’s Report
Report of the Finance, Strategy, Rates, and Administration Committee
Winning Performance/Long-Term Incentive Compensation for Fiscal Year 2010
Executive Compensation
Extension of interim joint-ownership arrangements with Seven States Corporation for Southaven Power Plant
Report of the Operations, Environment, and Safety Committee A. TVA Transmission Standards of Conduct
Report of the Audit, Governance, and Ethics Committee
Report of the Community Relations and Energy Efficiency Committee

For more information
Please call TVA Media Relations at (865) 632-6000, Knoxville, Tennessee. People who plan to attend the meeting and have special needs should call (865) 632-6000. Anyone who wishes to comment on any of the agenda in writing may send their comments to:

TVA Board of Directors,
Board Agenda Comments,
400 West Summit Hill Drive,
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

Speaking Registration

A TVA Board Meeting Notice will be communicated to the public one week before the scheduled board meeting.

The Notice includes a time and location for the public listening session and board meeting. The public listening session will start at the appointed time, to be immediately followed by the board meeting.

Stakeholders interested in making comments must pre-register below or sign in at the meeting before the listening session begins on the day of the board meeting.

Stakeholders who sign up online must also check in with TVA staff prior to the start of the listening session.

Stakeholders who arrive late at the listening session will not be allowed to speak during the listening session.

In instances where multiple stakeholders register to speak on the same topic, TVA may ask the stakeholders to select a spokesperson to speak for the group.

Stakeholders typically have 3 minutes to speak.

A timer is used to indicate to the stakeholder (and to the board and to the audience) when the stakeholder’s allotted time has expired. Speakers who exceed this time limit will be asked to be seated by TVA staff.

The board generally does not respond to stakeholders during the listening session.

TVA will respond to all speakers in writing after the board meeting.

Register to speak at this link (link...)

A bankruptcy filing has halted any threat of legal action against the operators of a Perry County landfill that has been receiving shipments of toxin-laden coal ash that spilled from a Tennessee power plant in 2008.

As a result, Perry County taxpayers have yet to receive almost $780,000 in fees from the coal ash deposits, the bankruptcy petition alleges.... read more on the following link....

(link...)

Video from the arrest-- (link...)

Press Release: January 21, 2010

United Mountain Defense

Bonnie Swinford

(865) 689-2778

umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com

(link...)

Journalists and Environmentalist Activist Arrested by TVA Police

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., January 21 – On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, United Mountain Defense (UMD) volunteer Matt Landon Jones and two journalists who were reporting on the current clean-up efforts of last year's Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal ash disaster where arrested by TVA police. Last year, a man-made earthen dam containing 50 years of contaminated coal ash erupted, forcing over 1 billion gallons of toxic ash into tributaries of the Tennessee River and devastated the surrounding community. Marking the event anniversary, the reporters were planning to report on the lives of the residents still living in the area as well as the communities receiving train loads of the toxic waste each week from the disaster site. Noticing the train cars filled with coal ash heading to Perry County, Alabama – a poor, predominately African American community where TVA is currently shipping large amounts of the coal ash for storage in a landfill. The journalists stopped to take photographs, at which point they were approached by TVA police. The TVA police detained all three individuals, confiscated their camera and searched their vehicle. The police officer was going to release the individual after writing up citations. The officer was nearly done writing up the citations when he received a phone call. Upon hanging up the phone, the officer told the three individuals that “things had changed.” Instead of issuing warning citations, the officer then arrested and charged all three individuals with criminal trespassing in what can only be described as a gross overreaction. Just prior to the arrest, Jones called fellow UMD volunteer Bonnie Swinford who heard Jones asking the officer if he was being arrested, to which the officer answered "yes". When Jones then asked the officer what he was being arrested for, the officer replied, "I'll get back to you," and took the cell phone away. All three were handcuffed and held on $2,000 bails.

"These arrests are part of a pattern of harassment of UMD volunteers by TVA," said Jones. "TVA has tried to prevent United Mountain Defense from conducting independent water testing, deploying air monitoring, and working with the community of Roane County and they have consistently harassed me while doing this work." In 2009, Jones helped a partially blind Roane County resident get home from a community meeting. Even though the resident explained to TVA police that Jones was simply driving her home, he was arrested, held in jail for 36 hours, and prevented from traveling near the disaster site for seven months before all charges were finally dropped. Other UMD volunteers, journalist, and scientist have experienced continued harassment from TVA officials as well.

TVA's Community Relations Senior Manager Katie Bell Kline was quick to report the incident online to the Roane County Community Advisory Board, erroneously claiming that "TVA Police found the three offenders in and on top of ash-loaded rail cars located on tracks adjacent to the middle road entrance to plant." Only one individual was anywhere near the train. The other two were in the car, as clearly indicated in both the TVA officer's report and in video footage recorded by Jones before his camera was roughly confiscated.

The pattern of harassment that concerned citizens and members of the media have experienced from TVA is unacceptable and has gone on for far too long.

For more information, please contact Bonnie Swinford at 865 689-2778 or Matt Landon Jones at 574 276-9681 or by email at umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com.

Video Footage of today’s arrest

TVA Arrests UMD volunteer and two reporters

Video Footage of past TVA harassment of UMD volunteers

Mountain Justice Spring Break Students Harassed by TVA Police - March 15, 2009

UMD volunteer arrested for helping grandmother - March 6, 2009

TVA police harass UMD volunteer while setting up air monitor –March 3, 2009

TVA worker harassment of United Mountain Defense volunteers Kingston Power plant disaster - Dec 29, 2008

Hurricane Creekeepper John Wathen speaks about TVA disaster and TVA police repression.- Dec 28, 2008

TVA has roadblocks set up on the main roads leading to the Swan Pond neighborhood, preventing volunteers from bringing clean water and information. - Dec 27, 2008

###

About United Mountain Defense
United Mountain Defense (UMD) is a Knoxville based non-profit dedicated to protecting Tennessee's watersheds, air, mountains and communities. We have many years of experience working on issues relating to surface mining and its impacts on communities. A primary focus of UMD has been in scientific data collection, community organizing, and data collection and analysis from federal and state agencies. (link...)

On December 22, 2008 the largest coal fly ash disaster in the world occurred in Roane County, Tennessee along the banks of the Emory River at the Kingston Electric Coal Plant which is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Coal fly ash is a toxic by- product produced by burning coal to make electricity. Coal fly ash is currently unregulated in the United States. TVA has been very reluctant to take responsibility for the disaster that they created and took active steps to keep the news of the disaster out of the media.

As part of the United States federal government, TVA has been investigated by its own Office of Inspector General which has issued numerous reports detailing how badly TVA officials and employees responded to this disaster. The worst and most telling reports are yet to come. TVA had more than 40 years of internal reports showing the structural weakness of the failed coal fly ash storage pond and they chose to ignore the problems and continue to stack the coal fly ash to a height of more than 60 feet using the wet storage method.

It has been one year since the disaster. By viewing the following videos you will see that the situation has gotten worse as the trail of coal fly ash becomes more dispersed. So far the coal fly ash has floated down the Emory River, Clinch River and Tennessee River all the way to Alabama. As the ash continues its downstream march it will eventually reach the Ohio River, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The main points of concern with water quality right now are the elevated levels of arsenic, selenium and other heavy metals which have leached out of the coal fly ash and into the drinking water of millions of people downstream, not to mention all of the animals which live in the water or eat the fish. Kingston, TN is the nearest town whose water intakes are a mere 6 miles downstream. Chattanooga, TN is the next largest city downstream of the disaster.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has permitted the spilled coal fly ash to be shipped via railroad to Arrowhead Landfill in Uniontown, Perry County, Alabama. It has been documented that this landfill is currently pumping the landfill leachate (landfill juice) into the ditches surrounding the landfill and right next to the homes of local residents. These residents have been told that the coal fly ash is safe.

Many residents are concerned about their health. An independent air monitoring program started by Roane County residents, United Mountain Defense and the Global Community Monitor has shown that on a least one dry day in October 2009 that there existed elevated levels of arsenic and cadmium in the air surrounding the disaster site. On Feb 3, 2009 a massive dust storm more than 100 feet tall and half a mile wide was documented as it blew off the coal ash disaster site. Many residents have reported respiratory distress up to a 10 mile radius around the disaster site with symptoms that include burning eyes, nosebleeds, sinus infections, ear infections, scratchy throats, rashes, skin sensitivity to sun, nausea, vomiting, headaches, migraines, asthma and many other ailments. Many of these residents had never been sick on such a regular basis before the disaster and now have mounting health bills which they cannot pay. Yet TVA is continuously allowed to state that there is no danger from the coal fly ash and none of the workers involved in the cleanup and recovery efforts are made to wear respiratory protection.

This disaster occurred because of negligence. This disaster is not an isolated incident and as all of the coal fly ash storage sites around the world continue to age many more people will be at risk of having to deal with such a disaster in their neighborhoods. If you live near a coal burning electric power plant you may also live near a coal ash dump. Coal fly ash is NOT safe! This is a disaster that the world needs to learn about and we intend to help spread the word about it, will you help us spread the word?

For more info check out the following websites
(link...)
dirtycoaltva.blogspot.com
(link...)
(link...)
(link...)
Thank you for your time, matt landon Appalachian Organizer for United Mountain Defense
umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com
865-689-2778

Here is a video that a Roane County family produced about living next to the TVA Coal Ash Disaster. TVA refuses to evacuate them.

(link...)
Here is a video made by a resident of Roane County, Delano Williams who lives about 1 mile from the TVA Coal Ash Disaster.

(link...)
This dust storm was documented on Feb 3, 2009, the day that Matt Landon got back from the training for the citizen's air monitoring program.

(link...)

Perry County, Alabama Uniontown Citizens speak out about Arrowhead Landfill where TVA coal fly ash is being shipped and dumped by rail. It has been discovered that the landfill is also dumping the leachate (landfill juice) into the ditches surrounding the landfill and right next to the homes in this video.

(link...)
Marion, AL coal ash landfill leachate issue. Arrowhead Landfill is dumping tanker truckload after tanker truckload of landfill juice into a waste water treatment pond which can’t handle the increased load
(link...)
Proposed dump for TVA coal fly ash on a coal mine valley fill in Cumberland County, Tennessee

(link...)

Data from the citizen’s air monitoring program started by Roane County residents, United Mountain Defense and the Global Community Monitor

(link...) 2nd round Raw data
(link...) 2nd round Air Data Page 1
(link...) 2nd round Air Data Spreadsheet
(link...) Expert interpretation of air data

The following are a few words from our air analyst about what these latest air samples mean.
Attached is my interpretation of metal levels in the two air samples collected near the TVA coal ash spill on October 19th and 20th. I added the interpretation to the spreadsheet containing the interpretation of metal levels in the two previously collected air samples (15 July 2009 and 1 October 2009). Rows 4 and 5 contain the new data.

Of note is a ‘hot’ sample (the one collected on 20 October 2009) with a cadmium level that exceeds the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s Chronic Reference Level for cadmium. This sample also has an arsenic level that is above the World Health Organization’s guideline value of 0.66 nanograms per cubic meter to prevent a one per one million increased risk of cancer as a result of lifetime exposure.

If you average the concentrations in all four samples (assigning a ‘0’ value to non-detects), then the average cadmium level is below (60% of) the California OHEAA’s Chronic REL for cadmium, but the average arsenic level is above the WHO guideline value of 0.66 nanograms per cubic meter to prevent a one per one million increased risk of cancer as a result of lifetime exposure.

I urge caution in how you publicize these results for two reasons. 1) The cadmium levels in the air samples are less than 3 times their uncertainty levels; 2) the arsenic levels in the air samples are less than 2 times their uncertainty levels.

Here is a video made by Delano Williams who lives near the TVA Coal Ash Disaster in Kingston, TN.

Here is the (link...)

Media Contact: vacelious1@aol.com

Here is a video by Pam and Gary Topmiller about living next to the TVA Coal Ash Disaster

Here is the video (link...)

Media Contact topmillerwoman@aol.com

Dear folks,

United Mountain Defense, the Tennessee Coal Ash Survivors Network, and the Global Community Monitor have teamed up since Jan 2009 to create a citizen's air monitoring program. There have been more than 26 Roane County Residents trained in how to use the Mini Vol air monitors produced by Air Metrics of Eugene Oregon. We use quality control / quality assurance methods and chain of custody forms for all of our air monitoring collection.

Here is more air quality data gathered from around the disaster site on Oct 19 and Oct 20, 2009.

(link...) 2nd round Raw data
(link...) 2nd round Air Data Page 1
(link...) 2nd round Air Data Spreadsheet
(link...) Expert interpretation of air data

The following are a few words from our air analyst about what these latest air samples mean.

Attached is my interpretation of metal levels in the two air samples collected near the TVA coal ash spill on October 19th and 20th. I added the interpretation to the spreadsheet containing the interpretation of metal levels in the two previously collected air samples (15 July 2009 and 1 October 2009). Rows 4 and 5 contain the new data.

Of note is a ‘hot’ sample (the one collected on 20 October 2009) with a cadmium level that exceeds the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s Chronic Reference Level for cadmium. This sample also has an arsenic level that is above the World Health Organization’s guideline value of 0.66 nanograms per cubic meter to prevent a one per one million increased risk of cancer as a result of lifetime exposure.

If you average the concentrations in all four samples (assigning a ‘0’ value to non-detects), then the average cadmium level is below (60% of) the California OHEAA’s Chronic REL for cadmium, but the average arsenic level is above the WHO guideline value of 0.66 nanograms per cubic meter to prevent a one per one million increased risk of cancer as a result of lifetime exposure.

I urge caution in how you publicize these results for two reasons. 1) The cadmium levels in the air samples are less than 3 times their uncertainty levels; 2) the arsenic levels in the air samples are less then 2 times their uncertainty levels.

Here is the air quality data from two samples that I gathered in July and October 2009. There is also some interpretation of the data that follows. Expect more data as we have more samples being sent to the lab and we continue to gather air samples during these dry times. We also had our air expert look at TVA's 116,925 air samples and provide some feedback that follows. If you live next to the coal ash diaster and would like to have a temporary air monitor installed on your property or in your house or would like to get trained in how to use the air monitoring equipment please contact us at 865 689 2778. Thanks for your time, matt landon full time volunteer staff person for United Mountain Defense and dedicated Roane County volunteer

(link...) Raw Data

(link...) Air Data Page 1

(link...) Air Data Excel Spreadsheet, has the same data as Page 1 but may not work

(link...) Short description on how to read this data

This is an explanation about what the independently gathered air quality data means from July and Oct 2009.

The first air sample has a level of cadmium - 14.3 nanograms per cubic meter - that is above the World Health Organization’s guideline value of 5 nanograms per cubic meter to prevent any further increase of cadmium in agricultural soils likely to increase the dietary intake of future generations. See: (link...)

The level of cadmium in the first air sample is also 70% of the California OEHHA Chronic Reference Exposure Level for cadmium (20 nanograms per cubic meter).

See: (link...)

The second air sample has a level of arsenic - 3.6 nanograms per cubic meter - that is above the World Health Organization’s guideline value of 0.66 nanograms per cubic meter to prevent a one per one million increased risk of cancer as a result of lifetime exposure. See: (link...)

I urge caution in how you publicize these results for two reasons. 1) The cadmium level in the first air sample was only 2.2 times greater than its uncertainty level (0.00143 v. 0.00064 ng/m3) and the arsenic level in the second air sample was only 1.4 times greater than its uncertainty level (0.0036 v. 0.0025); and 2) the data reflects short-term (24-hour) ambient air quality whereas the health-based benchmarks I refer to above (WHO guideline values) are for long-term (annual average) ambient air quality.

Levels of other toxic metals (manganese, nickel, mercury, and lead) were below health-based benchmarks.

When we asked our air analyst to look at TVA’s 116,925 air quality measurements here are his initial comments.

There are two problems I see with how the Tennessee Valley Authority is interpreting air quality data near the Kingston Ash Slide.

First, with respect to PM-2.5 levels, TVA is comparing levels to the 24-hour standard (35 ug/m3) and concluding that each day air quality is safe because the PM-2.5 level is below the 24-hour standard.

See: (link...)

What TVA isn’t saying is that the U.S. EPA annual standard for PM-2.5 is only 15 ug/m3 and when you average the daily PM-2.5 measurements, then the average PM-2.5 seems close to the the U.S. EPA annual standard for PM-2.5 (and above the World Health Organization’s annual standard for PM-2.5).

See: (link...)

So, the same data that TVA uses to conclude that air quality is safe can be used to conclude that air quality near the Kingston Ash Slide is unsafe.

Second, with respect to arsenic, the TVA is concluding that “arsenic has not been shown to be present in harmful levels” because “The range of arsenic in air in the U.S. is 1 to 30 ng/m3*, while Kingston air samples ranged from nondetectable to 4.1 ng/m3.”

See: (link...)

This begs the question of whether the average levels of arsenic in air samples are safe. Keep in mind that according to the WHO: “Arsenic is a human carcinogen. Present risk estimates have been derived from studies in exposed human populations in the United States and Sweden. When assuming a linear dose–response relation, a safe level for inhalation exposure cannot be recommended. At an air concentration of 1 μg/m3 an estimate of lifetime risk is 1.5x10-3. This means that the excess lifetime risk level is 1:10000, 1:100 000 or 1:1 000 000 at an air concentration of about 66 ng/m3, 6.6 ng/m3 or 0.66 ng/m3, respectively.”

See: (link...)

I was poking around Google trying to remember how much TVA paid for its logo during its logo scandal back in the 90s--was it $200,000 or $400,000?--when I saw an article about TVA paying millions of dollars to a Wisconsin utility for the right to pollute more here. See: (link...)

Does TVA still take rate-payers' money and buy the right to extra-pollute our air? Seems as if that would be a lose-lose proposition for us. :(

-- OneTahiti

"The Senate is about to vote on a bill that would allow more pollution from dirty coal plants like Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston plant in Harriman."

17 Cumberland Co. Residents Say Landfill Will Destroy Quality Of Life

They are suing the county mayor and county commission under the Jackson Law, a law that says elected bodies must consider eight things before making a decision including property values and safety.

See the story here: (link...)

Below is a link to a video with interviews with members of Concerned Citizens from Perry County.

(link...)

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

MOBILIZATION FOR CLEAN AIR

You are invited to join concerned citizens in expressing their commitment to a clean, safe environment and community in a celebration for clean air and rally to raise awareness about the impacts of the life cycle of coal. This is a call for you to take a Sunday out of your life to show your dedication to protecting environment and communities of Appalachia.

WHAT
The Mobilization for Clean Air rally is a family friendly gathering of citizens concerned about the Tennessee Valley Authority’s involvement in the life cycle of coal. The event will start with a prayer led by Christians for the Mountains and will feature poetry, multiple live musical performances, larger than life size puppets of peace leaders including MLK & Gandhi, as well as fiery speeches given by coal impacted citizens and special guest speaker, world renowned environmental author, Dr. John Nolt. Following the rally there will be a lively march downtown before re-gathering in front of the TVA towers where individuals who feel compelled will have the opportunity to engage in the American tradition of non-violent civil-disobedience. Food Not Bombs will be serving free lunch after the event.

WHEN
Mobilization for Clean Air rally - Sunday, July 26, 2009, 12:00 – 2:30p.m.
WHERE
Concerned citizens will gather at Market Square in Knoxville in front of the TVA towers.

Why
Citizens will gather to raise awareness about the Tennessee Valley Authority’s deep connection to the life cycle of coal. TVA is the largest purchaser of mountain top removal mined coal in the country; they own 18 coal burning power plant and their service areas have some of the poorest air quality in the United States. TVA is responsible for the December 2008, coal waste disaster in Roane County, TN and they are in the process of relocating the dredged coal waste to several locations across Appalachia. TVA operates numerous other coal waste facilities over their seven state service area including four that are ranked “high” hazard, meaning a pond rupture at one of these sites would likely result in loss of human life.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Bring an instrument—and learn how to play
“Rocky Top”

2. Dress up! Yep—we want you to come in your
Sunday best. During the civil rights movement people
wore suits and ties all the time—so can we.

4. Respect. Show respect for all the people you encounter during the event. There will be animal rights activist and hunters, Christians
and Atheist, Peace Activist and Military Veterans at this event. Show respect for Appalachian by showing respect for the diversity of people that come to
defend it.

5. Bring signs showing support for Tennessee’s air, watersheds, and heritage. We need art, banners, musicians and you. Especially
you.

6. Help by playing a support role for the event. We are looking for mature, intelligent individuals to sever as a support team. We need people to serve in the following roles photographers, videographers, street theater, artists and musicians, and care team. Please contact us at tanyabturner@gmail.com or 865 689-8976 if you want to volunteer.

Commitment to Nonviolence
The organizations sponsoring this event are committed to nonviolence. Please come with the understanding that this event has a specific focus with specific goals. By participating
you are agreeing to remain peaceful.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com – question, housing, volunteer opportunities, rsvp

Phone: (865) 689-2778

Website: unitedmountaindefense.org.

MOBILIZATION FOR CLEAN AIR

You are invited to join concerned citizens in expressing their commitment to a clean, safe environment and community in a celebration for clean air and rally to raise awareness about the impacts of the life cycle of coal. This is a call for you to take a Sunday out of your life to show your dedication to protecting environment and communities of Appalachia.

WHAT
The Mobilization for Clean Air rally is a family friendly gathering of citizens concerned about the Tennessee Valley Authority’s involvement in the life cycle of coal. The event will start with a prayer led by Christians for the Mountains and will feature poetry, multiple live musical performances, larger than life size puppets of peace leaders including MLK & Gandhi, as well as fiery speeches given by coal impacted citizens and special guest speaker, world renowned environmental author, Dr. John Nolt. Following the rally there will be a lively march downtown before re-gathering in front of the TVA towers where individuals who feel compelled will have the opportunity to engage in the American tradition of non-violent civil-disobedience. Food Not Bombs will be serving free lunch after the event.

WHEN
Mobilization for Clean Air rally - Sunday, July 26, 2009, 12:00 – 2:30p.m.

WHERE
Concerned citizens will gather at Market Square in Knoxville in front of the TVA towers.

Why
Citizens will gather to raise awareness about the Tennessee Valley Authority’s deep connection to the life cycle of coal. TVA is the largest purchaser of mountain top removal mined coal in the country; they own 18 coal burning power plant and their service areas have some of the poorest air quality in the United States. TVA is responsible for the December 2008, coal waste disaster in Roane County, TN and they are in the process of relocating the dredged coal waste to several locations across Appalachia. TVA operates numerous other coal waste facilities over their seven state service area including four that are ranked “high” hazard, meaning a pond rupture at one of these sites would likely result in loss of human life.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Bring an instrument—and learn how to play
“Rocky Top”

2. Dress up! Yep—we want you to come in your
Sunday best. During the civil rights movement people
wore suits and ties all the time—so can we.

4. Respect. Show respect for all the people you encounter during the event. There will be animal rights activist and hunters, Christians
and Atheist, Peace Activist and Military Veterans at this event. Show respect for Appalachian by showing respect for the diversity of people that come to
defend it.

5. Bring signs showing support for Tennessee’s air, watersheds, and heritage. We need art, banners, musicians and you. Especially
you.

6. Help by playing a support role for the event. We are looking for mature, intelligent individuals to sever as a support team. We need people to serve in the following roles photographers, videographers, street theater, artists and musicians, and care team. Please contact us at tanyabturner@gmail.com or 865 689-8976 if you want to volunteer.

Commitment to Nonviolence
The organizations sponsoring this event are committed to nonviolence. Please come with the understanding that this event has a specific focus with specific goals. By participating
you are agreeing to remain peaceful.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com – question, housing, volunteer opportunities, rsvp

Phone: (865) 689-2778

Website: unitedmountaindefense.org.

The Knoxville News Sentinel has the story: (link...)

Read the comments, too.

-- OneTahiti

I received the following emailed notice from a local resident who is having trouble posting:

"The Oak Ridge Reservation Natural Resource Damage Assessment: Evaluation of Contaminant-Related Losses in Watts Bar Reservoir and Gains from the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement, Final Draft Report, dated March 25, 2009, has been released.

The Knoxville News Sentinel has the story: (link...)

-- OneTahiti

Hi All,
Yesterday we learned that independent water sampling data from the Clinch and Tennessee rivers were sent to TDEC and EPA. This data was taken for litigation purposes but then released to the regulatory agencies due to its significance for public health and safety.

A PDF of the letter from the law firm to TDEC and EPA as well as the water sample results and data can be found on the link below.

The link also includes a document prepared by United Mountain Defense that outlines all the heavy metal data that exceeded Tennessee’s water quality standards for these tests.

(link...)

I would love to hear what other scientist have to say about the significance of this data.

Thanks,

Bonnie Swinford
United Mountain Defense
541 Dante Road
Knoxville, TN 37918
865 689-2778 – UMD volunteer house
Email Address: umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com
Website: unitedmountaindefense.org