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
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dirtycoaltva.blogspot.com
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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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
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Proposed dump for TVA coal fly ash on a coal mine valley fill in Cumberland County, Tennessee

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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.

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...)

Dear folks,

Here is the first round of independent air monitoring data from United Mountain Defense. Even though each of these air filters had visible dust on it after the 24 hour sample it appears that for most of the samples the levels of metals were at non detection levels. The individual detection levels are listed in the center row for each metal on the following link. Measurements are in micrograms.

The latest data::
(link...) first round of 24 hour air monitoring samples

There was one detection of .05 micrograms of lead in an air sample taken on the back side of Swan Pond Circle more than a mile downwind from the disaster. Our Mini Volume air monitor produced by Air Metrics draws 5 liters per minute of air through a PM 2.5 micron Whatman pure teflon filter. We are consulting with the Global Community Monitor about these results and deciding what our next round of monitoring will look like.

The next training session about how to use the air monitor will occur at Roane County Park on April 18 from 5PM- 7PM in Shelter Number 1. There will be a hotdog dinner for those participating in the training. Also in the future look for a training by the Global Community Monitor about how to interpret this data.

The differences in the following two sets of data are that the air monitors only ran for 24 hour periods from March 5 thru March 24, while the swipe samples were glass collection trays that sat outside for 2-3 weeks during late Feb into early March.

The latest data::
(link...) first round of 24 hour air monitoring samples

Older swipe sampling data::
(link...) older swipe sample data

Alright have a good day.
till then, matt landon full time volunteer staff for United Mountain Defense and dedicated Roane County volunteer

Check out TVA's disaster dust storm video::: (link...)

check out UMD's website at (link...)
UMD's blog at (link...)

We have year round internships!!

Dear folks
The next air monitoring training will occurr April 18, 2009 5PM-7PM at Shelter Number 1 in Roane County Park on Hwy 70 down by the Watt’s Bar Lake.

There will be a hotdog dinner for those taking part in the training.

If you can learn to program a digital watch, use a pair of tweezers, and put some vinyl gloves on your hands then you can use this air monitor. There are also a bunch of other ways to help with the air monitoring program that don't include fine motor skills. Its that simple.

Look out for future trainings on interpreting the raw data, and more how-to-use the air monitoring equipment

There have been two air monitoring trainings so far and three Roane County residents know how to install the Mini Volume air monitors. UMD is working with the Global Community Monitor to provide air monitoring. We have the support of Mike Farmer and are working with other local residents and governments to set up monitoring in their areas as well. The first six air samples have been sent off to the laboratory and we expect the raw data back by April 6, 2009 at which point we will pass the data along to Roane County.

If you have any questions please call Matt at 865 689 2778.
Thanks, Matt Landon full time volunteer for United Mountain Defense and dedicated Roane county volunteer

Check out United Mountain Defense at (link...)
Check out Global Community Monitor at (link...)

Dear folks,
I wanted to let you know about a training session for the citizen's air monitoring program that is happening at 1PM on Saturday. This monitoring program is up and running we are gathering air samples and we want as many residents, local elected officials, or local governments to get training in how to use this monitoring equipment. We are using 2 Mini-Volume air monitors produced by Air Metrics, (link...). We are working with the Global Community Monitor which has provided training and experts to interpret the data, (link...). Please call Matt at 865 689 2778 or 865 292 1320 for directions to tomorrow's training or set up a future training.
Till then ,matt landon full time volunteer staff United Mountain Defense