On Monday 12/22/2008, in response to NRC report #893129, and at the request of Roane County EMA and Tennessee EMA, OSC Sims and START mobilized to the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant, Harriman, Roane County, TN to the incident involving the release of an estimated 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash to the Emory and Clinch Rivers and the adjacent River banks. The incident occurred around 0100 hrs on Monday when the retention wall of one of the on-site holding ponds failed. The cell was one of three at the facility used for dewatering fly ash. The release caused a massive mudslide that disrupted power and ruptured a gas line, covered transportation routes (railroad and roads)causing the evacuation of a nearby neighborhood and deposited fly ash in the Emory and Clinch Rivers.
Activities conducted during this reporting period (12/25/2008 - 12/27/2008).
EPA (OSC Stilman) continues oversite of TVA activities, coordinated with TDEC. TVA 24 hour operations continue, focusing on the opening of transportation routes, construction of a weir system to control further fly ash migration in the River, use of booms on the River to collect floating material and installation of a water line to affected residents. TVA operations are commanded from TVA corporate offices in Chattanooga.
EPA, TDEC, TVA and Roane County have established a JIC in the Roane County Rescue Squad Building to coordinate media interest. EPA, TDEC, ATSDR and the TN DOH are working to establish a resident hotline for health related questions and concerns.
ATSDR and EPA Technical Services Section have reviewed the available data. Based on that data and input from TDEC and ATSDR, EPA has produced a sampling plan to address residential areas, drinking water intakes, and other areas potentially affected by the Ash spill. EPA air monitoring for particulates have also begun.
EPA and TDEC sampling oversite will continue throughout the week.
Specific TVA activities included:
• December 25, 2008
o TVA Kingston continued to clear fly ash from Swan Pond Road and the adjacent Railroad tracks. The removed material is being staged on one of the unaffected ash cells on TVA property. Crews with TVA also continued to build a sediment catchment dam (weir at Emory mile marker 1.75) with the use of riprap. TVA police continue to assist local law enforcement with maintaining security for the homes in the affected area.
• December 26, 2008
o TVA continues to manage the river flows of the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers to minimize the possibility of water from the plant flowing past the Kingston water supply intake. Approximately 875 feet of Swan Pond road has been cleared of debris, as of 1500 Dec. 26, 2008. TVA has determined that about 5.4 million cubic yards of ash has been displaced; the displaced ash covers slightly less than 300 acres. TVA police continue to assist local law enforcement with maintaining security for the homes in the affected area.
• December 27, 2008
o TVA continues to manage the river flows of the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers to minimize the possibility of water from the plant flowing past the Kingston water supply intake. The sediment catchment dam now extends approximately 150 ft into the Emory River. An additional barge has been brought in to retrieve trees and other debris caused by the ash flow. TVA police continue to assist local law enforcement with maintaining security for the homes in the affected area.
o EPA START contractor performed a reconnaissance in the affected area to determine the feasibility of the sampling plan. Samples of the ash pile were taken. START also continued to monitor the progress of removal activites on Swan Pond Road and the Railroad.
EPA will continue in its support and monitoring role, and conduct all actions necessary to ensure the protection of public welfare/or the environment posed by the release/threatened release of hazardous substance(s), including oversite of TVA activities, implementation of the sampling plan, continual particulate monitoring (coordinated with TVA's air monitoring contractor CTEH), coordination with TDEC, operation of the JIC, assist TN DOH with establishment of a residential hotline and assist TVA with use of the National Incident Managment System.
TVA to continue removal of displaced ash.
EPA, TDEC and TVA to coordinate future response actions and sampling/monitoring activities.
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