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The Coal Ash Spill at TVAsKingston FacilityWebinar Presenta;on

January 22, 2009


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About Us Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) has been a

leading advocate for clean, responsible energy choicesthat better our communities, our region and our worldfor over 20 years.

Since its formal inception in 1985, SACE has grownfrom a small group of individuals into a dynamicorganization, with five offices across the Southeast andinitiatives at federal, state and local levels. SACEcontinues to expand organizationally, to address theneeds of a rapidly changing planet.

As we look towards the future, SACEs commitment topreserve, restore and protect our environment throughthe use of innovative technology, community outreach,

grassroots and grasstops education, and pioneer policywork remains steadfast.

For more information on Southern Alliance for Clean Energy please visit

www.cleanenergy.org


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The December 22, 2008 Spill:

Shortly before 1:00 am, an earthen wall holding a 40acressurface impoundment fails at TVAs Kingston Fossil Plant in

Harriman, TN.

Over 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash is released into thesurrounding area and the Emory River.

The spill covers over 300 acres of land in toxic sludge. 42 proper;es are affected


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Photo courtesy of United Mountain Defense at www.unitedmountaindefense.org


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Health Effects of Pollutants

Contained in Coal Ash: Arsenic: cancer Beryllium: lung cancer, respiratory problems Cadmium: lung disease, kidney disease, cancer Lead: nervous system and developmental

problems

Mercury: cogni;ve and developmentalproblems Selenium, Thallium, Vanadium: birth defects


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TVA has not adequately addressed

this catastrophe. TVA has con;nually downplayed the damage caused by the

spill and the poten;al hazards to area residents and the

environment.

TVA has yet to release a detailed plan for cleanup andrecovery of the affected area.

TVA has yet to release a full characteriza;on of the contentsof the breached containment pond.


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Current cleanup efforts:

TVA is spending about $1 million/day oncleanup efforts:

Removing coal ash

containment effortsTes;ng air and water for contamina;on

Inves;ga;ons by TVA and Tennessee of othercoal ash storage sites

Possible future dredging of affected areas


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What weve learned since the spill:

This is a na;onwide problem: over 1,300 similar sites withminimal regula;on and oversight.

As air regula;ons ;ghten, this waste stream is increasing in bothvolume and toxicity

Current storage and disposal procedures for coal ash create athreat of similar catastrophes or longterm groundwater

contamina;on.

Comprehensive federal regula;on by the EPA is required toprotect human health and the environment from the threats

posed by coal ash.


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SACE is working to address these issues:

We are calling on TVA to fully characterize the spill site andmake that data publicly available.

We are prepared to hold TVA accountable in federal court ifnecessary.

We have called for comprehensive federal regula;on of coalash, including at a minimum:

The phasing out of surface impoundments as a storage and disposalmethod for coal ash.

Standards for storage and disposal of coal ash that include: the use of dry landfills that are isolated from water sources impermeable liners, leachate collec;on and groundwater monitoring

systems.


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Looking Ahead:

Poten;al for federal regula;on of Coal ash TVA:

Future cleanup effortsEffects on rates

Cleanup costs Legal ac;ons

Further safeguards


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