TVA ordered to remediate all coal ash sites

OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2015. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) must assess and remediate all of its coal ash waste sites, even those that existed before they were subject to regulation, the state of Tennessee ordered.

The order from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) goes beyond the new federal coal combustion residual rule, published on 17 April in the Federal Register. The US rule takes effect on 14 October.

The goal is to "ensure that historical coal ash disposal sites are addressed in a manner that is fully protective of both the public health and the environment," department commissioner Bob Martineau said.

TVA said it would follow the order. "We understand that is important to better understand potential risks to health and the environment and to mitigate risks if necessary," TVA said.

TVA has been working to modify its storage practices since a December 2008 incident in which parts of a coal ash containment site collapsed at the 1,700MW Kingston, Tennessee, plant, sending 5.4mn yd3 (4.1mn m3) of material including ash into nearby rivers and onto nearby properties.

TVA has converted waste storage at Kingston to a dry-ash system. Ash is in temporary storage on site while TVA awaits final state approval to use its new on site dry storage area, which is already used to hold gypsum.

Work to convert storage at the Bull Run plant is underway. Storage at Gallatin will be completed next year in conjunction with installation of new emissions controls.

The rest of the sites will be converted over the next 8-10 years, depending on schedules for unit retirements, TVA said.