This site will post communications directed to the Roane Community Advisory Group (CAG) as they are received in order to keep the community affected by the TVA ash dike failure fully informed.

General information regarding the CAG and relevant public documents are posted at the CAG website.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

To the Roane County CAG

To the Roane County CAG
May 25, 2010

Rain Event Sampling Results
As requested, attached are two laboratory reports for surface water samples collected from Swan Pond Embayment on April 27, 2010, and May 2, 2010. The samples collected on April 27 were part of the routine twice-weekly (Tuesday/Thursday) sampling schedule and were not associated with a storm event.  A sample and a field duplicate were collected from the Clean Water Ditch (“KIF-CWDITCH”) and one sample was collected from the effluent of the Embayment settling basins for the Dirty Water Ditch (“KIF-SETTB”). The sample collected May 2 in response to a 24-hour heavy rain event was from the Clean Water Ditch.  The effluent of the settling basins could not be sampled, as the effluent pipes were under about 2 feet of water and could not be accessed safely.

·         The samples were analyzed for total and dissolved metals and total suspended solids (TSS).

·         As expected following a storm event, the TSS shows that concentrations of two primary constituents of interest – arsenic and selenium – were higher than in the routine samples.

·         All arsenic and selenium values reported for all of these samples were less than the Tennessee Fish and Aquatic Life Standards of 0.15 milligrams per liter for arsenic and 0.05 milligrams per liter for selenium.
     
Swan Pond Circle Bypass Road
The construction of the bypass off Swan Pond Circle is underway and will continue for the next few weeks.  Travel along Swan Pond Circle will only be affected for a day or two or for the time required to connect the bypass to the existing road.  We will give advance notice to residents before the road is closed.

Emory River Reopening
The main channel of the Emory River will reopen for public use on Saturday, May 29, at 7 a.m.  Although the main river channel will be accessible to the public, caution is advised.  A no-wake zone has been established from Emory River mile 1.5 to mile 3 where some large equipment may still be operating. For safety, work zones will be marked and boomed off but will only partially obstruct the main channel.  The public will not be allowed in the work zones.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Department of Health, has updated the River Advisory previously issued.  They have determined that any coal ash remaining in the river presents minimal health risks to recreational users.  Casual contact with ash in the river should not cause skin irritation, although long-term contact could result in some irritation from sand-like particles in the ash.  River users are advised to wash after exiting the river, especially in areas where ash is clearly visible.  A letter to local Roane County residents will be mailed and an ad will be place in the local newspaper announcing the reopening.

If you have any questions, please give me a call at 865-717-1645.





Jane Greenwalt
Project Manager, Community Outreach
Tennessee Valley Authority
Kingston Ash Recovery Project
Office:  865.717.1645
Cell:  865.806.7688

Monday, May 24, 2010

To the Roane County CAG

To the Roane County CAG
May 24, 2010

Due to Transmission System reliability needs, the Kingston Fossil Plant will place two units online using the south stack this evening with the potential to stay online the remainder of the week.  If you have any questions please contact me at 865-399-5298. 

Michael Clemmons
Jacobs/Public Relations/Outreach
865-399-5298

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

TVA Proposal Does Not Isolate Coal Ash from Watts Bar Lake Watershed

TVA Will Store All Ash On Site in Next Phase of Kingston Cleanup

KINGSTON, Tenn. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority will securely and permanently store onsite all ash removed in the next phase of recovery work to begin soon at Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tenn.
The decision was announced today in an Action Memorandum issued by TVA and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
TVA’s work to remove more than 3 million cubic yards of ash from the Emory River will be substantially complete later this month. TVA then will immediately begin the longer-term phase of recovery of the Swan Pond Embayment near Swan Pond Road and Swan Pond Circle Road that is addressed by the memorandum. This will include closing the dredge cell that failed in December 2008 and ensuring that public health and safety continue to be protected. This work is expected to take almost four years and cost about $270 million.
Several alternatives for this work were proposed in an Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis released for public review and comment in January. After carefully reviewing all comments received through April 5, TVA, with approval from EPA and TDEC, selected alternative 3B which was the most effective, protective and least disruptive measure for nearby communities and the least expensive option for consumers of TVA power.
The environmental protection and beneficial economic value of the work for the State of Tennessee and Roane County was determined to be the same for each of the alternatives considered.
In the alternative to be implemented, all ash removed from the embayment will be permanently stored on site, virtually eliminating the risks and costs associated with shipping ash over public roads or rails. Keeping all the ash on site will minimize heavy truck traffic in the Roane County community, reduce wear and tear on area roads, and be less disruptive to local traffic and commerce. Onsite disposal also will address community concerns about proper disposal and management of ash in private landfills.
TVA will place the dry ash atop an engineered foundation of sand, gravel, and geo fabric enclosed by an underground perimeter wall constructed of cement mixed with subsurface soil to divert drainage and control runoff. Upon completion, the area will be capped with layers of clay and topsoil, and graded to drain in order to minimize water moving through the ash. The area then will be seeded, mulched and regularly inspected to ensure public health and safety.
 The area will not include a liner system, however the long-term closure plan will include extensive groundwater monitoring of existing and new wells.
On May 4, 2010, EPA issued its proposed rules for regulating coal ash. These proposed rules do not affect TVA’s selected alternative for recovery of the ash spill site. TVA will continue to follow the Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation, and Liability Act guidelines as outlined in the Administrative Order and Agreement on Consent signed by TVA and EPA in May 2009.
The Action Memorandum has been posted to the Administrative Record for the Kingston Ash Recovery Project at www.tva.com/kingston. It also is available for review at the TVA Outreach Center and Kingston Public Library in Kingston, Tenn., and at the Harriman Public Library in Harriman, Tenn.
The memorandum will be the subject of a public meeting Thursday, May 20, at Roane County High School, 540 Cumberland St., Kingston, Tenn., from 5:30-8:30 p.m. EDT. Representatives from TVA, EPA and TDEC and other agencies and groups will be available to provide information and answer questions about current recovery activities at the Kingston site and those planned under the Action Memorandum.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.
#          #          #

Contact:          Barbara Martocci, Knoxville, (865) 632-8632
                        TVA Media Relations, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
                        www.tva.com/news
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

May 12, 2010 To the Roane County CAG



Follow-up to Questions Asked at May 6, 2010, Meeting

The following information is provided as requested at the subject meeting:

1.    The following link is provided for the EPA website for Nature and Extent of Ash in the River Bottom.


2.    Provide follow-up information on dust that was observed coming from railcars.

A.   The dust was created from an operation used by our contractor to weight liners to keep them from blowing out of the railcars.  The contractor was placing sand on the liners by forklift, dumping the entire scoop of sand at one time, increasing the amount of dust created.   We have confirmed, and observed, that the contractor no longer uses this method.  Crushed rock with very little dust is now being used and placed in the railcars by a front end loader.  The front end loader can regulate the amount of rock that is placed in the railcar, dumping small amounts, which minimizes the creation of dust.  The Construction Manager and his staff now monitor this operation.  Water management will be used to control dust as needed.

As one of the many safety initiatives put into place on the recovery project site, all employees are to be aware and report any activities they observe that are creating dust or have the potential to create dust.  They are authorized to stop the activity until corrective measures can be taken. 


3.    Drive-by 3-D models were requested in addition to the flyover 3-D models previously provided to the CAG.

A.   The requested models will take some time to create but will be provided as soon as possible.

4.    Procedures for mobile air monitoring were requested.

A.   Attached is the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mobile PM10 monitoring.  In answer to a question posed by the CAG concerning the time needed  to take a measurement , as shown in the SOP,  it ranges from 15 seconds to a minute or so depending on how long it takes the monitor to stabilize.

A quality assurance program is in place that requires observation and audits of all environmental sampling.

5.    Will the roads being used by TVA and its contractors for utility restorations be resurfaced?

A.   Yes, road resurfacing will take place when the utility restoration is completed.

6.    A question was asked regarding data results from high flows of the river during rain events over 20,000 cfs.

A.   Since it was installed in December, 2009, the ISCO sampler has been triggered six times, including capturing samples at 40,000 cfs and 23,000 cfs.  For more information concerning final environmental Sampling and Analysis Plans, please visit the TVA website at:  http://www.tva.gov/kingston/sap/index.htm

7.    In answer to a question about whether sampling was conducted in the Sportsman Club area, sampling was conducted at the mouth of the Sportsman Club cove and no ash was found. 

8.    In response to Don Simon’s request for results of sampling performed in his cove, we understand from Barbara Scott with TDEC that the results were mailed to Mr. Simon on Friday, May 07, 2010.

9.    This is the link to the EPA website where information pertaining to the announcement of the proposed rule regarding disposition of coal fly ash. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/4eca022f6f5c501185257719005dfb1b!OpenDocument
If you have any questions please call Katie Kline or me at 717-1645.



Jane Greenwalt
Project Manager, Community Outreach
Tennessee Valley Authority
Kingston Ash Recovery Project

Friday, May 7, 2010

To the Roane County CAG May 07, 2010




·         River Operations Monitoring
At about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3, it was reported that river levels were very high and were expected to increase over the next 24 hours.  Because it would have been unsafe to put crews on the water at that time, TVA was not able to begin monitoring until Tuesday.  Boat crews reported that a large amount of debris was found to be floating down the Clinch and Emory rivers.  Cenospheres were reported to be present in pockets along the Tennessee, likely being flushed off the shore because of the high water levels.  No ash was visible in the water. Conditions in the Tennessee were expected to worsen as debris from the Clinch moved down river.  River flows on Tuesday:  Melton Hill approximately 5,100 cubic feet per second (cfs); Ft. Loudon approximately 10,700; Watts Bar approximately 50,100 cfs.  

Rain Event Sampling
When sampling results from last weekend’s heavy rains and the rain events of April 27 and 28, 2010, are received from the laboratory and verified they will be provided to the CAG.  As we discussed at the meeting on May 6, we will not have river sampling data for Monday, May 3, due to a malfunction of the automated sampling equipment.

·         Utility Restorations Continue
Work has begun along the hillside, parallel to the railroad tracks, and across from the north entrance to the recovery project site, to build a construction road for heavy equipment that will be used for utility restoration in that area. This work will not impact travel. All utility restoration work is on track to be finished early this summer, except for the last piece, which will be completed once the Swan Pond Circle Road bridge is in place.

·         Swan Pond Circle Road Bypass
The construction of the bypass off Swan Pond Circle Road began this week and will continue for about three weeks. Travel along Swan Pond Circle Road will be affected only for the time required to connect the bypass to the existing road. Community members will be given notice before the road is closed. The bridge construction that will follow is expected to take eight to ten weeks. Afterward, the bypass will be removed and Swan Pond Circle Road will be reopened.

·         Bridge Construction – the Next Phase
To minimize inconvenience for motorists, a portion of Swan Pond Circle Road will be converted into a bridge to carry local traffic over a newly built underpass for trucks removing ash from the embayment. A diversion road to bypass the construction of the bridge will be installed to minimize the impact to motorists. A Request for Proposals was issued in anticipation of awarding a contract for construction of the bridge. Bids must be submitted by May 28, 2010.

·         End of Time Critical
Once the dredges are out of the river, TVA will no longer remove debris that accumulates in private coves.  If cenospheres are found to be accumulating in coves, the river operations crews will remove them. 

·         Public Meeting Notice
A Notice of Public Meeting to be held on Thursday, May 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Roane County High School will be placed in local newspapers beginning early next week.  We would like for the CAG to participate as in the past - during the open house segment, in the welcome and the introductions, and on the panel.

·         Emory River Closure Extended
Ads will be placed in the local newspapers and on the TVA Kingston website to announce to community members that as TVA and EPA continue recovery of the Kingston ash spill, large mechanical equipment is being used to remove ash from the Emory River at ERM 5.7 downriver to ERM 4.0.  To keep users of the Emory River as safe as possible, the closure of the river has been extended and will reopen at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, 2010.  Workers will do their best to limit the distance of the river that is closed at any given time, opting to extend the closed areas only where dredging operations are taking place or where dredge pipes are located. These areas will be clearly marked and no river traffic will be allowed through these areas.  For transport around the Emory River closure due to significant need, residents can contact TVA at 865-717-1635 or e-mail emoryrivertransport@tva.gov.  Advance notice of three business days is required to fulfill approved requests.

·         In response to your request the following website links are provided.  Responses to other questions will be provided as soon as possible.

For the EPA website for Nature and Extent of Ash in the River Bottom.


The link to the EPA website where information pertaining to the announcement of the proposed rule regarding disposition of coal fly ash:  http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/4eca022f6f5c501185257719005dfb1b!OpenDocument

If you have any questions, please call Katie Kline or me at 865-717-1645.



Jane Greenwalt
Project Manager, Community Outreach
Tennessee Valley Authority
Kingston Ash Recovery Project
Office:  865.717.1645
Cell:  865.806.7688

Thursday, May 6, 2010

To Roane County CAG March 06, 2010

    
·         Confined Space Drill
Tonight there will be a confined space rescue drill at the ash loading area on the ash recovery site.  The Roane County Rescue Squad will be on site, but there should be no sirens/lights or interruptions to recovery project operations or other plant activities.

·         Ambulance called to recovery project site
A contractor employee was overcome by heat today.  An ambulance was called as a precaution, but the worker was not transported. He is conscious and alert and appears to be okay.



Jane Greenwalt
Project Manager, Community Outreach
Tennessee Valley Authority
Kingston Ash Recovery Project