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

jmgreenwalt@tva.gov