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.

A.    http://www.epakingstontva.com/nature_extent.aspx

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

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.

http://www.epakingstontva.com/nature_extent.aspx

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

jmgreenwalt@tva.gov

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

To the Roane County CAG April 28, 2010

To the Roane County CAG

April 28, 2010

Utility restorations continues

Utility restorations continue along Hassler Mill Road to the Spring House, along U.S. 70 between I-40 and U.S. 70, along Swan Pond Circle Road, and from Hassler Mill to Frost Hollow Road. Work to build a construction road for heavy equipment that will be used for utility restoration began this week along the hillside, parallel to the railroad tracks, across from the north entrance to the recovery project site  This work will not impact travel. All utility restoration work is on track to be finished early this summer.

Dredge Plan Addendum-Completion of Time Critical Removal Action 

The approved Dredge Plan Addendum is now available on the TVA Kingston website.  On March 5, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) issued a memorandum documenting the final dredge depth defined by the time-critical removal action.  The three primary purposes of the addendum are to (a) document the objectives of the time-critical removal action and define the completion of the action in the river and the embayments east of Dike 2, (b) provide a decision-making process for reaching agreement where no further time-critical action is required or where the time-critical removal is complete, and (c) describe the ash removal operations including the remaining tasks, equipment, and schedule required to complete the time-critical removal action in the Emory River and east of Dike 2.

Mike Scott Leaving Kingston Ash Recovery Project

Friday, April 30, will be Mike Scott’s last official day with the Kingston Ash Recovery Project.  Mike has served as Deputy Manager of the recovery project since January 4, 2009.  He will assume new responsibilities as General Manager of Engineering Support Services in the TVA River Operations organization in Chattanooga.

Equipment Testing on Scrubber Continues

You may see a plume from the scrubber on several days over the next weeks as the plant continues to test equipment in order to ready the scrubber for operation.  No date is specified for its start-up, but we will be sure to notify you in advance of that happening.

If you have any questions, please give Katie Kline or me a call.

Jane Greenwalt

Project Manager, Community Outreach

Tennessee Valley Authority

Kingston Ash Recovery Project

New Scrubber Testing

To the Roane County CAG

April 21, 2010

Equipment Testing

Beginning Thursday, April 22, and continuing Friday and Monday and Tuesday next week, the Kingston Fossil Plant will begin testing equipment.  The testing could create a plume from the scrubber but it is from the testing only and not tied to power generation.  The plant is not currently running units. 

Jane Greenwalt

Project Manager, Community Outreach

Tennessee Valley Authority

Kingston Ash Recovery Project

Safety Blitz to Stop Traffic

To Roane County Community Advisory Group

April 13, 2010

Norfolk Southern plans “Safety Blitz”

On Wednesday, April 14, Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway will conduct a “Safety Blitz” near the Kingston Fossil Plant as part of Operation Lifesaver.  NS and TVA police will briefly stop traffic at various locations along Swan Pond Road, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Wednesday to assist the local NS safety committee in distributing safety literature to motorists.

Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit, international, continuing public education program established to end collisions, deaths and injuries at places where roadways cross train tracks and on railroad rights-of-way.  For more information on Operation Lifesaver you can visit the Website at http://www.oli.org/about/about_overview.htm.

Five hundred birdhouses to be installed 

Five hundred  tree swallow birdhouses that were built and purchased locally, will soon be installed at various locations near the river.  Tree swallows are excellent birds to use to evaluate ecological effects of the ash on wildlife since they consume insects from the river, are attracted to the birdhouses and return to them every year.  

Storm water samples for March 28, 2010

Attached are the storm water sampling results for March 28, 2010, as requested by Mrs. Timm.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Katie Kline or me at 865-717-1645.

Jane Greenwalt

Project Manager, Community Outreach

Tennessee Valley Authority

Kingston Ash Recovery Project

River Mile 5 - 6

To Roane County Community Advisory Group

April 09, 2010

North Embayment Ash Consolidation Work to begin

The Work Plan for the consolidation of ash from two outlying areas in the North Embayment to a more centralized area where it can be dried and graded has been approved, and work is expected to begin within two weeks and will continue until all the ash has been consolidated.  The ash will be placed atop the existing ash in the North Embayment.  Air monitoring station 6 will be relocated to the north to better serve the area, and hand-held monitoring will be used and coordinated with EPA and TDEC.

Mechanical dredging to begin between Emory River miles 5 and 6

Letters are being sent to residents living in the area between Emory River miles 5 and 6 to notify them that mechanical dredging in this area is expected to begin the week of April 12.   A small amount of ash has been found that can only be removed by mechanical dredging from a barge.  The work is essential to a thorough cleanup of the river.  We expect that about four barge loads of material will be removed each day and that this work will continue around the clock for about four weeks.  Every effort will be made to position our equipment and adjust our activities to minimize disturbance from the noise that is unavoidable with this type of work.

If you have any questions, please give Katie Kline or me a call.

Jane Greenwalt

Project Manager, Community Outreach

Tennessee Valley Authority

Kingston Ash Recovery Project

Office:  865.717.1645