TVA Quarterly Meeting at Huntsville, Alabama - May 7, 2015 Widows Creek to Close This Year

TVA Widows Creek (photo by TVA - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting)

Top Story for Jackson County Alabama - TVA-in-lieu-of-taxes will be negatively impacted. Excerpt from the Chattanooga Times Free Press: "The Tennessee Valley Authority will shut down the last operating unit at its oldest coal plant in Alabama by the end of the year. TVA directors voted today to shutter the Widows Creek Fossil Plant near Stevenson, Ala., which TVA began building more than 60 years ago. TVA has previously idled all but one of the eight units at Widows Creek. The only remaining operating generator, Unit 7, is scheduled to be closed by the end of the year as part of TVA's efforts to meet stricter environmental rules,"  http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/may/07/tva-prepares-shut-down-widows-creek-coal-plant/302963/

Al.com article - "90 jobs to be lost - The Tennessee Valley Authority will by October close the last remaining unit at its Widows Creek coal plant in Jackson County.TVA officials said the closing, which will affect about 90 jobs, is in response to new federal regulations regarding the storage and monitoring of coal ash. Widows Creek has eight units. TVA shut down six units between May 2012 and July 2013 and it closed a seventh unit last October."

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2015/05/tva_to_close_last_unit_at_wido.html

Environmental Group Presentations at TVA Board Meeting Listening Session

TVA Presentation Slides

AGENDA for the meeting: Agenda

TVA VIDEO

Jackson County Legislative Delegation - TVA-In-Lieu-of-Tax

Jackson County Commission Meeting at North Jackson High School, Stevenson, Alabama; Jackson County Discretionary Fund Meeting

Monday was a busy schedule for the Jackson County Commission. First up was the Discretionary Funds meeting at the Legislative Delegation office at 10AM.


In the afternoon was the Jackson County Commission Meeting and Public Hearing at the North Jackson High School.

                                                 AGENDA

 

VIDEOS

 

Short Video of Public Hearing - Summary

WIDOWS CREEK - Public Hearing-TVA Requests Closure of County Road 96-VIDEO-No Comprehensive Plan on TVA's Proposed Action

 

WIDOWS CREEK VIDEO - CR 96

The TVA has submitted a request to the Jackson County Commission to vacate a section of Jackson County Rd. 96 from the bridge over Widows Creek to 1/4 mile south west of Al. Hwy 277 intersection. TVA has purchased property north of CR 96; thus, TVA owns the property on both sides of CR96. There will be a public hearing at the Jackson County Courthouse in Scottsboro, Al. on Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013 at 5PM, courtroom 1.

 

What will become of the water lines? Will the bridge support up to 15,000 heavy trucks continuously?  Is TVA going to destroy the landscape to bury coal ash? What exactly is TVA's plan in this major action which they have not fully disclosed?

 

MAP of TVA's Proposed Action- VACATE CR 96

 

 

TVA'S REQUEST TO THE JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION

 

TVA CR96 HOUSE DEMOLITION-

NEPA NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT???

There is a significant impact when considering the full project; TVA appears to be treating citizens like mushrooms, keeping them in the dark and feeding them crap.

 

MEDIA COVERAGE of TVA's PROPOSED ACTIONS TO SHUTDOWN WIDOWS CREEK

TVA directors voted today to shut down the newest unit at Widows Creek Fossil Plant in northeast Alabama, all five units at the Colbert plant in Northwest Alabama and units 1 and 2 at the Paradise plant in western Kentucky. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/nov/14/tva-shifts-more-gas-less-goal/

 

Earlier, TVA said that about 170 would be cut at the Stevenson plant but later clarified that the exact number of cuts had not yet been determined. TVA has not yet announced the closure dates for the Colbert plant but the unit set for retirement at Widows Creek is planned for late 2014. http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/11/tva_to_cut_more_than_300_emplo.html

The retirement of Unit 8 is scheduled for late 2014. http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7150:widows-creeks-unit-8-added-to-closure-list&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142

TVA 2009 Environmental Assessment for Removal of Gypsum Products http://www.tva.gov/environment/reports/widows_creek/widows_creek_fea_.pdf

BURNING WOOD? Association of Tennessee Valley Governments: TVA is considering building natural gas-powered generators at its Allen Fossil Plant near Memphis. Colbert Fossil plant already has the ability to burn wood waste for powering some boilers, which could allow it to become a biomass-fueled plant. http://www.atvg.org/forms/news/dec10/NewWorkIdledPlants.pdf

WIDOWS CREEK STATS http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Widows_Creek_Fossil_Plant

WIDOWS CREEK & MESOTHELIOMA http://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-exposure/jobsites/power-plants/widows-creek-power-plant.htm

WIDOWS CREEK-The Smoke Stack Effect http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/polluter/18453

WIDOWS CREEK TOXIC EMISSIONS-TVA: http://www.tva.com/environment/air/widcreek.htm

Widows Creek Revisited -- Institute for Southern Studies Report -- Hexavalent chromium pollution linked to coal ash disposal

Fair Use Rights not for profit usage - photo by "creekkeeper" Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

Fair Use Rights not for profit usage - photo by "hccreekkeeper" Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

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Widows Creek coal ash and gypsum pond spill, January 9, 2009 at the TVA's Widow Creek coal fired plant. TVA officials denied the existence of the coal ash existed downstream. TVA officials attempted to downplay the extent of the spill. Going so far to report to the Tennessean Newspaper in Nashville, Tn., "the photo's which Morgan has presented are not coal ash from Widows Creek or Kingston, we do not know what it is as most of what was released was water." The TVA not only knew the spill was coal ash but has intentionally misled the public as to the extent of the danger as a result of the spill.

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A report released this month from the Institute of Southern Studies reveals shocking news that hexavalent chromium was released and present at 73 times the EPA safe level. ISS - Hexavalent chromium pollution linked to coal ash disposal

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Source Watch article on the Widows Creek spill: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=TVA_Widows_Creek_coal_waste_spill

photo by G. Morgan

17 miles downstream at Bellefonte Landing the grey coating could be found. The sludge extended under the surface for 15-30 feet beyond the shoreline.

photo by G. Morgan

Pictures documenting the extent of the Widows Creek Spill.

Fair Use Rights not for profit usage - Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

"The very highest level of hexavalent chromium -- 7,370 parts per billion -- leached from the coal ash produced at TVA's Widows Creek facility, where a 2009 spill released some 10,000 gallons of coal ash waste into the Tennessee River. That level is more than 73 times the federal drinking water standard of 100 ppb for total chromium." (ISS Report Feb 3, 2011)

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Widows Creek Spill info on this blog: http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/TVA%20Coal%20Ash%20Spill
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ISS - Hexavalent chromium pollution linked to coal ash disposal

More Evidence of Deceit from the TVA at the Kingston, Tn. Toxic Waste Spill Site

Fair Use, not for profit news reporting - photo by Knoxville News

Damage and contamination due to TVA's neglect of existing facilities. Citizen's lives destoyed and drinking water contaminated in the Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant disaster due to a waste holding pond dam collapse.

Fair Use Rights not for profit news reporting - Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

Evidence of the Widows Creek TVA Fossil Fuel Plant Toxic Waste Spill in January 2009 seen on this aerial photo of Widows Creek. The TVA has not been truthful in this spill nor the Kingston Toxic Waste Pond Dam Collapse.

Fair Use for photo usage, not for profit news reporting Knoxville News photo

Site of the worst Toxic Waste Spill since Love Canal, near Kingston, Tn. TVA has stated the water is safe, according to the Environmental Integrity Project the TVA is deceiving the public.
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Data Reveals Significant Heavy Metal Contamination in Water Samples Downstream of TVA Kingston, Tn. Disaster Site. TVA has repeatedly stated that the water is safe, apparently this is not the case. http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pub599.cfm Test results, http://kelleycampaigns.com/coalash.html

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The coal ash holding ponds at Widows Creek contain more hazardous wastes than the ones in Kingston, Tn.. http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pubs/Widows%20Creek%20v%20%20Kingston.pdf None of the waste holding ponds have liners to prevent leakage into underground aquifers. Stevenson, Alabama's water supply is obtained from local wells.

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There is a serious issue of trust concerning the TVA. A question that should be on everyone's mind, can we trust the TVA to operate a nuclear power plant at Bellefonte without deceiving the local population if a radiation leak occurs?

Test Results from the TVA Widows Creek Hazardous Waste Spill

Fair Use Rights not for profit usage - photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

photo by G. Morgan

Update: Jan 16, 2009, Report in today's Scottsboro newspaper, The Daily Sentinel http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=a1965ed1095d412c , has a quote by Mr. Roy Light, Manager of the Scottsboro Water Sewer and Gas Board, "...All of the tests are still within water limits. We just aren't seeing any impact from the spill." Hmm, have you looked Mr. Light? Are you also going to state that the grey sludge pictured, the fly ash and cenospheres pictured are not an impact from the spill. "No impact, from the spill," does that make TVA negligence ok? Still within water limits? I take it you mean permissible EPA limits of toxic contaminants, or do you? Yes the spill was and is in the limits of the water.

The article goes on to say the TVA is returning the solid materials to holding ponds on the site. That makes me feel much better, how about those materials suspended in solution, such as the Arsenic and Thallum, is TVA going to perform a feat of miraculous proportion and return those to the pond? Also, the report in the article says, "elevated levels of metals have been found on site," "these elevated levels pose no threat to the public or employees." The statement, "elevated levels of metals pose no threat to the public or employees," is not the truth, it is typical of the Culture of Deceit on the part of the TVA's management and propaganda wing.

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The following test results of the hazardous waste spill into the Tennessee River at Widows Creek indicates elevated levels of the following hazardous materials ( The TVA describes testing samples upstream were taken 1000yards upstream from the steam plant, downstream samples were taken downstream along the shoreline 1000yards from the spill): Arsenic-upstream .0005mg/l, downstream .0010mg/l; Mercury-upstream .oo18mg/l, downstream .0019mg/l; Thallium- upstream .0008mg/l, downstream .001mg/l; Magnesium-upstream 4.02mg/l, downstream 4.96mg/l; Manganese- upstream .019mg/l, downstream .119mg/l; Zinc-upstream .012mg/l, downstream .017mg/l; Titanium- upstream .026mg/l, downstream .035mg/l; Cobalt- upstream .0005mg/l, downstream .001mg/l; Chromium- upstream .002mg/l, downstream .0023mg/l.

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Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Boron, Titanium, Cobalt and Chromium were all found in higher levels downstream than upstream as a result of the hazardous materials release. An elevated level of aluminum was also reported as a result of the spill in downstream sampling. Aluminum levels upstream 1.21mg/l, downstream 1.71mg/l.

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Another question apparently not answered is the ph level of the river water. Has there been a noticeable change in the ph of the water downstream from the spill?

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Interpretation of test results http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/WQ/WQ-5.html A permissible level of a hazardous material may not be a safe level.

Cenospheres Are Your Friends or How the TVA Deceives the Public

Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

Cenospheres, fly ash sludge may be seen along the north shore moving downstream from the Widows Creek hazardous waste spill. TVA water quality update on the spill: http://www.tva.gov/emergency/wc.htm (Update from the Daily Sentinel, Wed., Jan. 14, 2009 http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=807a6f0595f13147 )

A silvery gray sludge could be seen next to the shore at Bellefonte Landing Friday, 9 Jan. at 2PM.

Cenospheres and fly ash visible in this photomicrograph of the surface sludge at Bellefonte Landing. The crystalline and dark objects in this photo-micrograph are fly ash particles.
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In this mornings Scottsboro's newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, TVA's latest propaganda efforts are released. "Cenospheres are inert hollow balls of sand like material...are not harmful to the enviroment...materials are used in manufacturing a variety of products such as cements, flooring, epoxy fillers, bowling balls and cosmetics." http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=be942f0fc7bbbf6e Makes me want to go down to the river and "waller round" on these little miracles, or maybe not. It is what the TVA is not telling you about these little wonders of the coal combustion process that is the crux of the problem and more evidence of TVA's Culture of Deceit.

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TVA makes it personal. TVA's PR Executive all but called me a liar in Nashville's Tennessean Newspaper, "TVA spokesman John Moulton said he didn't believe that whatever Morgan had pictured in photographs was ash or gypsum from either the Kingston or Widows Creek spills.
"Most of what was released into Widows Creek was water," Moulton said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090110/GREEN02/901100348 Most was water but Moulton was very wrong concerning the cenospheres and gray sludge 17 miles downstream from Widows Creek at Bellefonte Landing on Friday, Jan. 9 at 2PM.

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TVA's comments on fly ash, "Are there toxic metals in fly ash? Yes, in small concentrations. The metals in fly ash generally will not dissolve in water or go through your skin by touching it.
What are the health effects of coal fly ash? For health effects to occur, coal ash must get inside one’s body (such as through drinking water). Contact with wet coal fly ash does not present a serious health risk. Direct skin contact may cause localized irritation."

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More about cenospheres. A cenosphere is a lightweight, inert, hollow sphere filled with inert air or gas, typically produced as a byproduct of coal combustion at thermal power plants. The color of cenospheres varies from gray to almost white and their density is about 0.4–0.8 g/cm³, which gives them a great buoyancy. The process of burning coal in thermal power plants produces fly ash containing ceramic particles made largely of alumina and silica. These particles form a part of the fly ash produced in the burning process. They are produced at the high temperature of 1,500 to 1,750 degrees Celsius through complicated chemical and physical transformation. Their chemical composition and structure varies considerably depending on the composition of coal that generated them.

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About fly ash. Fly ash is one of the residues generated in the combustion of coal. Fly ash is generally captured from the chimneys of coal-fired power plants, and is one of two types of ash that jointly are known as coal ash; the other, bottom ash, is removed from the bottom of coal furnaces. Depending upon the source and makeup of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably, but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2) (both amorphous and crystalline) and calcium oxide (CaO). Toxic constituents include arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, chromium VI, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium, along with dioxins and PAH compounds. Fly ash material solidifies while suspended in the exhaust gases and is collected by electrostatic precipitators or filter bags. Since the particles solidify while suspended in the exhaust gases, fly ash particles are generally spherical in shape and range in size from 0.5 µm to 100 µm. They consist mostly of silicon dioxide (SiO2), which is present in two forms: amorphous, which is rounded and smooth, and crystalline, which is sharp, pointed and hazardous.

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Where you have cenospheres from the coal combustion process you have fly ash and where you have fly ash you have cenospheres. The TVA is not telling the full story of the cenospheres. They want you to think all is well, after all, processed and cleaned cenospheres are used in cosmetics so why the big fuss. Take a look at the toxic substances associated with the cenospheres/fly ash: arsenic (43.4 ppm); barium (806 ppm); beryllium (5 ppm); boron (311 ppm); cadmium (3.4 ppm); chromium (136 ppm); chromium VI (90 ppm); cobalt (35.9 ppm); copper (112 ppm); fluorine (29 ppm); lead (56 ppm); manganese (250 ppm); nickel (77.6 ppm); selenium (7.7 ppm); strontium (775 ppm); thallium (9 ppm); vanadium (252 ppm); and zinc (178 ppm). This is not something I want in the mighty Tennessee River much less my drinking water.

Widows Creek Spill/Leak/Rupture Part3 Aerial Photos.

Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

Update: Monday, Jan. 12, 2009: Reports are surfacing that more than ash may be dumped into the ash holding ponds at Widows Creek. (Freethinker1963 or anyone else that has info on petroleum products or other hazardous wastes being dumped at Widows Creek , other TVA sites or the Tennessee River in Alabama or east Tennessee contact me at arklite2go@yahoo.com .) Link listing the hazardous materials found at Widows Creek TVA Ash Ponds: http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pubs/Widows%20Creek%20v%20%20Kingston.pdf
TVA has issued a press release today that no dangerous materials were revealed in water testing. TVA Test Results indicate high levels of metals and petroleum products: http://www.tva.gov/emergency/pdf/MICROBAC%20CERTIFICATE_WC.pdf Independent testing is being accomplished. TVA has demonstrated a high level of deceit in reporting of the spills in Harriman Tn. as well as the Widows Creek, Al. spill. More from the Enviromental Integrity Project http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pub590.cfm
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Another hole opening up in the ash pond? Notice the dark area in the corner of the ash pond. The river is the body of water slightly visible on bottom left of photo. The Waterkeepers Alliance is conducting independent testing of this hazardous waste spill.

Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

Cenospheres moving downstream with a heavier sludge layer evident to the right of the photo.

Mr. John Moulton of TVA Public Relations denies photo's of the ash release 17 miles downstream is evidence of the extent of the spill. Further investigation reveals TVA's level of deceit as evidenced by these photographs and the photomicrograph below. Quote from Mr. Moulton in the Tennessean article, "TVA spokesman John Moulton said he didn't believe that whatever Morgan had pictured in photographs was ash or gypsum from either the Kingston or Widows Creek spills. "Most of what was released into Widows Creek was water, to our knowledge it is not ash and it is not gypsum" Moulton said." (Story link in part 2 article below.) Evidence is provided that Mr. Moulton and the TVA's claim concerning the extent of this spill are not truthful, nor knowledgeable and is not contained.

Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

More evidence of a subsurface ash sludge flow from Widows Creek along the north shore of the Tennessee River. Cenospheres are also seen lining the shoreline. I think this group of photos are part of damning evidence that the spill from Widows Creek is greater than originally stated by the TVA. These photos reveal the hazardous waste spilling from Widows Creek is not contained.

Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

The sub-surface sludge waste flow in the river in front of the Widows Creek Fossil Plant.

Photo by Hurricane Creek Keeper John Waltham - South Wings Aviation.

Leakage evident in Widows Creek spilling into the river from ash pond(s).
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Many thanks to "Creekkeeper," the Hurricaine Creek and Waterkeeper Alliance for these photos. http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll297/creekkeeper_2008/Widow%20Creek%20Ash%20Spill/ The extent of the spill is evident in the aerial photos. It is also evident that the extent of the hazardous waste sludge and ash release is greater than what the TVA has stated. Aerial photos reveal a large subsurface sludge mass progressing downstream.

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Microscopic examination, photo below, of the material reveals it is in fact part of the ash and sludge storage from Widows Creek Fossil Plant that has spilled into the Tennessee River.

Widows Creek Spill/Leak/Rupture Part2 Ash spill not contained.

All photos this page by G. Morgan

Update: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009. Photomicrograph of Cenospheres from the Bellefonte Landing Sample. Inspection of Public Access Areas further down river reveals a light covering of the ash waste on the north shoreline at mile marker 383, Sportsman's Club boat ramp, and mile marker 378, Goose Pond Colony point. The real problems are the dissolved hazardous waste substances involved in this spill, what you can't see is the danger. The cenospheres serve as a marker indicating the extent of the ash sludge movement.
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Update: Widows Creek Photos: Sunday, Jan 11, 2008 Link to photo's posted by "Creekkeeper," many thanks to you for this link. http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll297/creekkeeper_2008/Widow%20Creek%20Ash%20Spill/ The extent of the spill is evident in the aerial photos. It is also evident that the extent of the hazardous waste sludge and ash release is greater than what the TVA has stated. Aerial photos reveal a large subsurface sludge mass progressing downstream. Is ash still spilling into the river? It appears there are other suspicious dark areas in the ash pits, the spill is not contained and is spilling into the river at the time of the photos.
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Content of Coal Ash, EPA Link, http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/tenorm/coalandcoalash.html note that coal ash is radioactive. The real question, how much sludge and ash were spilled into Widows Creek and the Tennessee River? Gypsum was not the only waste product released in this spill. Gypsum in the scrubbers catch the real nasty pollutants from the combustion process.

Article from the Tenneessean: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090110/GREEN02/901100348

In areas where the river slows in small coves or inlets the ashen sludge varies from light to heavy. The floating gray-ash color substances are cenospheres, they are a byproduct of coal combustion at power plants. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenosphere

The water out from the shoreline for about 4ft is affected. The water sub-surface has an ashen hue for approximately 10ft beyond the shore.

In this area the water sub-surface has tints of gray for 12-15 ft out from the shore. Mr. Moulton of the TVA says it isn't ash or gypsum, see the Tennessean article below, I say he is wrong and that he is being intentionally deceitful. What does he think it is, TVA lies spilling out of Knoxville?

Sample of Water taken at Bellefonte Landing, approximately 1/2 mile downstream from the cooling water intake of the proposed Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant. The particles appear to be spherical, silvery ash like. They are cenospheres.

A heavy silvery sludge coats the north shoreline of the Tennessee River at Bellefonte Landing. Bellefonte Landing is approximately 17 miles down river from Widows Creek Steam Plant. (Widows Creek mile marker is 407, Bellefonte is 390)

The TVA has reported the spill is contained, not true as evidenced by these photos. The north shore of the river is coated with the silvery, ashen sludge for several miles down stream.

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Update: TVA official denies substance in photos is part of a spill from Widows Creek. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090109/GREEN02/90109016 Apparently John Moulton of the TVA has made statements which are part of the ever growing deceit of the TVA. Here are the pictures, I have the sample, Mr. Moulton may certainly drive to the site as can anyone else. How can Mr. Moulton say it isn't part of the spill when he hasn't examined the sludge on the north shoreline? Does he know something else is leaking from the TVA or some other polluting source, it appears he is speaking without knowing the facts or without examining the downstream substance?

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Mr. Moulton is TVA's PR rep in Knoxville, from TVA 's site: Media Contact John Moulton, Knoxville, (865) 632-8048 TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

Widows Creek Spill/Leak/Rupture

(Knoxville News Sentinel photo) fair use rights for not for profit news reporting

Today a rupture/ leak/spill occured at the Widows Creek Plant. Map link: The Tennessean's Report: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090109/GREEN02/90109016

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Widows+Creek+Station&state=AL#a/maps/l:::Widows+Creek+Station:AL::US:34.9258:-85.760597:city:Jackson+County:1/m:hyb:8:34.926829:-85.760596:0:::::/io:0:::::f:EN:M:/e

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/09/second-tva-dam-breaks-at_n_156605.html

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/01/tva_investigating_leak_at_wido.html, http://www.tva.gov/ Local TV news out of Huntsville reports TVA has notified federal, state and local authorities. Reports indicate the "spill" has involved Widows Creek and the Tennessee River.

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No controls exist in Alabama or the TVA concerning these holding ponds, no liners are required for these holding ponds, no monitoring occurs of ground water surrounding these holding ponds. Apparently faulty engineering is a problem.

TVA, Business before Safety, Widows Creek Danger, Criminal Complaint Filed.

Is this who you want to operate a Nuclear Power Plant? Criminal Negligence lies, deceit are the actions of TVA Officials which has resulted in the largest environmental disaster since Love Canal. I do not believe the TVA can be trusted to operate Nuclear Power Plants under current management. They have violated the Public Trust.

(Knoxville News Sentinel photo) fair use rights for not for profit news reporting

Disaster from a collapsed Ash Pond Dam at Kingston's Fossils Fuel Power Plant. Millions of pounds of lead, mercury and arsenic were released into the waters as a result of negligent actions. A massive fish kill and destruction of property was the result. (Knoxville News Sentinel photo)

(Knoxville News Sentinel photo) fair use rights for not for profit news reporting

TVA's Widows Creek, fines issued, leaks of hazardous waste, requests for criminal prosecution by Federal Investigators of TVA Officials go unheeded. Is Widows Creek another disaster waiting to happen?
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Apparently Ash Pond dam collapses are getting to be a regular occurrence for the TVA as this AP Wire report indicates and filed with the Demoine Iowa Register. "Larry Preece's property near Inez, Ky., was swamped with coal ash sludge eight years ago in a similar spill of more than 300 million gallons. He has some advice for Swan Pond residents: "Be prepared for a long ordeal."

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Despite a cleanup and the passing of years, Preece said he still worries about contamination. Traces of arsenic, mercury and other contaminants were found in the Kentucky sludge, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, based at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta." The full story: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FLOODED_NEIGHBORHOOD_FUTURE?SITE=IADES&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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The TVA IG, Inspector General, has issued a scathing report concerning the TVA stating, "TVA has placed business operations ahead of ethics and compliance issues. ....TVA has emphasis on cost-cutting , on running the plants without any downtime." Widows Creek is leaking, the IG and the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, DOJ. Alabama's Department of Enviromental Management issued a citation and $100K fine. The Bush Administration's DOJ has refused to take action although the leaks in Widows Creek are a result of criminally negligent actions. This report from the Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/04/report-raises-questions-of-ethics/ .

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TVA, through it's negligent and criminal actions, has failed to fulfill its requirement of environmental stewardship of the Tennessee River Valley Watershed as required by law. More evidence of broken government and failing to hold TVA executives accountable for negligent criminal actions. How can we trust an agency to operate a Nuclear Power Plant with such a dismal, non-accountable record of actions.

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The Widows Creek Steam Plant is approximately 20 miles up stream from Scottsboro's water supply.

Widows Creek Fossil Plant, Can a Kingston Type Disaster Happen Here?

photo by TVA

photos by TVA

Lets look at some facts.

Civil Penalty and Fines-http://www.adem.state.al.us/PublicNotice/Jan/AO/1TVA.htm ; Enviromental Release Reports- http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/facility.tcl?tri_id=35772STVWDCOUNT#major_chemical_releases ; Pollution Ranking in State- http://www.scorecard.org/ranking/rank-facilities.tcl?how_many=100&drop_down_name=Total+environmental+releases&fips_state_code=01&sic_2=All+reporting+sectors

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TVA's description of Widows Creek: http://www.tva.gov/sites/widowscreek.htm

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More Reports: http://www.thearabtribune.com/articles/2008/12/31/news/news3.txt

TVA Ignores Leaks: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/energy/node/454

Coal Waste Pollution, leaks from the Widows Creek Ash Pond have been reported: " Two additional TVA sites are also responsible for groundwater contamination, the Colbert and Widows Creek plants, both in Alabama on the Tennessee River. The Widows Creek plant has had high levels of lead, iron, manganese, aluminum, sulfates and boron. The Colbert site is over standard for sulfate, chromium, selenium, iron, molybdenum and boron." http://www.appvoices.org/index.php?/frontporch/blogposts/coal_wastes_contaminate_hundreds_of_sites_in_us/

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Prior Warnings Go Unheeded: "Empty Promise" http://www.southernstudies.org/2008/12/empty-promise-the-broken-federal-commitment-behind-tenne.html

Can a disaster occur in Jackson County such as occured at Kingston, Tn.? The answer is yes, I think there is a genuine problem with the TVA and its bureaucratic deceitfulness.

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Coal Soot Dangers, 24,000 annual deaths. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-10-10.asp