An ash pond dike broke, which released 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash. The spill covered over 300 acres of Watts Bar Reservoir. Just hours prior, the area had been inspected, and no issues had been reported. Testing on the air, water, and ash began immediately, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) claimed no immediate threat to human health. A lawsuit against Jacobs Engineering (the company in charge of clean-up under Tennessee Valley Authority) is set for trial in 2018, and will be a test case of whether or not coal ash kills.—(EPA)
Date of event: December 22, 2008
Impact:
- 5.4 million cubic yards of ash spilled onto over 300 acres
- 3 homes destroyed, 23 damaged
- Adjacent rail line and utilities damaged
- Unconfirmed 17 deaths of clean-up crew workers by exposure to coal ash
Related Resources:
- S. Hrg. 111-1177: Oversight Hearing on the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Recent Major Coal Ash Spill, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, January 8, 2009
- Kingston Fossil Plant Ash Slide Interim Report
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Photo: (Credit: Tennessee Valley Authority) Aerial view of ash slide site on December 23, 2008.