I SAY: TVA fly ash doesn't fly ... yet

May 07, 2009 05:15 pm

— I will be the first to admit that what I know about fly ash could be placed in a thimble but I do have a bit of common sense and enough of it to fear this trojan horse that TVA is trying to give to Cumberland County.
Common sense also tells me to not be against something, just because I don't like the sound of it. But that same logic tells me I am going to have to be sold on the idea that it is a good plan to haul fly ash from the TVA environmental disaster at the Kingston Steam Plant and dump it in a coal mine and a rock quarry in Cumberland County.
My knee jerk reaction comes in the form of two questions: if this is such a good idea, why doesn't TVA keep the stuff and put it on some of the thousands of acres it owns? And, since Roane County has enjoyed the taxes paid by TVA for the Kingston plant, why doesn't Roane County keep the fly ash?
If this is a good thing for Cumberland County, then it will be equally good for TVA and Roane County.
We are told the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's representative this week told citizens that the fly ash is not toxic, unless it becomes airborne.
Isn't this the same agency charged with the responsibility of looking after the public's interest when it came to the safety of the dam that broke and dumped fly ash into the Clinch River and onto surrounding property?
On the other hand, we have read that, "In 2000, the United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ (EPA) said that coal fly ash did not need to be regulated as a hazardous waste.
"Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey and others of radioactive elements in coal ash have concluded that fly ash compares with common soils or rocks and should not be the source of alarm. "However, community and environmental organizations have documented numerous environmental contamination and damage concerns."
I have read fly ash is used in the making of Portland cement, grout and asphalt concrete. Sounds pretty harmless there. Or is it like asbestos and foolish?
I discard the argument that this proposal would eventually create badly needed jobs for Cumberland County.
I agree that the jobs are badly needed, but doubt many Cumberland Countians would actually benefit from this. The trucking contractor said this week he has about 150 drivers laid off at this time. This plan would create approximately 100 new jobs. Who do you think those jobs will go to?
I am told we are a long way off from seeing this proposal a reality so it might do us all well to step back, take a deep breath, and do our homework.
Those who say this is an environmental disaster waiting to happen need to prove their case in the Cumberland County court of public opinion before actual hearings take place.
Those who think this is a grand idea that will be a boon to the economy of the county without future environmental dangers need to do the same.
In the meantime, I am withholding judgment until someone can convince me, one way or the other.

Photos

Mike Webster of Hillsborough Resources/Crossville Coal Mine, Inc. shows the group a map of Smith Mountain in Cumberland County and shows which area would be reclaimed with fly ash from the TVA spill.