Another day, another report of a TVA spill. This time in Alabama. This would be the second one this week, if you count the sediment release into the Ocoee River on Sunday. Plus, the big one in Kingston (Renee has new photos to show everyone from her visit to the plant today).
Read more about both spills:
Widows Creek Fossil Plant (Alabama)
Ocoee #3 Dam Spill Coverage
You can listen to the U.S. Senate Committee on Evironment and Public Works hearing on the coal ash spill at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant live online at several different places.
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works website (audio only)
What do you think about what’s being said?
Check out WBIR-TV tonight for a story on stormwater problems in Knox County featuring TCWN superstar volunteer James McMillan.
James has been out the last two days taking pictures of bad BMPs (Best Management Practices). Each one of these photos documents a permit violation.
If you see anything like this in your neighborhood, let us know! Send us a photo (info@tcwn.org) or give us a call (865-522-7007) so we can keep track of stormwater problems across the state.
The TCWN staff went to the site of the Kingston ash spill this afternoon to see for ourselves the damage. I have seen dozens of photos- but they do not do justice to the devastation of the area. We were on Swan Pond Circle, looking out onto Swan Pond and then, the Emory River. It is amazing. We’ll post pictures tomorrow.
One thing that I kept thinking about while touring the area was the impact this has had on the neighborhoods. I don’t know if folks knew their neighbors before this, but they do now. We met this lady who was walking around her neighborhood passing out flyers for an upcoming meeting. She was very suspicious of us, and for good reason. Within the last two weeks, she has had dozens of strangers invade her quiet, picturesque neighborhood, media attention from around the world, aircraft hovering overhead. She has had to become a community organizer, whether she wanted to or not. Plus, she has to worry about the health and safety of her family and her home. She never asked for this. No one asked for this.
While I am glad we had a chance to see the ash spill, I can’t help but feel guilty for coming in, taking pictures and leaving- leaving behind all those people whose lives will never be the same. I was glad to see neighbors taking care of neighbors. That’s the East Tennessee way of life.
All,
I just returned to San Jose, Costa Rica, from spending time in Monteverde to discover that on Dec. 22, one of the most devastating environmental disasters in Tennessee´s history occurred. I´ve been following the online media from here and I am shocked at what the coverage reveals.
This problem is going to take years to fix. The Network is committed to helping the community get what they need to have clean water and a healthy community. We´ll be in it for the long haul and you can follow it here on our blog site.
More to come.
RvH
