Last week, the EPA approved a plan for the TVA to move coal ash from a spill in Kingston, Tenn to a landfill in Perry County, Alabama. Despite a number of concerns from residents, environmentalists and public officials a public hearing was never scheduled on this matter. Every two days for approximately a year 85 rail cars, containing coal ash containing heavy metals and other hazardous compounds, will trek from Eastern Tennessee through Birmingham all the way to Perry County, Alabama. This is at a minimum a 350 mile distance. While local officials contend that this will produce jobs and economic development in this poor community, others are not so sure of the long term impacts to the health and safety and even economic stability of this decision. Local residents have begun to weigh in with their concerns about the long term effects. Despite these vast objections the EPA issued this statement
Prior to approving the Arrowhead Landfill as the disposal site for the coal ash, EPA visited the landfill and met with local leaders and members of the surrounding community to review the disposal plan and answer questions.
So despite this plan being approved, it appears that this controversy is far from being over and rightfully so based on some legitimate questions about the process. Here's an interesting video clip of residents asking EPA administrator Lisa Jackson to protect them from the coal ash. Notice the diversity in the residents being interviewed.
The federal government's decision to let the Tennessee Valley Authority bury tons of coal ash at a landfill in a poor Alabama county is "tragic and shortsighted" and will endanger generations of residents, a state prosecutor said Tuesday.
Perry County District Attorney Michael Jackson said he would monitor the disposal process to make sure the landfill operator and the federal utility comply with environmental regulations.
But Jackson said he doesn't know if anything can be done to block the shipments.
Congressional Candidate Shelia Smoot (AL-07), who would represent the citizens of Perry County if she were elected to replace outgoing Artur Davis, also issued a statement calling for a public hearing so that citizens can be more informed about the plans.
As a lifelong advocate for the "consumer," I feel and have always felt that it is the duty of our leaders to balance the benefits of jobs and business with the safety of its citizens. I am concerned that a substance considered toxic in Tennessee can be harmless to transport through Alabama and stored in a landfill in Perry County. The citizens of Alabama have the right to know the real risks involved in accepting the coal ash.
I am calling on EPA and TVA, the two agencies charged with the protection of the environment and health issues with respect to the coal ash, to hold a public meeting to discuss the risks and plans for the ash as well as to hear the concerns of the citizens. In that public meeting, I would hope that we would learn of the real risks involved in accepting the ash and the precautions that are being taken to combat those risks. We need to be assured by TVA/EPA of the safety of the transportation and storage of the ash. We need a public outreach program that maintains lines of communication with the public and provides off set funds to benefit the entire community. And finally, I hope we would see a plan for the future testing of the soil and water surrounding the landfill ensuring we have a partner in the Federal Government through the life of the coal ash.
I understand the need for balance and the potential economic impact for Perry County. In this economy and particularly my long suffering district, I will never stand in the way of job growth. However, it is my belief that we need to have unqualified assurances from the Federal Government that future generations will not pay the price for short term economic development. Furthermore, I want to insure the safety of the citizens along the path of transportation of the coal ash. It is my belief that all effected Alabamians have a right to be educated about these risks, have their concerns heard, and have the assurance of safety for their families.
For more background on this story also read this diary from Left in Alabama last week that analyzes the economic benefit as well as doing a great job of explaining the context of this decision from a local politics viewpoint.
Unfortunately, this rush job by the TVA and approval by the EPA will result in this landfill being the storage point of the coal ash without ample public input. However, the EPA and the TVA should take necessary steps to address the concerns that we have discussed. The long term health and safety of the residents of Perry County are too important to ignore especially when long term economic impact is so unclear.
