NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health’s (TDH) Environmental Epidemiology Program, under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), has completed a draft health assessment for Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Kingston coal ash spill site and is accepting public comments now through February 9, 2010, it was recently announced. Both the 200-page assessment and a four-page fact sheet summary are available on the department’s Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/coalashspill.htm.

“We understand local residents’ concern about the potential health implications of the coal ash spill,” said Bonnie Bashor, director of the Environmental Epidemiology Program. “It’s the department’s responsibility and mission to protect the health of the people in Roane County. With this in mind, the department took very seriously the review and analysis of collected data to determine any health risks associated with coal ash exposure.”

Details about the department’s participation in a Roane County community public meeting to answer questions about the draft health assessment will be announced soon. The meeting is anticipated to be held in January 2010.

The fact sheet outlines the public health assessment (PHA) process and next steps, and lists all of the environmental data sets used in writing the PHA. The full public health assessment includes a summary, discussion, conclusions, recommendations and a public health action plan. Environmental data from the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), TVA and others are presented in the report.

Highlights of the conclusions reached in the report are as follows:

• No harm to the community’s health is expected from touching the coal ash. Even though touching the coal ash could cause local skin irritation, the metals in the ash are not likely to get into people’s bodies from merely touching the coal ash.
• Using municipal drinking water from the Kingston and Rockwood water treatment plants will not harm people’s health because the raw and finished water have continuously met drinking water standards. Also, using well or spring water within four miles of the coal ash release will not harm people’s health from exposure to coal ash or metals in the coal ash because no evidence has been found for groundwater contamination by coal ash.
• Using the Emory River at the site of the coal ash release (near Emory River mile 2) could result in harm to residents or trespassers from physical hazards associated with cleanup efforts and from the volume of ash present, if residents or trespassers entered the area. No harm to people’s health should result from recreational use of the Emory, Clinch and Tennessee Rivers outside the area of the lower Emory River down to the confluence of the Emory and Clinch Rivers, as specified in the recreational advisory and river closure.  As the advisory indicates, people are advised to avoid areas where they see ash, however, even if it is outside the area of immediate impact. Previous fish advisories should be followed.
• Breathing ambient air near the coal ash release is not expected to harm people’s health as long as adequate dust suppression measures are in place. No harm to people’s health is expected from occasionally breathing coal ash if it should become airborne for short periods of time. If dust suppression measures should fail and particulate matter is present in concentrations greater than National Ambient Air Quality Standards due to the coal ash becoming airborne for periods longer than one day, the department concludes that particulate matter from airborne coal ash could harm people’s health, especially for those persons with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions.

The draft PHA has already undergone government review by Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, TDEC, ATSDR and EPA to ensure the accuracy of the data and science used in the report. Also involved in the review of the assessment were the Tennessee Poison Center and Oak Ridge Associated Universities. The ATSDR has provided the report to three outside, independent reviewers for scientific peer review as well.

Comments must be submitted in writing. Submit via e-mail to EEP. or mail to:

December 22, 2009 marks one year since the coal ash spill, where a retaining wall failed at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County, Tenn. More than 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash spilled from an on-site holding pond to cover more than 300 acres of surrounding land and water.

TDEC serves as the state’s lead agency to contain the immediate threat to human health and the environment. TDH continues to play a critical role in working with TDEC and assessing and ensuring ongoing public health protection. In the weeks following the spill, TDH went door-to-door to conduct a health survey and to share information with area residents. The department provided information to area medical practitioners. TDH operates the state lab that analyzes all the samples collected by TDEC, and provides health assessors to determine whether adverse health effects are likely based on the data.

On May 11, the United States Environmental Protection Agency signed an enforceable agreement with TVA to oversee the removal of coal ash at the TVA Kingston Plant. The state of Tennessee welcomed this action and continues to work in partnership with EPA to ensure the cleanup in Roane County is thorough and protective of public health and the environment.

For more information on the involvement of TDH in protecting residents’ health in the aftermath of the Kingston coal ash spill, visit the Web at http://health.state.tn.us/coalashspill.htm. For more information on the Environmental Epidemiology Program, visit the Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/environmental/index.htm.

Nashville – Senator Beverly Marrero of Memphis drew high marks Friday for her stewardship of the environment, receiving the highest ranking of any legislator on the Tennessee Conservation Voters’ annual scorecard.

“None of us are surprised to see Senator Marrero perched atop the scorecard for the General Assembly,” TCV executive director Chris Ford said. “Her voice is strong, and her door is always open to us. Be it advocating against nuclear waste or for clean water, this lady means business when it comes to our health and Tennessee way of life.

State Senator Beverly Marrero

Senator Marrero was particularly proud of her fight against a bill that would have rolled back restrictions on selenium in Tennessee’s water. The bill eventually was struck down by a vote in the House.

“This bill would have handcuffed Tennessee to the relaxed environmental regulations set by the EPA under the previous presidential administration,” she said.

“The selenium standard established in 2004 was based on unsound research and should not serve as a guideline for Tennesseans who care about their water quality.”

TCV evaluated all House and Senate members for their action on bills that affect the environment and awarded or subtracted points accordingly. Senator Marrero scored 11 points – more than anyone else in the House or Senate.

Other action that won Senator Marrero points with TCV:

• A measure to specify that landfills cannot receive nuclear or radioactive materials – which Senator Marrero will continue to push for when the legislature reconvenes.
• Opposition to a bill allowing gun carry permit holders to take handguns into parks and other similar public places.
• A bottle bill to reduce litter and encourage recycling.
• Tighter rules for the disposal of coal ash, like that which was spilled at a TVA plant last year, affecting 300 acres in Roane County and going into the Emory River.
• A bill setting minimum energy efficiency requirements for specified appliances.
• A requirement that environmental interests have more equitable representation on air, water and solid waste quality control boards.

About Tennessee Conservation Voters

Tennessee Conservation Voters is a statewide non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to protect Tennessee’s environment and preserve the state’s natural resources through legislative advocacy.

About Senator Beverly Marrero

Senator Beverly Marrero represents portions of Memphis. Contact her at sen.beverly..gov or (615) 741-9128 or 312 War Memorial Building, Nashville, TN 37243-0028.

The Clarksville Chapter of the Audubon Society will be holding their regular meeting on Thursday September 3rd at  7:30 p.m. in conference room E106 in the Sundquist Science Building at Austin Peay State University. Randall Johnson of TVA will be presenting a program titled  “Integrated Resource Plan: TVA’s Environmental and Energy Future.” Light refreshments will be served.

On June 15, 2009 TVA kicked off an 18 month long project to prepare a new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) entitled TVA’s Environmental and Energy Future. The purpose of the IRP is to develop a flexible portfolio of supply and demand side options that TVA can use to meet the valley’s electrical demand needs for the next 20 years. The portfolios developed will be evaluated for several criteria including capital and fuel costs, reliability, possible environmental impacts including climate change, compliance with existing and anticipated future regulations, and other factors.

To learn more about the Clarksville Chapter of the Audubon Society check out the current issue of their newsletter, The Warioto Warbler.

• Tennessee to receive $3.7 billion in federal money
• Environment and Conservation Committees hear testimony on TVA coal ash spill
• General Assembly website receives makeover, features improved bill tracking

Legislators were updated this week on the estimates from the bailout package passed by Congress and signed by the President earlier this week, learning that Tennessee stands to receive anywhere from $3.7 to $4.3 billion over roughly two years. Most of the money is already allocated by the federal government to specific purposes, with only $171 million left for “general purpose.”

TennCare will receive the largest sum of money, with $1.1 billion allocate specifically for the program. Other health-related programs that will receive money are foster care and adoption assistance services, immunization programs, elderly nutrition programs, and child care, which together total approximately $70 million.

Another area that stands to receive a substantial amount of the money is education. Tennessee’s K-12 education system will receive $224.5 million for school improvement projects and grants. Another $236 million will be targeted toward students with disabilities, in the areas of special education and early intervention. The final three subcategories—education technology, education for the homeless, and school lunch equipment—will receive roughly $13.6 million, bringing the total amount for education to $474.4 million.

Another $171 million will be aimed at a myriad of different programs, including justice assistance, crime victim assistance, workforce investment, employment services, unemployment insurance, and dislocated worker programs. The final numbers will be revealed by the Administration during the Governor’s budget address to the Senate and House Environment and Conservation Committees.

Joint House and Senate Environment and Conservation Committees hear testimony on TVA coal ash spill

A joint meeting of the Senate and House Environment and Conservation Committees heard testimony on Wednesday from Tennessee Valley Authority officials regarding the clean-up efforts of the December 22nd coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee. The accident released more than 5.4 million cubic yards of ash into the river from an on-site holding pond at the Kingston Fossil Plant.
Fly ash is a fine, glass-like powder recovered from gases created by coal-fired electric power generation. Power plants within the United States produce millions of tons of fly ash annually, which is disposed of in landfills or retaining ponds.

Tom Kilgore, CEO of TVA, told the Joint Committee that the cause of the massive accident, which covers more than 300 acres of surrounding land and water, is still being investigated. Kilgore has been working with Deputy Conservation and Environment Commissioner Paul Sloan as TVA constructs a plan to remediate and restore the site, as well as prevent such accidents from occurring in other localities where coal fly ash is stored.

Sloan said the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has been on site in Roane County since the spill occurred. They have been sampling public drinking water systems to assess whether the raw water entering and the finished water produced by the Kingston Water Treatment Plant meets public health standards. Sloan said the samples received to date indicate municipal water supplies are safe, even though aquatic life at the site of the spill has been destroyed.

Sloan and Kilgore pledged to continue ongoing water quality monitoring and assessment within the major waterways impacted by the ash slide, which includes the Emory River, Clinch River and Tennessee River. They have also consulted with the Tennessee Department of Health to provide public health guidance and recommended precautions for citizens that come in contact with coal ash.

Moving to the cleanup and safe disposal of recovered coal ash at the site of the spill, Kilgore said TVA is working to get the ash sludge “out of the river as quickly as we can.” The fly coal ash contains a small amount of arsenic, which means it must be treated as a “hazardous substance” as it is moved. This means the ash, which is 85 percent water, must be “dewatered” before either being moved to another site or buried. Engineers are working to prepare the comprehensive plan to remove the sludge, which is expected to cost $525 to $825 million.

The state is looking at the possibility of using the dry coal ash in concrete and other products. Fly ash is an inexpensive replacement for a type of cement used in concrete. It is also used as an ingredient in brick, block, paving, and structural fills. The House Environment and Conservation Committee will likely continue to monitor the progress of the clean up and environmental impact of the spill, as well as preventative measures, during the remainder of this legislative session.

Tennessee General Assembly website receives makeover, features improved bill tracking

The Tennessee General Assembly overhauled their website design this year, and the new website includes many new features in addition to its fresh look. Visitors can now easily find out who their representatives and senators are, see more detailed maps of their districts, and track legislation—even flagging certain bills in which they take an interest.

One of the most useful features on the newly designed website is the new bill tracking mechanism that allows users to make a list of legislation they would like to follow through the committee and floor session process. The site allows for the creation of up to three lists of ten bills each that a user can “flag.” Users can then log in at any time and see the progression of the legislation they chose to follow, even allowing for modification of the lists at any point. The updates will also include a listing of how each member present in the subcommittee, committee, and floor session voted on a particular bill.

In addition to simply getting a fresh new look, the website also has a different
web address: capitol.tn.gov (formerly legislature.state.tn.us). The e-mail addresses for legislators and staff have also been updated to match the new address. House Republicans are very pleased to see the user-friendly changes, having advocated for a more simply formatted website for several years.

The week ahead…

• HOUSE SESSION: 5:00p.m. Monday, February 23, 2009 in House Chambers
• HOUSE SESSION: 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 in House Chambers
• HOUSE SESSION: 9:00 a.m. Thursday, February 26, 2009 in House Chambers

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

1. Committee or Subcommittee Time Room Number
2. Professional Occupations Subcommittee 8:30 a.m. Legislative Plaza 31
3. Agriculture Committee 9:15 a.m. Legislative Plaza 29
4. Family Justice Subcommittee 9:15 a.m. Legislative Plaza 30
5. Conservation & Environment Committee 10:30 a.m. Legislative Plaza 29
6. State & Local Government Committee 12:00 p.m. Legislative Plaza 16
7. Civil Practice & Procedure Subcommittee 12:00 p.m. Legislative Plaza 31
8. Finance Committee 1:30 p.m. Legislative Plaza 16
9. Small Business Subcommittee 1:30 p.m. Legislative Plaza 30
10. Rural Roads Subcommittee 1:30 p.m. Legislative Plaza 31
11. Transportation Committee 3:00 p.m. Legislative Plaza 16
12. Public Safety Subcommittee 4:00 p.m. Legislative Plaza 16
13. Public Health & Family Assistance Subcommittee 4:00 p.m. Legislative Plaza 30

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

1. Committee or Subcommittee Time Room Number Children & Family Affairs Committee 8:30 a.m. Legislative Plaza 16
2. State Government Subcommittee 8:30 a.m. Legislative Plaza 29
3. Judiciary Committee 8:30 a.m. Legislative Plaza 31
4. Local Government Subcommittee 9:15 a.m. Legislative Plaza 29
5. Government Operations Committee 10:00 a.m. Legislative Plaza 29
6. Education Committee 11:00 a.m. Legislative Plaza 16
7. Budget Subcommittee 11:00 a.m. Legislative Plaza 29
8. Criminal Practice & Procedure Subcommittee 12:00 p.m. Legislative Plaza 31
9. Parks & Tourism Subcommittee 12:30 p.m. Legislative Plaza 16
10. Domestic Relations Subcommittee 12:30 p.m. Legislative Plaza 29

Summary provided by Kara Watkins, Press Secretary, TN House Republican Caucus