Community Guidance

Oct. 9, 2009 - Large hydraulic dredge equipment is being used to expedite the removal of ash from the Emory River. To keep the river as safe as possible, the Emory River will continue to be closed from mile marker 1.5 to mile marker 3 through February 15, 2010. The initial river closure began on August 11, 2009 and was extended through October 11, 2009. No river traffic is being allowed through this area. For more information, please visit the notice on EPA's Web site at www.epakingstontva.com.

Oct. 1, 2009 - TDEC is taking part with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and TVA in a public meeting in Kingston to update the community regarding cleanup efforts at the TVA Kingston spill site. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the 1st Baptist Church in Kingston. The issues TDEC will discuss include ongoing sampling on and around the TVA facility, additional studies being conducted and deposition resulting from a process problem at the plant on Sept. 18.

Coal Fly Ash Release Fact Sheet - Oct. 1, 2009

Sept. 22, 2009 - Unrelated to the ash spill, but important to new air pollution control equipment coming online at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant, TDEC issued a discharge permit for the plant's new gypsum holding pond. The permit sets effluent limits for wastewater created by TVA's new air pollution control equipment, and was the subject of a public hearing held in Kingston on June 8, 2009. Click here to see the permit.

Coal Fly Ash Release Fact Sheet - June 23, 2009

For health concerns related to the coal fly ash release in Harriman, a hotline has been established at the Tennessee Department of Health for the public: 1-800-404-3006

TDEC Fish Advisories
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) advises until further notice that fishing should be avoided in the lower section of the Emory River, and that existing advisories for Watts Bar should be followed. In the Clinch River arm of Watts Bar, which would include the lower Emory River, there is a fish consumption advisory against eating striped bass and a precautionary advisory for catfish and sauger. A precautionary advisory means that children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume the fish species named. All other persons should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.

Beginning the week of January 5, TWRA will be collecting bass and catfish and comparing fish tissue results to existing data for those species. TWRA expects to resample on a semiannual basis, probably January and October, and will evaluate findings with the other resource agencies. TDEC will issue advisories if fish tissue contaminant levels exceed protection criteria.

Joint Information Center
Responding agencies have opened a Joint Information Center (JIC) at the Roane County Rescue Squad Building, located at 2735 Roane State Highway, Harriman, Tennessee. Representatives of the news media can come to the JIC for information on the recovery and clean up efforts or they can call representatives at the center at (865) 590-7001. The public may call (865) 717-4006.

OTHER RESOURCES
TVA Kingston Update

Phone number for TVA Public Information is (865) 717- 4006