Whats the potential environmental impact?
There are two main environmental concerns: water contamination from leeched metals or coal-ash sediment and the effects on fish and wildlife because of habitat loss. The sludge has gotten into the Emory River as well as the Clinch, and it is unclear how far the contamination might spread. TVA says it will use skimmers to trap lighter ash floating on the water’s surface. Although samples from drinking wells and from public drinking water have been found to be within safe levels, tests of surface and river water closer to the spill showed unsafe levels of some contaminants. On Jan. 6, the EPA found that two out of 16 water samples exceeded the Tennessee Water Quality Criteria for Domestic Supply. Tests of ash taken from a road near the site indicated arsenic levels exceeding the EPA Removal Action Level. Could another spill happen? The federal government does not currently regulate coal-ash disposal, which views it as regular landfill waste. In 2000, the EPA said coal-ash disposal should
