1970's EPA laws wern't strong enough - TVA Ash spill.

MIDTOWN - Gov. Phil Bredesen said Wednesday he wants to know whether state law cut the TVA too much slack for too long in the federal agency's handling of coal ash.

The governor said so after a brief visit to the Kingston steam plant, where more than 1 billion gallons of that ash burst through the wall of a retention pond last week and covered hundreds of acres along the Emory River shoreline in a tidal wave of sludge. He said the state's environmental regulations, mostly written in the 1970s, don't take into account a "disaster" such as the ash spill and need a "top to bottom review."

"TVA is a federal agency," Bredesen said. "I strongly suspect that over the years there may have been exaggerated deference given to them as a federal agency. We need to take a fresh look at that. We will be looking at all aspects of that. We need to tighten those up."

Bredesen picked up a chunk of what officials said was sludge from the retention pond and looked it over. "I don't think people should be afraid of this stuff," Bredesen said.

The governor said he wants to see daily testing of water for Kingston and Rockwood, with the results posted online within 24 hours of testing. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will conduct free testing for any residents who want their wells inspected, he said.

Officials say tests of the local water supply so far show no signs of pollution beyond regulatory limits.

Bredesen also met with two families who lost their homes to the spill.
"What TVA told the families was that they not only will make them financially whole, but that they would make them happy," he said. "I've told (TVA) the state of Tennessee is going to be looking over their shoulder."

The governor said he also wants TVA's half-dozen other coal ash sites around the state inspected more thoroughly.

In other developments Wednesday, TVA officials said they've cleared much of Swan Pond Road and hope to finish clearing the blocked railroad track through the spill site by early next week so repairs can begin. Cleanup efforts continue around the clock, with a crew of about 75 still working to skim the tons of cenospheres - small, hollow balls used as fillers in concrete and epoxy foam - from the water.

With drier temperatures and heavy winds expected for the next few days, air purity could overtake water worries as a concern, said Bob Summers, TVA's vice president of fossil projects. He said crews plan to use irrigation equipment to wet the ash and keep it from turning to powder. Other solutions could include sowing rye grass to temporarily bind the dust and keep it from blowing away, he said.

Air quality tests so far haven't found any heavy metal particles above regulatory standards, said Alan Nye, a toxicologist.

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