TVA UPDATE: This Just In

01.16.09 The EPA released data yesterday that has been compiled over the last couple of weeks. The data is from the sampling of surface waters, drinking water, soil and sediment, as well as some archived information about the historical sampling of fly ash. The data has been released through links on the following sites:

http://www.epaosc.org/

http://www.tva.gov/

www.state.tn.us/environment/kingston/results_reporting.shtml

Dr. Cheremisinoff, a consultant with the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, and author of:

The Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Technology,

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management: A Guide for the Professional Hazards Manager and,

The Environmental Technologies Handbook,

explains the following about the newly released data:

1. Surface and drinking water from the Kingston Water Treatment Plant appear to have been impacted by chromium, arsenic, lead and strontium based on sampling obtained close to the time of the incident. More recent reported samples indicate that the drinking water levels at sampled locations are safe but further monitoring is required.

2. Sediment samples show wide variations with typical levels for arsenic and chromium at least 10 times above the reporting limits; lead 2 to 10 times above reporting limits; and cobalt typically 3 times above reporting limit. These remain a concern because the pathways to exposure have not yet been defined but experience tells us that these chemicals can migrate to groundwater and be dispersed through the air.

3. Mercury has been detected in multiple samples, but generally is at or below reporting limits for sediment and in surface water.

4. Only one reported sample has been reported to date containing the hydrocarbon xylene.

Lab results are pending on surface sludge samples. It is anticipated that the sludge samples will show similar levels of contamination for the toxic heavy metals. As an additional precaution, the lab is analyzing the samples for radionuclides because neither TVA nor the government has reported such data and the literature generally reports the presence of these contaminants in fly ash.

Will keep you posted as soon as the information is provided.