The Environmental Protection Agency will now call the shots at TVA’s coal ash spill site in Roane County. The public power utility signed an agreement with federal regulators Monday.
TVA has been removing ash from the Emory River since late December, when an ash storage pond ruptured and released 5.4 million cubic yards of sludge.
TVA spokeswoman Barbara Martocci says the utility now needs EPA’s approval on all cleanup plans.
“This does allow EPA to have certain authority over us to ensure we get things done in an orderly manner.”
Orderly and timely.
Though TVA has been cooperative, EPA acting regional administrator Stan Meiburg says the agreement gives his agency authority to fine the utility for missing deadlines.
“TVA has been very upfront from the beginning as saying they wanted to do a clean up that left the area better than it was before, and this gives us a structured process for following through on that.”
The first order requires TVA to create a reading room in the next five days for the public to view all documents related to the cleanup. Fines for not complying start at $1,500 a day.
TVA is required to reimburse the EPA for its costs and fund a position within the agency to oversee the Kingston spill site. The total cost for the cleanup is approaching $1 billion.
EPA has answered questions it anticipates recieving, like why is the agency taking this action now.
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