Mon
May 11 2009
03:43 pm
Breaking News: EPA takes over TVA coal ash disaster cleanup
By: R. Neal

Details at RoaneViews...

Topics:
Rigsby Werner's picture

Wonder what TVA power rates will do now?

Submitted by Rigsby Werner (not verified) on Mon, 2009/05/11 - 4:34pm.

Also, while the EPA has more credibility and probably more capability in remediating toxic spills/pollution, it is one government agency cleaning up another government agency's mess and the ratepayers, not necessarily the taxpayers, end up footing the bill. Such is life in the valley.

I think Lincoln Davis made the right call to involve the EPA to clean up TVAs mess and allow the TVA folks to get back to the business of providing flood control for the Tennessee River, producing cheap hydroelectic power where available and improving the quality of life in the valley.

Rachel's picture

I think Lincoln Davis made

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2009/05/11 - 4:44pm.

I think Lincoln Davis made the right call to involve the EPA to clean up TVAs mess and allow the TVA folks to get back to the business of providing flood control for the Tennessee River, producing cheap hydroelectic power where available and improving the quality of life in the valley.

EPA is providing oversight. TVA will still be doing the actual cleanup.

icantbreath's picture

I agree. TVA has their own

Submitted by icantbreath (not verified) on Tue, 2009/05/12 - 9:47pm.

I agree. TVA has their own agenda. We will know what is really going on in that area with the EPA watching. It never did make any sense that the EPA handed it over to TVA. TVA is going to do what it takes to protect theirselves in this matter. Of course, now they have had four and a half months to do just that. Do you think that they did? Oh yes! That's okay. This will all be brought to light. There are eyes not only on TVA now, but also on the EPA. It will all still need to be watched very closely to be sure that it is done properly. First, they need to define coal ash for what it really is. They need to quit twisting words and sentences. It is apparent that coal ash is hazardous waste. They need to call it for what it is. Then they will have to dispose it in a safe manner, which would mean that it would be contained in a safe container that will not leak ten years from now. After all, coal ash has arsenic, mercury and many other dangerous heavy metals. They need to put this coal ash in containers that will not seep into our water table in ten or so years. This game that they have played as far as coal ash being "hazardous waste" needs to end now.

WhitesCreek's picture

Frankly, my dear Scarlett...

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Mon, 2009/05/11 - 8:17pm.

I don't give a damn what TVA power rates have to go to to pay the piper.

Everybody in the TVA service area who has ever flipped a light switch into the ON position has a share in this. Actually, everybody who voted for an "R" anywhere in the USA has a hand in this as well. There was never such a thing as cheap power. All we did was delay paying the true cost.

TVA has denied and tried to vilify the very people they have harmed. The people whose houses were destroyed had to sign a document saying that they wouldn't sue TVA for health problems, and another piece of paper saying that they agree that TVA is "Not at fault" in this disaster. One is an insult...The other is just plain evil, tying a real estate transaction to a waiver for resonsibility for the health of families who have lived in the shadow of TVA's towers for a generation.

sugarfatpie's picture

And you still oppose

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2009/05/12 - 10:09am.

And you still oppose punitive damages for TVA?

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

WhitesCreek's picture

Yep, I do.

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Tue, 2009/05/12 - 1:25pm.

Who would TVA punitive damages punish? The TVA board is untouchable and they are the ones who failed us.

sugarfatpie's picture

Punishment isn't the

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2009/05/12 - 10:57pm.

Punishment isn't the goal.
The goal is to alter institutional behavior.
If TVA has to pay out more of its budget because of screw ups, they might be more careful not to screw up.

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

Rachel's picture

Punishment isn't the

Submitted by Rachel on Tue, 2009/05/12 - 11:00pm.

Punishment isn't the goal.

Umm, I do believe at least one of the goals of PUNITIVE damages is punishment.

sugarfatpie's picture

Punishment by itself is a

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Wed, 2009/05/13 - 9:13am.

Punishment by itself is a shallow goal. What you want to do is change behavior.
-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

WhitesCreek's picture

There's more to it than appears

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Wed, 2009/05/13 - 8:16am.

TVA costs are passed through to the ratepayers, since there are no stockholders. If we could garnish the wages of the people who made bad decisions, I might think otherwise. Eliminating the lottery style payout of a big punitive award and concentrating on a just compensation for those who have been harmed takes away TVA's footing when they try to villify their victims. (Which they've most certainly done already)

sugarfatpie's picture

I don't see how shareholder

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Thu, 2009/05/14 - 10:38am.

I don't see how shareholder democracy would change TVA's behavior.
Its been tried by some environmental groups in the past, but to little effect.

TVA will villify anyone and anything that gets in its way, punitive damages or no.

Punitive damages could spur TVA to take more precautions.
Sure they can raise rates, but they are going to do that anyways.
I'd rather have a clean river than rock bottom electricity prices.

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

SnM's picture

an alternative view

Submitted by SnM on Tue, 2009/05/12 - 12:54pm.

EPA to Take Over TVA Bonus Cash Cleanup
TVA will be required to reimburse EPA "out the wazoo" for all oversight costs

From APB reports. WASHINGTON - Calling the TVA bonus vault cash spill "one of the largest and most potentially lucrative financial releases" in American history, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that federal regulators have reached an agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority to make TVA pay the EPA to tell TVA what to do...

SnM's picture

EPA's takeover may provide cover for TVA

Submitted by SnM on Wed, 2009/05/13 - 9:00am.

EPA takeover of fly ash cleanup could fend off TVA lawsuits:
(link...)

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

TN Progressive

TN Politics

Knox TN Today

Local TV News

News Sentinel

    State News

    Wire Reports

    Lost Medicaid Funding

    To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)

    Search and Archives