WASHINGTON
-February 4, 2010 The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has released action plans developed by 22
electric utility facilities with coal ash impoundments, describing
the measures the facilities are taking to make their impoundments
safer.
The action plans are a response to
EPA's assessment reports on the structural integrity of these
impoundments that the agency made public last September.
Coal ash was brought prominently to national
attention in 2008 when an impoundment holding disposed ash waste
generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority broke open, creating a
massive spill in Kingston, TN, that covered millions of cubic yards
of land and river and is regarded as one of the worst environmental
disasters of its kind in history. Shortly afterwards, EPA began
overseeing the cleanup, as well as investigating the structural
integrity of impoundments where ash waste is stored.
"EPA is committed to making communities across the
country safer places to live," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. "The information we are releasing today shows that
we continue to make progress in our efforts to prevent future coal
ash spills."
Since May 2009,
EPA has been conducting on-site assessments of coal ash
impoundments and ponds at electric utilities. EPA provides
copies of the structural integrity assessment reports to each
facility, and requests the facilities implement the reports'
recommendations and provide their plans for taking
action.
The action plans
address recommendations from assessments of 43 impoundments at 22
facilities. Many of these facilities have already begun
implementing EPA's recommendations.
In addition to the action plans
released today, EPA is also releasing assessment reports on the
structural integrity of an additional 40 coal ash impoundments at
16 facilities across the country. Most of the 40 impoundments
have a rating of "high" or "significant" hazard potential,
indicating the potential for harm in the event of impoundment
failure.
A high hazard potential rating
means if an impoundment fails, it can cause loss of human life.
A significant hazard potential rating means impoundment
failure can cause economic loss, environmental damage, or damage to
infrastructure.
The assessment reports have been
completed by firms, under contract to EPA, who are experts in the
field of dam integrity, and reflect the best professional judgment
of those engineering firms. A draft of these reports has been
reviewed by the facilities and the states for factual
accuracy. The comments on the draft reports are also posted
on EPA's Web site.
EPA is continuing to review the
reports and technical recommendations, and is working with the
facilities to ensure that the recommendations are implemented in a
timely manner.
Should facilities fail to take sufficient measures, EPA promises it
will take additional action, if the circumstances
warrant.