KINGSTON — It's been almost 10 years since the coal ash spill in Kingston.
Millions of gallons of wet ash burst from a storage pond at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant on Dec. 22, 2008. It spilled into hundreds of homes and the Clinch and Emory Rivers. It's considered one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history. Cleanup cost about $1.2 billion.
Since then, TVA has taken steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.
But at a TVA-hosted open house on Thursday, the spill still remained at the front of people's minds.
"I have a cousin whose husband was asleep in bed at one o'clock in the morning when the ash covered his house and the only way to escape was through a window," said Harriman resident Susie White.
"It's home," said Blake Chasteen.
The EPA introduced new storage regulations in 2015, by which TVA now abides. TVA has also since changed how it stores coal ash--dry instead of wet.
TVA is hosting a series of open houses this summer to explain how it will investigate the environmental impact of storing coal ash on site. Public comment lasts until Sept. 28. TVA anticipates beginning the investigation in early 2019.
"We want as much input from the public and as many opportunities as we can," TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks said.
The EIP can be viewed online. The public comment period began on Aug. 15 and closes Sept. 28, 2018.
Comments on the plan can be submitted:
-In writing to: TN Commissioner's Order Comment, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St. BR 4A, Chattanooga, TN 37402
-Via email at TDECorder@tva.gov
-Online at www.tva.com/KIFEIPcomments
Comments must be received by the end of the comment period, Sept. 28, 2018.