Water quality impacts from leaking coal ash ponds at two superfund sites

Abstract

Coal is a fossil fuel used worldwide for energy production. Although coal is a plentiful and cost-efficient source of energy, the by-product of coal production, coal ash, poses environmental and human health risks. My analysis involved the identification and comparison of concentrations of thallium, manganese, and arsenic contamination at two Superfund managed sites that experienced a leak of coal ash ponds. I also examined the potential role that public awareness and risk management approaches undertaken at each site to contain the effect of the contamination may have played in mitigating the extent of the risk impacts. The Kingston Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal ash spill received national media coverage and occurred over a large visible area in a relatively short time frame (December 2008 - December 2014). In contrast, the coal ash spill at Town of Pines received limited media attention and occurred slowly over many years (April 2000 - present). As a result, the spill remained unknown to many residents in neighboring counties. To investigate the efficacy of the implemented mitigation measures, I compared both the risk management approach to containing the spills, and the contaminant concentrations (arsenic, manganese, and thallium) at each site over time. Overall, the TVA coal ash spill received a relatively fast, intensive containment, reflected by contaminant values reduced to below EPA threshold levels within a matter of months. The visible extent of the spill was shared extensively by the media . Conversely, my analysis of the Town of Pines spill, which remained unknown to residents and received limited media attention, highlighted that although concentration values have decreased over a 15-year timeframe, some concentrations remain at harmful levels. The results of my study demonstrate the influence of public awareness and subsequent community pressure on the timeliness of remediation measures and reduction of overall environmental and human health risks from coal ash spills.