Press Mention The Tennessean July 7, 2025
SACE Quoted
Notorious Nashville: TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant suffered tons of coal ash spill in 2008
In this mention
A retrospective photo essay documenting the December 2008 Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill near Harriman, Tennessee, one of the largest environmental disasters in TVA history. The article features images of the damage to homes and waterways, cleanup efforts, and includes Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy surveying the damage from the air.
talks about the damage from the coal ash spill at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant during a flight over the area
Stephen A. Smith
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Full transcript
Notorious Nashville: TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant suffered tons of coal ash spill in 2008
Ricky Rogers
July 8, 2025, 4:45 a.m. CT
Articles in the Dec. 23, 2008, issue of The Tennessean reports on millions of yards of ashy sludge broke through a dike at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn., the day before.
Ash and mud rest where Watts Bar Lake once was on Dec. 23, 2008, near TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tenn. A 40-foot retention pond broke early Monday morning on Dec. 22.
Chris Copeland, neighbor to Perry James, looks back toward his home on Dec. 23, 2008, that did not receive damage, although his dock was washed away near Harriman Tenn. A 40-foot retention pond of the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant broke early Monday morning on Dec. 22.
Perry James' porch is littered with debris in Harriman Tenn., on Dec. 23, 2008, when a 40-foot retention pond of the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant broke early Monday morning on Dec. 22.
Heavy equipment works to cleanup ash and sludge after one of the walls of the 40-acre area broke away at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn., Dec. 30, 2008.
The TVA Kingston Fossil Plant, here on Dec. 30, 2008, after the 40-acre ash pond, top, broke away sending tons of ash in sludge over roadways and damaged several homes near Harriman, Tenn.
The TVA Kingston Fossil Plant, here on Dec. 30, 2008, after the 40-acre ash pond, bottom, broke away sending tons of ash in sludge over roadways and damaged several homes near Harriman, Tenn.
This house shows how badly damaged it is on Dec. 30, 2008, after last week coal ash spill from the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn.
Boats place booms out in the Emery River on Dec. 30, 2008, near the discharge area of the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant to catch any debris or cenospheres from the coal ash spill.
Cenospheres float on top of the Tennessee River on Dec. 30, 2008, after last week coal ash spill at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn. TVA says that the small hollow spheres are inert.
TVA official Neil Carriker discusses the sampling of the soil, water and air on Dec. 30, 2008, after the coal ash spill at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn.
Stephen Smith, right, of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, talks about the damage from the coal ash spill at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant during a flight over the area on Dec. 30, 2008.
A cliff remains on Dec. 30, 2008, where ash broke away from the coal ash fill that sent tons of ash and sludge over roads and damaging some homes, including this one which was badly damaged, near the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tenn.
A cliff remains on Dec. 30, 2008, where ash broke away from the coal ash fill that sent tons of ash and sludge over roads and damaging some homes, including this one which was badly damaged, near the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tenn.
Heavy equipment clears Swan Pond Road and the train tracks at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant on Dec. 30, 2008, after the coal ash spill on Dec. 22 at the plant.
Plant manager Ron Hall explains the cleanup process at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn., on Dec. 30, 2008, after the coal ash spill on Dec. 22 at the plant.
A floating track hoe clears ash and sludge at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn., on Dec. 30, 2008, after the coal ash spill on Dec. 22 at the plant.
This house shows how badly damaged it is on Dec. 30, 2008, after last week coal ash spill from the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant sent a wall of ash and sludge roared through it.
A boom holds debris and cenaspheres from traveling down the Emery River on Dec. 30, 2008, after the coal ash spill at the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn.
A large crane dumps rock as it builds a weir in the Emery River on Dec. 30, 2008, after the coal ash spill from the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant near Harriman, Tenn.