TVA blamed for Smokies pollution

TVA blamed for Smokies pollution
Lawmakers told of health risks, asked to tighten air quality standards

By LARRY BIVINS
Tennessean Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The Tennessee Valley Authority is the biggest contributor to the shroud of pollutants that degrades visibility and increases health hazards at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an air quality expert told lawmakers yesterday.

Although other utility companies are part of the problem, the TVA's 11 coal-fired plants produce the most sulfates and nitrogen oxides that have created the air quality problems at the park in the past 15 years, said Jim Renfro, air quality specialist at the national park.

"The exposures we have are well over the limits that can cause breathing problems," Renfro said in response to a question from Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Hixson.

Speaking at a meeting of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Caucus, a group of Tennessee and North Carolina lawmakers, Renfro said that visibility at the park during summer months averages 15 miles, a fourth of what it should be.

He added that the park recorded 51 days of dangerous ozone levels this year, eclipsing the record of 44 set last year.

"You don't get very many really clear days here," Renfro said.

Renfro was one of several clean-air advocates who urged the caucus to tighten air-quality standards for older fossil-fuel-burning plants to reduce the pollution at the Smoky Mountains Park.

The hearing, convened by Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., came a day after Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit citizens group, released a report naming Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most polluted national park in the country based on visibility, acid rain and ozone pollution levels.

"I am concerned that the jewel is beginning to tarnish," Thompson said.

"Folks coming to hike up Mount LeConte in the summer may find it more difficult because of the high levels of ozone pollution. And once they get to the top, they can see no farther than just a few miles into the distance."

High levels of ground-level ozone can cause severe respiratory problems and plant damage. Studies show that the air pollution in the park area often exceeds that of nearby cities. And 82% of the sulfate pollutants come from power plants.

Stephen Smith, director of the Tennessee Valley Energy Reform Coalition, a member of the Clean Air Task Force, noted that TVA has taken the lead in trying to create solutions to the problem. But he also noted that the agency has no current plans to upgrade its plants that have an average age of 40 years.

"If TVA's 11 coal-fired facilities met modern standards it would lead to a reduction of over 400,000 tons of ozone forming nitrogen oxides and 700,000 tons of sulfur dioxide," Smith said.

To emphasize the impact these plants have on air quality, Smith said the TVA Cumberland Steam Plant near Cumberland City produced as much nitrogen oxides as 7.3 million automobiles.

Niki Nicholas, a senior scientist at TVA, acknowledged that the agency has contributed to air quality problems at the national park. But she added that the agency has been out front in working to find cleaner alternative power generation as well as developing strategies to reduce dangerous emissions.

"TVA knows it is part of the air quality problem and part of the solution," Nicholas said. "Our challenge is to find a way to facilitate sustainable development, while protecting health and the environment, and continuing to provide low-cost electricity."