Friday, January 09, 2009

Leak found, stopped at TVA disposal pond in Ala.

The Tennessee Valley Authority "is investigating a leak from a gypsum pond at its Widows Creek coal-burning plant in northeastern Alabama, a spokesman said at about 10:45 a.m. Central Time," writes Anne Paine of The Tennessean. TVA says was detected at 6 a.m. today and has been stopped. Many safety concerns about waste disposal at coal-fired power plants have been raised following the disaster at the TVA ash pond in Kingston, Tenn.

Some of the material from the Alabama pond flowed into nearby Widows Creek, but according to TVA officials most remained in the pond. "Gypsum is a byproduct of coal-burning power plants when 'scrubbers' are added that use limestone spray to clean air emissions," adds Paine. This pulls sulfur dioxide from the emissions." (Read more)

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