$27.8 million settlement approved between TVA and victims of 2008 coal-ash disaster

More than five years after the Tennessee Valley Authority coal-ash disaster in Kingston and Harriman, Tenn., that has led to more than $1 billion in clean-up costs, a U.S. district judge approved a settlement requiring TVA to pay victims $27.8 million, reports The Chattanoogan. "More than a billion gallons of toxic sludge knocked homes from their foundations and contaminated the Emory and Clinch rivers." In 2012 a federal judge ruled that TVA was liable for the spill.

"The final settlement agreement will allow more than 800 residents and property owners affected by the coal ash spill to hold TVA accountable for the impact to their way of life," The Chattanoogan writes. "Cleanup efforts continue even years after the spill, with total costs expected to exceed $1.2 billion. It is estimated there is at least 500,000 cubic yards of coal ash still remaining on the bottoms of the Emory and Clinch rivers. Sludge from the coal ash containment pond contains toxic substances including arsenic, lead, mercury and other heavy metals." (Read more)