ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — TVA is withdrawing all applications for a new dry ash storage facility at the Bull Run Fossil Plant in Anderson County, which will close in 2023.
The utility began the permitting process with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) in 2013, when they purchased 200 acres of property next to the plant for future storage. However, when the board decided to close Bull Run last year, it wasn't clear if TVA would actually need a new landfill for coal ash storage.
Coal ash is produced when burning coal for fuel.
The community has spoken against the proposed storage facility for years, citing environmental concerns.
TVA said it is conducting extensive scientific studies in the area and will use the results of those studies to determine the best way to safely and securely manage the coal ash already stored on that site when it is closed.
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“We are thoroughly studying the environment at Bull Run, and we haven’t made any decisions about the future of coal ash stored there,” said Scott Turnbow, TVA’s vice president for Civil Projects. “We aren’t certain if a new landfill will be necessary, so it makes sense to withdraw our applications until we determine the need.”
The options include safely storing the coal ash on the site or removing it in the future to be stored elsewhere.
TVA has worked for years to safely manage the material, especially after the Dec. 2008 accident at the Kingston Fossil Plant. Then, a dike ruptured at a coal ash pond and spilled more than a billion gallons of coal ash onto the surrounding land and river, creating an environmental disaster.
“We may pursue a new landfill if the need for that landfill can be determined with certainty,” Turnbow said. “We will engage with TDEC and other regulators as necessary for any permits or permit modifications once those decisions about coal ash storage are made.”