Oak Ridge Today

TVA to lower Melton Hill Reservoir for annual shoreline maintenance

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The Tennessee Valley Authority's Melton Hill Dam is pictured above. (Photo courtesy TVA)

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Melton Hill Dam is pictured above. (Photo courtesy TVA)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority will temporarily lower the water level of Melton Hill Reservoir from Friday, February 17, through Monday, March 6, to allow property owners to repair docks, stabilize the shoreline, and pick up litter.

The reservoir’s water level will be held between 790 and 792 feet above sea level—approximately two to four feet below its current level – during this period. Melton Hill will be returned to its normal winter elevation of 794 feet beginning on March 7, a press release said.

Information on the river system and specific reservoirs is available on TVA’s website at http://www.tva.com/Environment/Lake-Levels and on TVA’s free app for the iPad, iPhone and Android devices. Links to download the apps are available on the Lake Level webpage.

Watts Bar Reservoir has returned to conditions before Kingston coal ash spill, EPA says

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River Reaches Arcadis Updated Data Analysis and Temporal Trend Evaluations in Biota 2009-2015 TVA Kingston

River Reaches—Updated Data Analysis and Temporal Trend Evaluations in Biota: 2009-2015, Tennessee Valley Authority, Kingston, Tennessee (By Arcadis)

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta reported Thursday that monitoring data shows that areas of Watts Bar Reservoir affected by the 2008 ash spill in Kingston have returned to “pre-spill” conditions.

The ash spill occurred at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant. It released 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash on December 22, 2008.

Environmental data collected from 2009-2015 shows the fish community, benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs), sediment quality, and tree swallow colonies have recovered to baseline conditions that existed before the spill, the EPA said.

The cleanup was accomplished in three phases under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund. [Read more…]

TVA proposes new storage for coal ash, coal burning byproducts at Bull Run

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Bull Run Fossil Plant

The Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton is pictured above.

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority is proposing to expand the capacity for managing and storing coal combustion residuals at Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton.

TVA has committed to convert the handling and storage of coal ash and other byproducts of burning coal from a wet system to dry at all its fossil sites, including Bull Run, a press release said. As part of that process, TVA evaluated numerous sites on TVA property around Bull Run for a new dry storage landfill.

In a final Environmental Impact Statement released Thursday, TVA considered the potential environmental impacts of a new landfill, as well as two other alternatives—hauling the coal combustion residuals, or CCR, materials to a permitted landfill off-site, and a “no action” alternative in which TVA would not consider additional options for long-term storage of CCR at the plant. [Read more…]

Presentation will focus on TVA’s plan to close Bull Run ash ponds

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Amanda Garcia

Amanda Garcia

A Tuesday presentation will focus on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to close ash ponds at the Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton, a press release said.

Amanda Garcia of the Southern Environmental Law Center will discuss closing ash ponds at Bull Run, the pollution and risk involved in closing the ash ponds, and the role of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in reviewing TVA’s plans and addressing pollution at Bull Run and other sites, the press release said. There will be opportunities for the public to weigh in, the release said.

The presentation is sponsored by Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. It is free and open to the public. It starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 29, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Craft Room. [Read more…]

TVA issues burn ban on all its public lands in Tennessee Valley

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tennessee-national-guard-firefighting-helicopter

Firefighting crews are using helicopters with 500-gallon water baskets to battle wildfires all around the region. They often use water from nearby lakes, like Douglas in East Tennessee, which is near fires in the Cherokee National Forest. (Photo: Tennessee National Guard via TVA)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority has issued a burn ban on all of the public lands, recreation areas, and facility reservations it manages in seven states in the Tennessee Valley. The burn ban is to help ensure public safety during the continuing dry conditions, TVA said in a press release.

“Until further notice, all open flames are prohibited—including campfires, barbeques, smoking, or any other flame-producing activity—as well as vehicle parking on non-paved or gravel surfaces,” the press release said. [Read more…]

LeMond Composites to make carbon fiber, composite bicycles—invest $125 million, create 242 jobs

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Greg LeMond, three-time Tour de France champion, celebrated the opening of LeMond Composites, a new company he co-founded, during a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2016, at Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge. The company is expected to make composite bicycles and carbon fiber, and invest $125 million and create 242 new jobs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A new company co-founded by Greg LeMond, a three-time Tour de France champion, will make composite bicycles and carbon fiber for other products in Oak Ridge, and the business, called LeMond Composites, will invest $125 million and create 242 new jobs, officials said during a Wednesday afternoon ceremony.

Among the officials celebrating the opening on Wednesday were LeMond, and Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd.

Carbon fiber has advantageous properties, but cost has been a barrier to using it, said Connie Jackson, chief executive officer of LeMond Composites. She said the manufacturing process has been changed to reduce production cost.

“We have overcome a significant part of the cost barrier,” Jackson said.

Carbon fiber is light, stiff, and strong, making it the perfect material for advanced composites in a variety of applications. It can be used to improve efficiency, save energy, and build or repair vehicles and planes, wind turbines and containers, and bridges and tunnels. [Read more…]

Council to consider water rate, sewer rate, trash fee increases

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Oak Ridge City Council 2014

The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above in 2014. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:38 a.m.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider increases in the water and sewer rates that would go into effect in January 2017 and January 2018 during a regular meeting tonight (Monday, September 12). Council will also consider a trash fee increase that members endorsed during budget deliberations in June.

A 6 percent increase has been proposed for both water and sewer rates starting January 1, 2017. The next year, effective January 1, 2018, a 4 percent increase has been proposed for water rates and a 6 percent increase has been proposed for sewer rates.

A home that uses the minimum amount would pay an extra $2.26 per month for water and sewer starting in 2017 and an additional $2.17 per month in 2018.

A home that uses 5,000 gallons per month would pay $5.33 more per month for both water and sewer in 2017 and another $4.87 in 2018.
[Read more…]

Norris fire destroys TVA office building

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Information from WYSH Radio

A fire Saturday night destroyed an administrative office building at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Engineering Laboratory in Norris.

The call came into Norris Public Safety at around 10 p.m. Saturday, and firefighters responded to the building on Pine Road. When Norris fire crews arrived, they reported the building was fully involved and requested assistance from the Andersonville, Claxton, and Medford volunteer fire departments. [Read more…]

Temporary road closures at Melton Hill Recreation Area

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The Tennessee Valley Authority will be making road and parking improvements at Melton Hill Recreation Area, some of which will require changes in traffic patterns during the work, a press release said.

Beginning Saturday, August 6, TVA crews will be conducting road and parking improvements along Melton Hill Dam Road and the recreation access road off Highway 95.

The work will take place daily from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., weather permitting. [Read more…]

After 80 years, Norris Dam added to National Register of Historic Places

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TVA-Norris-Dam-National-Register-of-Historic-Places-1

TVA’s Norris Dam was named to the National Register of Historic Places—just in time for the 80th anniversary of the day the dam began operations. TVA celebrated July 28-30, 2016. Norris is the first TVA-built dam to achieve this honor, which was presented to TVA historian Pat Ezzell, left, by U. S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann at a special dinner held at the dam on Thursday, July 28, 2016. (Photo by Tennessee Valley Authority)

 

By Tennessee Valley Authority

One of East Tennessee’s most iconic energy sources, and a popular tourist and recreation destination, is officially now a protected American historic resource.

The National Park Service has added majestic Norris Dam, which extends 1,860 feet across the Clinch River in East Tennessee, to the National Register of Historic Places.

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann presented TVA Historian Pat Ezzell the plaque that will be prominently displayed at Norris Dam. Fleischmann bestowed the plaque at a July 28 dinner that celebrated the 80th anniversary of initial operation of TVA’s first hydro project.

Norris Dam is the first TVA dam to receive recognition on the National Registry. It and the nearby town of Norris both are named for George Norris, the Nebraska senator who authored the TVA Act. He also is known as the father of the Tennessee Valley Authority. [Read more…]

TVA decides coal combustion residuals more safely stored in place, including at Bull Run

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Bull Run Fossil Plant Ash Impoundment Closure

The Tennessee Valley Authority will move forward with a plan to permanently and safely store coal ash and other coal combustion residuals on TVA property at 10 locations across the service area, including the Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton, officials said Friday.

The decision follows a year-long review of the potential environmental impacts detailed in an environmental impact statement, which addressed comments from 10 public open houses and additional opportunities for public input, a press release said.

See the final environmental impact statements, including for Bull Run Fossil Plant, here.

The EIS looked at two options for the future storage of coal combustion residuals, or CCR: closure-in-place and closure-by-removal. The preferred option for the 10 impoundments is closure-in-place, the press release said. [Read more…]

Norris Dam celebrates 80 years this weekend with food, fun, music

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Norris_Dam_June-15-2015

The Tennessee Valley Authority is celebrating the 80th anniversary of Norris Dam with food, family-friendly fun, music, and self-guided tours of Norris Dam. (Photo by TVA)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority is celebrating the 80th anniversary of Norris Dam with a food, family-friendly fun, music, and self-guided tours of Norris Dam.

“It’ll be a birthday party to remember…and TVA is giving away all of the presents!” a press release said.

The party is scheduled from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 29 and 30, at the dam.

No reservations or tickets are required, and admission is free.

“Come bring your family and friends for an experience to remember,” the press release said.

Full details are at http://www.tva.com/norris80. [Read more…]