TWRA Issues Fish Advisory Following TVA Spill

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) says that until further notice, fishing and boating should be avoided in the lower section of the Emory River following the massive spill of fly ash from TVA's Kingston Steam Plant.

A TWRA release says the Agency
has been involved in response activities following the spill, including assessment of the initial impact to wildlife resources, public safety and boating, and initiating sampling to track long-term effect on wildlife and habitat since the massive release of fly ash on Dec. 22, 2008.

The Kingston Steam Plant is located on a peninsula where the Emory River joins the Clinch River on Watts Bar Reservoir. This area is popular for fishing, boating and wildlife viewing.

TWRA advises until further notice that fishing and boating should be avoided in the lower section of the Emory River, and that existing advisories for Watts Bar should be followed.

In the Clinch River arm of Watts Bar, which would include the lower Emory River, there is a fish consumption advisory against eating striped bass and a precautionary advisory for catfish and sauger. A precautionary advisory means that children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume the fish species named. All other persons should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.

Beginning this week TWRA will be collecting bass and catfish and comparing fish tissue results to existing data for those species. TWRA expects to resample on a semiannual basis. Assessment of the impact of this release on wildlife resources and habitat will require repeated sampling and evaluation over the next three to five years.

TWRA will coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other resource agencies to assess the long-term impact of contaminants on other wildlife resources in the area including mammals, bird life, and aquatic species.

For health concerns related to the coal fly ash release, a hotline has been established at the Tennessee Department of Health for the public, 1-800-404-3006 and for updated TDEC Fish Advisories, go to http://www.state.tn.us/environment/kingston/community_guidance.shtml