DeepSummary
The episode discusses the disastrous 2008 coal ash spill at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant in Tennessee. It covers the initial spill, where nearly 1 billion gallons of coal ash sludge poured into the surrounding area, and the lack of warning or protective gear provided to the cleanup workers who were exposed to the toxic ash.
As the cleanup progressed over 6 years, many workers began experiencing serious health issues like cancer, lung disease, and neurological problems consistent with heavy metal poisoning from the coal ash. An investigative reporter, Jamie Satterfield, uncovered how the workers were misled about the dangers and ultimately launched a lawsuit against the contractor Jacobs Engineering on behalf of over 200 sick workers.
Despite the severity of the Kingston spill, as well as another major spill in North Carolina in 2014, the EPA was slow to enact regulations around coal ash storage and disposal. The episode highlights the lack of regulation and transparency around this toxic waste product, and the human cost paid by the unwitting cleanup workers who were left unprotected.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The 2008 Tennessee coal ash spill was one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history, releasing over 1 billion gallons of toxic sludge.
- Workers employed in the multi-year cleanup effort were misled about the dangers posed by the coal ash and denied proper protective equipment, leading to widespread illness.
- An investigative journalist uncovered how the contractor prioritized public relations over worker safety by concealing the need for hazmat gear from local residents.
- Despite the severity of coal ash spills like Kingston and North Carolina's in 2014, the EPA was slow to enact regulations governing storage and disposal of this toxic waste product.
- The episode exposes systematic failures in corporate responsibility, worker protection, environmental regulation, and accountability surrounding coal ash management.
- Hundreds of workers have fallen ill or died due to their exposure during the cleanup, facing difficulties getting medical treatment and legal recourse.
- Investigative journalism played a key role in bringing these injustices to light and advocating for the affected workers.
- The human toll underscores the need for stronger safety standards, hazard communication, and environmental protections related to toxic industrial byproducts like coal ash.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The spill was 100 times larger than the Exxon Valdez, and it was all coal ash.“ by Jamie Satterfield
- “There is nothing to warn these workers. There's not signs. There's not pamphlets. There's nothing.“ by Jamie Satterfield
- “The eyes was burning, the headaches, the coughing up of that jelly junk.“ by Troy Beetz
- “And now they're sick and dying, and no one will take responsibility for it.“ by Jamie Satterfield
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Episode Information
Broken Ground
Southern Environmental Law Center
4/18/19
The 2008 Kingston, Tennessee coal ash spill was disastrous at the time, but what came a decade later would reveal the full devastation of the tragedy.