On December 22, 2008, an ash waste containment structure at the Kingston Fossil Plant owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority failed, releasing more than one billion gallons of toxic sludge and water.

Hundreds of workers, mostly contractors, were called to the emergency scene. These First Responders did not hesitate to go. At the time they believed the TVA held the highest standard of guidelines and principles and that their commitment to worker safety and health was rock solid.

The Kingston coal ash workers were required to labor and toil in the toxic coal ash UNPROTECTED for the entire duration of the cleanup process. Workers were never allowed to have dust masks or other PPE such as Tyvek suits; only hard hats and glasses were provided. They were compelled to comply in order to remain employed.

(1) Kingston coal ash spill worker: 'They told us we would be fired if we wore a mask' — and he was - Knoxville News-Sentinel, October 19, 2018

Sadly, there are workers who have died. A large number are sick and have little or no access to health care. There are some who lack resources to cover co-pays and deductibles, so their health issues remain untended. These are concerns they must accept and live with.

The Kingston workers should have exams, medication, and treatment when needed to ensure a reasonable quality of life without additional stress to their already existing medical conditions.

According to a Knoxville News-Sentinel story dated March 24, 2020, TVA donated 50,000 respiratory masks to help emergency first responders during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The TVA Kingston Plant donated 250 masks to Children's Hospital, which is commendable, but also ironic, considering coal ash workers were forbidden to use masks, even when they had a doctor's prescription to do so. According to testimony given in US Federal Court, some masks on the cleanup site were actually thrown into a trash bin!

(2) TVA donates 50,000 respiratory masks to help emergency workers in coronavirus pandemic - Knoxville News-Sentinel, March 24, 2020

(3) Foreman at Kingston coal ash clean-up site says he was ordered to trash protective gear - Knoxville News-Sentinel, October 22, 2018

At a public meeting held in October, 2009, Anda Ray, representing TVA, insisted workers would be kept safe and promised TVA would pay bills for ANYONE sickened.

(4) Transcript reveals TVA rep promised to pay medical tab, keep disaster workers safe - Knoxville News-Sentinel, December 10, 2018

These good, hard-working people were exposed to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium, radium, uranium and other related radioactive isotopes, crystalline silica (quartz) 2.5 particulate matter, beryllium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium 40, silver sulfate, vanadium, and zinc--all at unsafe levels--on a daily basis.

(5) Regulators deleted and altered radiological test results on coal ash from Kingston spill - Knoxville News-Sentinel, May 15, 2020

(6) Duke University testing shows Kingston coal ash uranium at triple report levels - Knoxville News-Sentinel, May 17, 2020

Please sign our petition asking the Tennessee Valley Authority to honor their promise and provide health care for the Kingston coal ash cleanup workers.

NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD EVER BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN TOXIC COAL ASH UNPROTECTED!

Articles:

(1) Satterfield, J. (2018, October 19). Kingston coal ash spill worker: “They told us we would be fired if we wore a mask” — and he was. Knoxville News Sentinel. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/19/kingston-coal-ash-spill-worker-fired-seeking-mask/1644171002/

(2) Satterfield, J. (2020, March 24). TVA donates 50,000 respiratory masks to help emergency workers in coronavirus pandemic. Knoxville News Sentinel. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2020/03/24/tva-respiratory-mask-tennessee-valley-authority-donation-coronavirus/2912883001/

(3) Satterfield, J. (2018, October 22). Foreman at Kingston coal ash clean-up site says he was ordered to trash protective gear. Knoxville News Sentinel. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/22/tva-coal-ash-trial-jacobs-engineering-dust-masks/1690905002/

(4) Satterfield, J. (2018, December 10). Transcript reveals TVA rep promised to pay medical tab, keep disaster workers safe. Knoxville News Sentinel. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2018/12/10/kingston-coal-ash-spill-workers-medical-expenses-tva/2198306002/

(5) Satterfield, J. (2020, May 15). Regulators deleted and altered radiological test results on coal ash from Kingston spill. Knoxville News Sentinel. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/tvacoalash/2020/05/15/tennessee-regulators-deleted-and-altered-radiological-tests-kingston-coal-ash-spill/4928047002/

(6) Satterfield, J. (2020, May 17). Duke University testing shows Kingston coal ash uranium at triple report levels. Knoxville News Sentinel. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/tvacoalash/2020/05/17/duke-testing-shows-kingston-coal-ash-uranium-triple-report-levels/5035210002/