Chair of House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hears stories of coal ash spill from Kingston residents

Kingston, TN – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson held a townhall meeting today at the Kingston Community Center in Kingston, TN.  During the meeting, Congresswoman Johnson heard personal stories from residents of Kingston who have been affected by the December 2008 coal ash spill.  Congresswoman Johnson is Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, which has jurisdiction over water conservation, water infrastructure, pollution control and hazardous waste cleanup.

Kingston Mayor Troy Beets and Roane County Executive Mike Farmer opened the meeting with brief comments welcoming the Congresswoman to Kingston.  A representative from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Anda Ray, and two from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Beverly Bannister and Leo Francendese, also gave presentations and took questions from attendees.

“In Washington, we have many opportunities to hear from experts,” Congresswoman Johnson said in her opening statement.  “However, we don’t often have the chance to hear from regular folk about the issues that affect their lives.  So it was important for me to come to Tennessee to meet with you, to hear your stories, to see firsthand the damage caused by the coal ash spill, and to see what still needs to be done.”

“Please rest assured that I will take your experiences back with me to Washington to share with my Congressional colleagues,” Congresswoman Johnson continued.  “And please trust me that I will ensure that strong oversight of federal entities like TVA and EPA is a priority for my subcommittee.  We will make sure that they make right what never should have happened in the first place.”

Congressman Lincoln Davis, who represents the 4th District of Tennessee, which includes Kingston, was unable to attend the townhall due to a prior commitment, but he thanked the Congresswoman for her visit.

“I am thankful for leaders like Chairwoman Johnson for their efforts to keep this issue on the minds of all Americans, and pleased she could be here this week,” Congressman Davis said.  “With the EPA taking lead agency over this spill, I am hopeful we will take great strides to see this issue addressed, and I will continue my work and advocacy to see that the residents surrounding TVA’s facility are made whole.”

On March 31, Congresswoman Johnson held a hearing on the Kingston coal ash spill, “The Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Ash Slide: Potential Water Quality Impacts of Coal Combustion Waste Storage.”  On April 30, she held a more general hearing on how coal combustion waste can affect nearby waterways, “Coal Combustion Waste Storage and Water Quality.”  Finally, on June 3, Congresswoman Johnson held a hearing on President Obama’s budget request and agency priorities for fiscal year 2010, which included testimony from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Congressman Davis testified before the subcommittee during the March 31 hearing, emphasizing the necessity of cleaning up the site of the spill and making the residents whole again.

Congresswoman Johnson plans more hearings on the issue of coal ash in the near future.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.