The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge reservation is making strides toward creating a healthier ecosystem in one of its ponds, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The pond is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, a toxic and indirect chemical byproduct of the nuclear weapons once produced on the site. In 2009, all of the fish living in the pond were killed so that a new species could be introduced that would not disrupt the sediments on the pond floor. This allowed the PCBs to settle and become buried.
Vegetation is returning to the pond and the levels of PCB contamination in the fish are falling.
“While it’s too early to say that [this] pond is a success at this time,” Eric Ward, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, told the Knoxville News Sentinel, “there are marked improvements.“
— Elizabeth E. Payne
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
English Language Learning in Appalachia
Learning English is always difficult. But current aggressive approaches to immigration policy are creating more barriers for learners and the programs that serve them than ever before in Appalachia and beyond.
Pike County Rejects Mega Landfill
Many residents of Pike County, Kentucky, are breathing a sigh of relief since county commissioners finalized their decision to rescind a contract with an out-of-state waste management company.
Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
Less Support for Communities with Mine Problems
The Trump administration issued a regulation to weaken the Ten Day Notice process that helps community members call in federal enforcement when state regulators don’t do a good job policing environmental problems at coal mines
Chaos at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cuts to Public Input
The past year has brought turmoil and uncertainty to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, and its more than 10 million customers across the Tennessee Valley.
Landmark Coal Ash Protections Under Attack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eviscerate important, hard-won regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste left after burning coal for energy.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment