Kingston Coal Plant Awaits New Wastewater Permit

In December, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation held two public hearings concerning a draft wastewater permit for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant in Kingston, Tenn. The draft permit contains updated federal guidelines on pollutants from coal-fired plants such as mercury, but does not require the plant to meet those restrictions until Dec. 1, 2023.

In a public comment to TDEC, members of environmental organization Sierra Club stated that “just a year ago, TVA said it could and would comply with the [regulations] well-ahead of the schedule TDEC is now proposing. As a result, TDEC is proposing to let Kingston continue dumping toxic mercury and arsenic into the Clinch River for years longer than even TVA initially suggested.”

A final permit is expected to be issued by Feb. 1.
— Kevin Ridder