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===TVA to convert all coal waste sites to dry storage===
In response to the massive [[TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill|Kingston Fossil plant spill]], TVA announced in August 2009 that it would be converting all of its [[Coal waste|coal waste]] and gypsum operations to dry storage. The utility has 26 ash and gypsum impoundments at 7 coal plants. Under a TVA proposal, six wet-ash plants in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee would be converted within eight years. Five plants that have wet-gypsum operations will also be converted. Dry ash storage consists of vacuuming out coal waste and containing it in silos, whereas wet ash storage involves flushing coal waste with water and storing it in ash ponds. The agency has hired three consulting firms to help with the project, in response to increased congressional scrutiny and anticipated stricter regulations of coal ash. <ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-f_GmtTyvPi4DPV7Y9IrZkxc8wwD9A0924G0 "TVA plans dry coal ash storage for all sites,"] Associated Press, August 11, 2009.</ref>
===Elevated levels of toxic hexavalent chromium found at two TVA plants===
A report released by EarthJustice and the Sierra Club in early February 2011 stated that there are many health threats associated with a toxic cancer-causing chemical found in coal ash waste called [[hexavalent chromium]]. The report specifically cited 29 sites in 17 states where the contamination was found. The information was gathered from existing EPA data on coal ash and included locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virgina and Wisconsin. In Alabama, the TVA [[Colbert Fossil Plant]] in Tuscambia and the TVA [[Widows Creek Fossil Plant]] in Stevenson were both reported as having high levels of chromium seeping from unlined retention ponds.<ref>[http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshChromeReport.pdf "EPA’s Blind Spot: Hexavalent Chromium in Coal Ash"] Earthjustice & Sierra Club, February 1, 2011.</ref>
According to EPA data, the Colbert Plant and Widows Creek coal ash sites are unlined ponds. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was reported at the sites above 100 ppb (parts per billion) - 5,000 times the proposed California drinking water goals and above the federal drinking water standard.<ref name="blind spot"/>
As a press release about the report read:
::Hexavalent chromium first made headlines after Erin Brockovich sued Pacific Gas & Electric because of poisoned drinking water from hexavalent chromium. Now new information indicates that the chemical has readily leaked from coal ash sites across the U.S. This is likely the tip of the iceberg because most coal ash dump sites are not adequately monitored.<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/green-culture-in-mankato/coal-ash-waste-tied-to-cancer-causing-chemicals-water-supplies "Coal ash waste tied to cancer-causing chemicals in water supplies"] Alicia Bayer, Examiner.com, February 1, 2011.</ref>
==TVA likely to raise rates to cover unexpected expenses==
