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SW: →Study finds dangerous level of hexavalent chromium at TVA coal waste sites: - add section
According to the report, the electric power industry is the leading source of chromium and chromium compounds released into the environment, representing 24 percent of releases by all industries in 2009.<Ref name="blind spot"/>
===Groundwater contamination at two TVA plants===
In July 2011, tests found coal ash contamination in the groundwater of all but one of the 10 Tennessee Valley Authority plants assessed, including two sites where investigators say the pollution could pose a health hazard. The inspector general’s assessment pointed in particular to the contamination at the [[Gallatin Fossil Plant]] and [[Cumberland Steam Plant]] in Tennessee. Excessive levels of arsenic and other toxic metals from coal ash were detected at Cumberland, 50 miles northwest of Nashville, while beryllium, cadmium and nickel were discovered at Gallatin.
In addition, the inspector general said that TVA officials for more than 10 years have found indications that toxic metals could be leaking from a coal ash pond at the authority’s [[Allen Fossil Plant]]. Arsenic above currently allowable levels was found repeatedly in a monitoring well at the site, which lies above a deep, high-quality aquifer that supplies drinking water to Memphis and nearby areas.
A TVA spokeswoman told the newspaper in an email that, at the time of the testing at Allen, the contamination levels were within limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. However, the inspector general’s report said that arsenic levels exceeded a tighter standard later adopted by the EPA.<ref>[http://www.fairwarning.org/2011/07/coal-ash-contamination-found-in-groundwater-near-9-tva-power-plants/ "Toxic Metals from Coal Ash Found in Groundwater at TVA Power Plants"] Fair Warning, July 26, 2011.</ref>
==Citizen protest==
