"Coal-Ash Ponds Threaten Lives"

"Six months after a dam burst near a power plant in Tennessee, spilling more than 5 million cubic yards of ashy sludge across the countryside, much of the disaster's nastiness still lingers.

Cattle can't graze on pastures covered with the stuff, which is a byproduct of burning coal to generate electricity. Landowners are fighting with the power company over payments related to the accident, which will cost an estimated $1 billion to clean up. No one was injured, but three homes were destroyed in the flood of sludge that erupted from a coal-ash pond and flowed more than a half-mile.

In North Carolina, 19 such ponds are active."

Matt Ehlers and John Murawski report for the Raleigh News & Observer July 5, 2009.

See Also:

"Company Plays Down Report on Coal Ash Site" (River bend Telegraph)