He Said, She Said

He, the TVA, says the recent spill of coal ash near Knoxville "has some heavy metals within but it's not toxic or anything".

There are several shes. The EPA had a draft report last year which says that coal ash does have a large amount of carcinogens and retains heavy metal. The National Research Council in a 2006 study found that coal ash "may pose public health and environmental concerns if improperly managed." In 2000 the EPA's attempt to impose stricter control of coal ash was defeated by the power industry because it would cost too much.

The current spill is the largest recorded thus far, 300,000,000 gallons of sludge and water. Only fifteen houses were affected by the flood, the TVA says. But environmentalists are also worried of the effects when the muck dries and the ash starts flying around and into people's lungs.

Here's a question for you: After municipal solid waste what is the next largest waste stream? Answer: Coal ash and other postcombustion material.

Update: Now rhe estimate has been revised upward to 1 billion gallons.