MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen is pressing the Tennessee Valley Authority and state regulators for more information about the discovery of excessive levels of arsenic and lead in groundwater under a coal-fired power plant.
Cohen’s office said in a statement Monday that the Memphis Democrat sent a letter to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation asking the agency why it believes toxins found under the TVA’s Allen Fossil Plant in Memphis are not affecting drinking water.
Department officials said last week that the TVA has measured excessive levels of arsenic and lead in shallow wells that monitor pollution from coal ash ponds at the aging Allen plant.
A layer of clay lies between the groundwater and the aquifer.
Still, the monitoring wells’ proximity to the deeper wells dug into the aquifer has raised concerns among officials and Memphis residents about the safety of the city’s drinking water.
The environment and conservation department, through spokesman Eric Ward, said it is "confident the contaminants found in TVA wells at the Allen Fossil Plant are not impacting drinking water."
However, the department has asked Memphis Light, Gas & Water — the city’s water utility — to test treated drinking water.
"We share the congressman’s concerns about the recent monitoring results at the TVA Allen Fossil Plant and are in the process of preparing answers to his questions," Ward said Monday.
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