Two weeks after the area around the Kingston, Tn. steam plant was inundated with fly ash sludge after a holding pond ruptured, news has surfaced a TVA Inspector General had issued a report in March of 2008 finding that the agency managers put business interests before regulatory compliance at a similar plant in Alabama. Just weeks before that report, another report detailing a February, 2008 inspection of the Kingston plant revealed that the holding pond walls had leaked for years and that the TVA knew about it. WOW! I wonder if there are any other industries where the companies are putting their own interests ahead of regulatory compliance … oh, that’s right. It wasn’t too long ago when the soon to be past administration said that the best way to regulate an industry is to let the individual companies police themselves (kind of like leaving a basket of candy on your front porch at Halloween with a sign – "honor system – take one only").
My brother is a carpenter in Crested Butte, Co. He has a bumper sticker on his truck that reads "I love my country, but I fear my government. I used to think that he was a little too paranoid, but he’s proved me wrong. Our government can not stand by and watch if we want this planet to stay the way it is. I hope, and believe, that we are about to turn a new leaf. That said, look around your community. Are there any Kingston steam plants, ready to blow? Get active – make a difference.
Cum Laude graduate of Cumberland School of Law, Pet Mackey is a civil trial litigation expert who represents plaintiffs in business and consumer tort, contracts and construction, employment disputes and insurance. He is board certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Certified Alabama Mediator, and an “AV” rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.
Comments for this article are closed.