Tenn. ash spill threatens fish population

Associated Press - May 18, 2009 5:24 PM ET

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Environmental experts say a massive coal ash spill is threatening bass, catfish and other species in Tennessee's Emory River and that dredging could make things worse.

The Appalachian Voices environmental group released a report Monday saying elevated levels of arsenic and selenium were found downstream of the Kingston Fossil Plant in samples taken 18 days after the December spill.

Their experts at Appalachian State and Wake Forest universities and the Tennessee Aquarium say Emory River fish must have already been affected by selenium releases before the spill and now are at a "tipping point" where reproduction and growth could be affected.

Tennessee Valley Authority officials say they want to review the data and will adjust cleanup methods if necessary.