The Tennessee ValleyAuthority has decided to build a bottom ash dewatering facility at itsKingston Fossil Plant,after an environmental review cleared the project.

The review focused at the potential environmental effects ofthree alternatives, including the construction of the facility, according to anApril 6 statement. A finding of no significant impact was issued on the decisionMarch 23.

TVA plans to construct and operate the dewatering facility, whichwill remove moisture from bottom ash before it is stored in an on-site dry landfill.In April 2015, TVA had proposedthis method to store the ash at the 1,420-MW coal-fired plant with nine units locatedin Roane County, Tenn. A draft environmental assessment on the proposed facilitywas released for public comment April 2, 2015.

The project is part of TVA's plan to discontinue wet storageof coal combustion residuals and move toward dry storage throughout its coal fleet.In 2008, a coal ash spill at Kingston 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ashto pour into and pollute nearby waterways and land.