Tennessee Valley Authority
Kingston Ash Slide
Root Cause Analysis
TVA contracted with AECOM, one of the nation’s leading geo-technical engineering firms, in January to perform the very detailed root cause analysis to determine the cause of the ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant. The findings and analysis were part of a comprehensive six-month report made public today by AECOM.
The root cause, as reported by AECOM, is a very complex set of conditions that came together to cause the ash spill. This is not a simple report or summary because what happened was not a simple thing. A combination of the high water content of the wet ash, the increasing height of ash, the construction of the sloping dikes over the wet ash, and the existence of an unusual bottom layer of ash and silt were among the long-evolving conditions that caused the ash spill at Kingston Fossil Plant on Dec. 22, 2008.
Root Cause Analysis Summaries
Root Cause Analysis Executive Summary
Report Updates (August 5, 2009)
AECOM Response To Barry Thacker Analysis
The geotechnical engineering firm AECOM, which did the Root Cause Analysis on the Kingston failure, reports that it has reviewed materials provided by engineer Barry Thacker and respectfully does not agree with his analysis. Click here for the AECOM review, which has been made available to TVA and the Tennessee Department Environment & Conservation.
TVA remains confident that AECOM's in-depth study identified the cause of the storage-pond failure at Kingston. TVA also remains open to new information about Kingston and appreciates Mr. Thacker sharing his examination of the Kingston Root Cause Analysis report.
Root Cause Analysis Full Report
The Root Cause Analysis full report is linked below. The report is comprised of four volumes of information that can contain any or all of the following:
- Text Document
- Supporting Figures/Photographs/Tables
- Appendices.
Volume I
Appendix A
Org Chart/Resumes
Figures
Figures_1.1.1_1-site features
Figures_1.2.1
Figures_1.2.2_1-3
Figures_1.2.2_4
Figures_1.2.3
Figures_1.2.4
Figures_1.2.5
Figures_1.2.6
Figures_1.2.7_1-WALLCE-PATH.dwg 8
Figures_1.2.7_2-settles-PATH
Figures_1.2.8 1-3-NEW
Figures_1.3.2
Figures_1.3.3
Figures_1.3.4
Figures_1.3.5
Figures_1.3.6
Figures_1.5.1
Figures_1.5.3
Figures_1.5.4
Figures_1.6.3-062309
Figures_1.7.11_1-SLIMES
Figures_1.7.11_2-5-updated 062209
Figures_1.7.13
Figures_1.7.3
Figures_1.7.4
Figures_1.7.6_1-E-W_GEO_X_SECT
Figures_1.7.6_2
Figures_1.7.9
Figures_1.8
Photo Logs
1.13.1-Relic Photo Log_Behind Text_Final_6-8-2009_@1910
1.13.1_pt1
1.13.1_pt2
1.13.2 pt1_Spillway Test Trenches No.1 & No.2_Photo Log
1.13.2 pt2_Cell 1 Test Trench No. 3 Photo Log
Photo Log
Tables
1.4_T1_Lab Test Summary REPORT-TABLE-061209
Table 1.4.11_T1
Table 1.4.12_T1
Table 1.4.2_T1
Volume II
Figures
fig-2.1.1_1-SITE-FEATURES
Fig 2.1.1_2
Fig 2.1.4_1
Fig 2.1.4_2
Fig 2.1.4_3_p1of2
Fig 2.1.4_3_p2of2
Fig 2.1.4_4_p1of2
Fig 2.1.4_4_p2of2
Appendices
2A-Relic ID Photo Log
01-Relic Photo Log_Part-I_001-040
02-Relic Photo Log_Part-II_ 041-083
03-Relic Photo Log_Part-III_084-127
04-Relic Photo Log_Part-IV_128-171
05-Relic Part V - 094-102_Locations-combined
06-Relic Part VI - GrainSize-Locations094-102-combined
2B-Geology
1940 LAND ACQUISITION MAP
41_123ne_harriman_tn
52_123ne_harriman_tn
68_123ne_harriman_tn
Harriman_3534238
2C-CPTu_Soundings-00-CPT Plots
00-Diagram-Calibration-Photos--
100-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
200-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
300-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
400-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
500-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
600-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
700-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
800-Series-Map_List_Notes-CPT_Data
2D-Dissipation Tests-00-Dissipation Graphs
100 Series
200 Series
300 Series
400 Series
500 Series
600 Series
700 Series
800 Series
2E-Boring Logs & Associated Maps & Photos
2F-GRL Report
2G-Vane Shear Tests
001-all_1-4_combined
002-Series100-800-combined
003-VST_060909_RCR-w-logo
2H-Site Instrumentation
01-2H-Inclinometers_061009
02-2H-Pneumatic Piezometer Results
03-2H-Stantec Inclinometers
04-2H-pgs1-4_062309
2I-Geophysical Surveys
Volume III
Appendices
3A-IndexTests
AtterbergLimits-100_Series-combined
AtterbergLimits-200_Series-updated061109
AtterbergLimits-400_Series-combined-updated061109
AtterbergLimits-500_Series-combined
AtterbergLimits-600_Series-combined
AtterbergLimits-800_Series-combined
AtterbergLimits-Series_300-combined
AttergergLimits-700_Series-combined-updated061109
GrainSize-100_Series-combined
GrainSize-200_Combined_Samples-combined-file
GrainSize-200_Series-combined
GrainSize-300_Series-combined
GrainSize-400_Series-combined
GrainSize-500_Series-combined
GrainSize-600_Series-combined
GrainSize-700_Series-combined
GrainSize-800_Series-combined
GrainSize-Permeability_Samples-combined
3B-Proctor Test Results
Individual Files
5742SC1-5P-S
5742SC10P-S
5742SC18P-S
5742SC1P-M
5742SC25P-M
5742SC26P-M
5742SC26P-S
5742SC27P-M
5742SC34P-S
5742SC40P-S
3C-Hydraulic Conductivity
3D-Direct Shear Test Results
Individual Files
01_200S_RS_8psi-DS
02_200S_RS_16psi-DS
03_200S_RS_32psi-DS
04_200S_RS_64psi-DS
05_200S_RS_128psi-DS
06-5742102BS2AD-DS
07-60095742102BS2D-TRIAL1-DS
08-60095742102BS2D-TRIAL2-DS
09-60095742102BS2BD-DS
10-60095742105BS1D-DS
11-60095742105BS2D-DS
12-60095742107BS5D-DS
13-60095742109BS5D-DS
14-60095742-B203BS5-DS
15-60095742-B204BS5-DS
16-60095742205BS3D-DS
17-60095742-B209BS2-DS
18-60095742-B210BS3-DS
19-60095742605BS9D-DS
3E-Consolidation Test Results
5742102BS2C
5742102BS4C
5742103BS4C
5742103BS5C
5742104BS5C
5742104BS6C
5742105BS1C
5742105BS2C
5742108BS3C
5742109BS4C
5742109BS5C
5742109BS6C
5742200BS5C
5742201BS3C
5742202BS3C
5742203B2S3C
5742203BS5C
5742203BS6C
5742204BS5C
5742204BS6C
5742205BS2C
5742205BS3C
5742206BS3C
5742206BS4C
5742207BS4C
5742207BS5C
5742207BS6C
5742207BS7C
5742209BS2C
5742209BS3C
5742210BS3C
5742211BS4C
5742211BS5C
5742301BS7C
5742301BS8C
5742303BS10C
5742303BS11C
5742303BS12C
5742402BS4C
5742402BS5C
5742402BS6C
5742402BS7C
5742402BS8C
5742402BS9C
5742404BS3C
5742404BS4C
5742404BS5C
5742408BS10C
5742408BS8C
5742408BS9C
5742500BS6C
5742500BS7C
5742503BS3C
5742503BS4C
5742600BS4C
5742602BS5C
5742604BS6C
5742604BS7C
5742604BS8C
5742604BS9C
5742605BS10C
5742605BS11C
5742605BS9C
3F-Triaxial Test Results - Clay Samples
3F-Triaxial Test Results Clay Samples - Reconstituted Ash
Individual Files
CID_301_FINAL
CID_302_FINAL
CID_303_FINAL
CID_304_FINAL
CID_305_FINAL
CID_306_FINAL
CID_307_FINAL
CID_308_FINAL
CID_309_FINAL
CID_310_FINALIndividual Files
CIU_001_FINAL
CIU_002_FINAL
CIU_003_FINAL
CIU_004_FINAL
CIU_005_FINAL
CIU_101_FINAL
CIU_102_FINAL
CIU_108_FINAL
CIU_109_FINAL
CIU_110_FINAL
CIU_111_FINAL
Individual Files
CKU_201_FINAL
CKU_202_FINAL
CKU_203_FINAL
CKU_204_FINAL
CKU_205_FINAL
CKU_206_FINAL
CKU_207_FINAL
3G-Results_Lab_Tests_UMass-DeGroot Report
3H-Tube Photos
3H-Tube Photos-060909-final
Final_rev_604B_OST-5_Tube Sample Photos-JMT
Volume IV
Appendices
4A-Hydrology
4B-Seepage Analysis
Fig 4B_1
Fig 4B_2
Fig 4B_3
Fig 4B_4
Fig 4B_5
Fig 4B_6
Fig 4B_7
Fig 4B_8
Fig 4B_9
4C-Stability Analysis
4D-Dredge Cell Filling Rates
Page Updated August 14, 2009 9:23 AM