TVA Spill Victims Get Bids For Their Houses

Nearly two months after the fact, the Tennessee Valley Authority is still only beginning to sort out the damage caused by a massive spill of toxic coal ash that destroyed homes, killed wildlife and may still be poisoning the land and people of Roane County, Tenn.

A recent valuation of the damage put it at $825 million. And now TVA is trying to buy the damaged homes. While some residents have been satisfied with the deals offered, such as those whose homes had already been on the market, others simply haven't come to grips with the idea of leaving because of a coal spill:

Carol Langley said TVA has been very responsive in some aspects of spill, but lacking in others.

"They were great when it came to finding us a short-term rental home and I think they're doing everything they can to clean up the river," said Carol. "But the offer they made to buy our home does not approach the cost of a comparable property."

"I don't need the TVA appraiser to tell me my house is 40 years old and would be valued higher if it had new cabinets." Carol continued, "We never planned to leave, this house is completely paid for, and I'll be retired with a house payment based on their offer."

RELATED:

::Exposure To TVA Spill Could Have "Severe Health Implications"
::Rob Perks: TVA Coal Ash Spill Slideshow
::TVA PR Memo Shows Company "Whittled Away" Descriptions Of Coal Spill

Comments

[dv416]

825 mil? not even ONE billion?

please, thats chump change.

[joanVA]

This is very typical. In Appalachia, the coal companies wait until the houses are so devalued or condemned by blasting or coaldust. Tthe coalfield residents end up in mobile homes, nothing as nice as their former historic houses. Whole towns have disappeared off the map in this way while the companies demolish the mountains and the communities. When will America wake up?

[larry278]

Another God Damned Love Canal thanks to TVA. FDR & the others who made the TVA possible & built it feel the pain of those who lost their homes. There may be a special place in hell for the TVA employees who let this happen. On the other hand, I'm told that a form of forgiveness beyond earthly understanding is available.

[emily00011]

Blame the coal industry and the EPA that caved to their lobbying. This could have been prevented if stricter regulations were in place to classify the waste as hazardous and proper containments built.

But hey, I've seen it time and again, economy > environment. Maybe someone somewhere is having a rethink right now.

[degenerate1991]

Its not about stricter regulations; the TVA, being a government entity, is EXEMPT from regulations that private industry must follow. The TVA is also the biggest violator of thr clean air act, again because the government exempted them from it.

[Lionsden]

Unreal. They need to pay these people what it will cost them to get in a similar house in a similar location. PERIOD!

[ZellaBee]

Absolutely. Reminds me of Love Canal.

[BLinCincinnati]

They should be required to pay them enough to get a better house in a better location, and then some on top of it.

Otherwise any time a company wants to take over the land of someone that doesn't want to move, they'll just "accidentally" have a spill forcing them out. If they have to only pay fair market value either way, they'll do whatever is necessary.

[kathy001]

I agree. And they need compensation for the emotional distress as well as the cost of moving. Just buying the houses is not nearly enough. In fact, it is absolute BS!