Environmental Groups Sue Tennessee Valley Authority over Plant Pollution

Two environmental groups claim toxic pollution from a Gallatin, Tenn., power plant is seeping into the Cumberland River and state regulators are not doing enough to stop it.

The allegations are part of a lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday against the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The groups first threatened to sue in November, claiming that state regulators have known about problems with the plant for years. In response, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation sued TVA in state court in January. That complaint claims coal ash storage ponds are leaking contaminants into local groundwater.

The new lawsuit claims TDEC’s January suit does not address all of the problems.

TVA said in an emailed statement that studies have concluded the leakage is not harming the environment.