VALLEY SO LOW

An environmental catastrophe and its human consequences.

Environmental disasters are, regrettably, far from uncommon, but the calamity around the town of Kingston in Tennessee in 2008 was particularly awful for its scale and reverberations. The incident was caused when an embankment holding back a huge amount of coal sludge broke, resulting in a wave of muck that eventually covered and contaminated 300 acres and resulted in more than 50 deaths. Sullivan, an experienced journalist, focuses on the lengthy legal case brought by lawyers representing the community against the gigantic Tennessee Valley Authority and one of its contractors, Jacobs Engineering. The issue was initially considered to be one of property damage, but it did not take long for serious health problems to appear, especially among the cleanup workers who inhaled coal ash. Sullivan delves deep into the background of the event, examining the technical issues as well as the legal aspects of the civil action suit, which was eventually successful. He makes no real attempt to be impartial; he is clearly on the side of the plaintiffs. He states at the outset that “Jacobs Engineering and TVA dispute much of my reporting” but elaborates on this primarily in a Notes section at the end. He amasses a huge amount of information, and while this helps him build a strong case, it also bogs down the narrative in places. Another problem is that the book's three long parts each cover a lengthy period, making it at times a difficult read. Nevertheless, the overall impact of the story remains strong, thanks to Sullivan’s careful research and empathy for the disaster’s victims.

Of particular interest to readers interested in environmental issues and public liability law.