Steve McCracken To Manage Kingston Ash Recovery Project

Sept. 28, 2009

Steve McCracken, who has managed three extensive environmental recovery and remediation projects for the Department of Energy, will join TVA as general manager of the Kingston Ash Recovery Project.

Effective immediately, McCracken will be responsible for all aspects of TVA’s role in the ash recovery project at the Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tenn. He will lead the integration of all TVA activities on the site, which includes working with the plant manager on plant operations and the scrubber project and being closely involved in the conversion to dry ash storage and closing of existing ash impoundments.

TVA Senior Vice President of the Office of Environment and Research Anda Ray, who has been involved with the recovery effort since the day of the ash spill last December, will return full time to her responsibilities in OE&R. As TVA’s environmental executive, Ray will remain involved in the Kingston project’s environmental regulatory and remediation activities and will continue as the agency’s executive spokesperson for the recovery efforts. She will also continue to serve on the Board of the Roane County Economic Development Foundation.

While Ray was serving in the day-to-day management role, the project was transitioned from emergency response to a long-term recovery operation. This included making the determination to become a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) site.

McCracken most recently served as the DOE assistant manager for environmental man

agement in Oak Ridge, Tenn. In that position, he managed a multi-billion dollar program, which included decontamination and demolition of large industrial facilities; soil and sludge excavation; groundwater and surface water monitoring and treatment; waste treatment and disposal operations; and land restoration.

Previously, he was director of DOE’s site at Fernald Environmental Management Project in Ohio. Prior to that, he was the project manager at one of DOE’s most successful remediation sites — Weldon Spring Conservation area in St. Charles, Mo., which is now the site of a museum, bike trail and public access area.

“TVA is continuing its commitment to restoring the Kingston site and the community by bringing Steve McCracken on board,” said Ray. “He is a nationally recognized leader on clean-up and remediation projects. With his experience, he will be a valuable asset to the activities on site and will direct the day-to-day interaction with community groups, public officials and local residents, quickly addressing concerns and providing relevant and timely information.”

McCracken is a native of Oak Ridge. He received his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from The University of Tennessee in 1972. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children and reside in Oak Ridge.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also creates economic development opportunities and manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

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