Location of high-risk coal ash dams "too dangerous" to reveal to public

[Carrie Traud]

The Department of Homeland Security has said that revealing the location of 44 high-risk coal ash dams (like the one that burst in Harriman, TN, decimating a community and several miles of waterways) is too dangerous. A terrorist could use that information to destroy the dam... but shouldn't the people who live nearby know the threat they're under? A terrorist attack is unlikely, but a small earthquake or heavy rains (which is what caused the Tennessee dam to break) is not.

There's good commentary at The Huffington Post. What do you think - does the public have a right to know, or is it best to keep this information out of the hands of potential terrorists?

[Samantha Shiffman]

The public should most certainly have access to the location of the coal ash dams. Such information may even phenomenonalize the issue at hand and draw greater attention to a neglected issue that is so often covered by large corporations. The "potential terroists" excuse seems like a standard ploy at this point to detract from government accountability.

[Carrie Traud]

The list has finally been released! http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-f...

[Glenn]

Please! Have all industries tell where their most critical potential vulnerable operations are? Please have your local water supply folks tell where their biggest vulnerabitity is? Etc etc Hello folks, let us get real! Yes, the state agencies need to know and to act, but PLEASE let us not give directions to potential acts of violence!

Glenn

[Carrie Traud]

Considering the risk of failure of one of these coal ash dams (which has happened twice in the past seven months) and the risk of a terrorist attack on one of these coal ash dams (which has not ever happened), I'd rather let the people who live near the dams know of their risk so they can take precautions.

Glenn said:

Please! Have all industries tell where their most critical potential vulnerable operations are? Please have your local water supply folks tell where their biggest vulnerabitity is? Etc etc Hello folks, let us get real! Yes, the state agencies need to know and to act, but PLEASE let us not give directions to potential acts of violence!

Glenn