CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Cumberland Countians are divided over a company’s proposal to dispose of spilled coal ash in rural Crab Orchard.

On Tuesday night, both sides of the debate gathered at the Palace Theatre in Crossville to discuss the proposed project.

Smith Mountain Solutions, LLC wants to bid on a TVA contract that would relocate more than one billion gallons of spilled coal as in Roane County to a 300 acre site on Smith Mountain. The site is a former surface coal mine currently used for underground mining of bituminous coal. It’s located at 6728 Smith Mountain Road in Crab Orchard.

Those against the project are afraid of what it could do to the 1900 ft. terrain.

"I still drink, I eat and I live,” said Abigail Hedgecroth, who lives a couple miles from the proposed site. “I use most of my stuff from the well water and my animals use it. I’m just concerned that the ash and stuff will get into it.”

“Day to day with everything, it's pretty good,” said Frederick Zoeller, who lives about a dozen miles away, “But you don't know what it's going be like 10 to 15 years down the road.”

Those in favor of the project say it could bring up to 250 much needed jobs to the county.

“If they decide to vote for that, then it will bring a lot of jobs to the surrounding area,” said Claude Bates, a Cumberland County resident. “A lot of truck companies will prosper from being able to work."

The project will be up for debate at the next Cumberland County commission meeting on June 15th. At the meeting, Smith Mountain Solutions will present the plan to commissioners, who will also consider comments from the public before voting to approve or deny the project.

Stay with Volunteer TV News and VolunteerTV.com for the latest on the proposed project.