Tennessee Coal Industry Should Read the Bill

Why does the coal industry need to make things up? Because they are on the wrong side of the facts, they are on the wrong side of public opinion, and they are on the wrong side of history. Fortunately, they don’t have a defensible case to continue doing mountaintop removal here in Tennessee. Unfortunately, too many legislators are easily swayed by their misinformation.

The text of the legislation clearly states:

(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) under no circumstances shall the commissioner issue or renew a permit, certification, or variance that would allow surface coal mining operations to alter or disturb any ridgeline that is above two thousand feet (2,000′) elevation above sea level, such elevation being determined using the most current edition of the United States forest service’s publication, Ecological Subregions of the United States. This subdivision (2) does not prohibit any otherwise allowable surface coal mining above two thousand feet (2,000′) elevation above sea level that does not alter or disturb a ridgeline.

The rest of the bill is mostly exemptions and things which the language will not effect. Who are the legislators going to side with? A hired coal lobbyist, who is making up things about the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act, or the majority of the Appalachian and American people who are sick of seeing are mountains torn down!

We’ll know tomorrow morning (2/29) at 11:30eastern/10:30Central. If you can, take 5 minutes and call the Committee members this morning. Tell them you support the Scenic Vistas Protection Act and want them to vote YES.

Senate Energy and Environment Committee
Senator Steve Southerland, Chair – Phone (615) 741-3851
Senator Jack Johnson, Vice-Chair – Phone (615) 741-2495
Senator Jim Summerville, Secretary – Phone (615) 741-4499
Senator Mike Bell – Phone (615) 741-1946
Senator Mike Faulk – Phone (615) 741-2061
Senator Kerry Roberts – Phone (615) 741-1999

About JW Randolph

Raised on the banks of the Tennessee River, JW's work to create progress in his home state and throughout Appalachia has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show, The Daily Kos and Grist. He served first as Appalachian Voices’ Legislative Associate and then Tennessee director until leaving to pursue a career in medicine in 2012.