Tennessee Legislators Dodge Vote on Mountaintop Removal
Although a bill to protect Tennessee’s mountains received broad citizen and political support — and media attention from around the world — state legislators chose to deny public testimony on the measure and instead let the Scenic Vistas Protection Act die without a vote. Appalachian Voices Tennessee Director J.W. Randolph worked long hours in the halls of the state legislature to introduce and promote the bill, and was scheduled to testify along with Ann League, a good friend of our organization and a resident in Tennessee’s coal-bearing region. Just as they were called up to speak, however, the chairman stopped them short and declared the bill dead. Bill sponsors Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) and Senator Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) vowed to continue to build on this year’s efforts and bring the bill back in 2014 with even more grassroots support. To stay up-to-date on our work in Tennessee, visit appvoices.org/tn.
Building A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
The Red, White and Water team is working to find out what residents living around coal-fired power plants have to say about water pollution in their communities.
Belmont, N.C., was the first stop. There, as with other coal-burning facilities, the G.G. Allen Steam Station contaminates the groundwater, usually from coal ash pond seepage. The plant also discharges toxic heavy metals into nearby Lake Wylie.
This March, our crew canvassed those living in the shadow of the G.G. Allen Plant. One resident, Archie Dixon, has a driveway that is stained with coal ash and keeps a stack of bottled water in his garage, saying he refuses to drink the well water.
Looking ahead, the RWW team will encourage more residents living near coal plants to tell their stories. Follow the latest at appvoices.org/red-white-and-water.
I grew up outside of Birchwood, Tenn., in a log cabin my father built on the shores of the Tennessee River. Walking the hills and hollows of our state is how I learned what home means. Hiking and fishing out in the woods and waters is how I got to know the best of what our country has to offer, the best of what our state has to offer, and its how I got to know my family. These experiences taught me about freedom, self-reliance and responsibility.
Tennessee legislators are scheduled to take up a critical vote tomorrow on the Scenic Vistas Protection Act — a good bill with broad, bipartisan support that would help one of Tennessee’s most important assets – our mountains.
The Scenic Vistas Protection Act is closer to passage than ever before. TODAY (Mar. 27) at 12 p.m. CST, the Tennessee House Environment Subcommittee will vote on whether or not to protect Tennessee’s mountains from the damages of mountaintop removal coal mining.