Issues and Events
 

Williamson County Planning Commission - Thursday, Jan. 10
Stillwater proposal denied
The Tennessean, January 13, 2008
A 491-home golf course community proposed near Triune was voted down unanimously Thursday night by planning commissioners, who said developers needed to go back to the drawing board.  Click here for full article.

Planning Commissioners Take Steps to Protect Streams
The Daily Herald, January 2008
The city took its first steps in establishing a storm water management program last week after the Planning Commission approved the measure by a 3-1 vote.  Tennessee Environmental Council Organizational Advancement Director Kyle Duvall said the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) required the city to adopt such a policy to curtail water pollution and destructive erosion.
Click here for full article.

Stormwater Ordinance Another Sign City's Growing
The Tennessean, January 9, 2008
SPRING HILL — On any given rainy day, Beau Herring is out in his truck driving around and looking for where the rainwater flows.
More specifically, he's looking to see what that rain does at construction sites across the city. Herring, the city's stormwater coordinator, is tasked with making sure local builders comply with state mandates the city has to enforce to protect the area's creeks, which include Grassy Branch, Rutherford, Aenon, McCutcheon and McCormick creeks.
Click here for the full article.

EPA Gets it Wrong by Denying a Waiver
The Tennessean, January 6, 2008
The decision by the Bush administration to deny California's attempt to limit greenhouse gases was wrong — wrong legally, scientifically and morally.
Click here for the full article, written by TEC Board Member Joseph Prochaska.

Do you know where your energy comes from?
Most people have no idea.  To find out, go to www.ilovemountains.org or www.appalachianvoices.org and put in your zip code. Using Google Earth, the program shows you exactly where your energy is coming from, and will even show you aerial photos of the mountain range destroyed so we can all have cheap energy.  Browse the sites for a while and learn more about this issue. It transcends political affiliation and affects us all.  You can also find out easy ways to cut back energy use, and lessen your role in mountain top removal coal mining.

Coal Cons - an editorial by TEC Board Member Paul McCown & James Qualk  Click here to read the article.

Guest column: Support tough mileage laws
The Daily News Journal, December 10, 2007
As Tennesseans put the pencil to their household budgets, a whole lot of us are frustrated enough to break that pencil in half when we add up what we're spending on gasoline.
Click here for the full article, written by TEC Executive Director John McFadden.

Environmental Defense Hails Landmark Vote on Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Bill 
WASHINGTON (December 5, 2007) Environmental Defense today applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s historic approval of bipartisan climate change legislation.
  “This bill hits all the right notes -- it would drive the reductions we need now and fuel American innovation.  Finally, there’s a path to real action on global warming on the floor of the Senate," said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense. “The authors and Chairman Boxer deserve credit for crafting a strong bill that can win support from both sides of the aisle.”  Click here for the full press release.

 

EPA and District of Columbia Agree to Go Green to Protect Rivers from Storm Water Runoff
PHILADELPHIA (December 4, 2007) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a landmark agreement with the District of Columbia to implement major green infrastructure enhancements to protect the Potomac and Anacostia rivers from storm water runoff.
In modifications to a Clean Water Act permit, the District has agreed to undertake innovative measures to stem storm water flow and pollution, using natural systems such as trees, green roofs, and vegetated buffers.  Click here for the full press release.

Italian Radioactive Waste Headed To Tennessee?
 NASHVILLE -- A loophole in a Tennessee law could be opening wider than ever, allowing more radioactive dumping to occur.
The biggest company for processing nuclear waste is asking permission to import the biggest shipment on record from Italy.
Click here for the full story and video from WSMV Nashville.

Objection to a Depleted Environment Sustained
Listen to the Liberadio(!) interview with local U.S. Green Building Council spokesperson Jamie Qualk and Tennessee Environmental Council Executive Director John McFadden.  Click here to listen.

Volunteers Work to Mend Damaged Creek
The Advertiser News, November 7, 2007

Aenon Creek Threatened by Silt and Mud
October 29, 2007

Worldwide, Toyota has worked to cultivate a "green" reputation, but Toyota isn't acting green in Washington, DC, where its lobbyists are trying to weaken, delay, or eliminate a bipartisan Senate measure to achieve greater fuel efficiency in the U.S.  Read more.

Can't be done?  Of course it can!
Seatbelts. Air bags.  You name it.  Whenever Congress has called for an important safety or efficiency improvement, America's auto makers have insisted it couldn't be done.  And now they're saying it again about the bipartisan fuel efficiency measure recently passed by the Senate.  Read more.

Comments Needed to Keep Generation Partners at 15 Cents
TVA's Generation Partners pilot program is set to expire on December 31st of this year, and TVA intends to reduce what it pays from $0.15 to $0.10 a kWh.  The $0.15 purchase rate is a critical incentive for TVA homeowners and small business owners to install wind and solar generating capacity.  More info here

URGENT ACTION NEEDED on No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 Please encourage your senators and representative to support the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 and help get its provisions included in the House and Senate bills that reauthorize the No Child Left Behind law. More info here

Community Calendar
In October TEC will launch a community calendar for easy access to happenings across Tennessee. To submit an event, click here.

State Hammers Down on Water Polluters (8/22/07)

Turn TVA Green - By Using Their Debt As A Carrot (8/15/07)
2006 OMB Description of TVA public debt

Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership  (TP3) Environmental Notices(8/8/07)

Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) Workshops (8/8/07)

No Future for Nuclear Energy by Ralph Nader (8/2/07)

 Landmark Energy Policy Study Points the Way to U.S. Energy Future without Fossil Fuels or Nuclear Power (8/2/07)

Broad New Support for Tennessee Environmental Legislation
          > By Mary Buckner, TEC representative to the TCV (8/2/07)

TDEC cracks down on water pollution from construction sites
          > By Kyle Duvall (8/2/07)

Support TVA's Generation Partners Program
           > US Green Building Council urges action now (8/2/07)

TEC's comments on TVA's Draft Strategic Plan (by Chairman Don Safer)

Secrecy Shrouds Accident at Nuclear Plant (7/20/07)

EPA's Toxic Release Inventory database (6/26/07)

Water Saving Tips for Dry Summer Months (6/26/07)

Updated Fish Consumption Advisories Issued For Tennessee (6/20/07)

A Conference on Energy and Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, April 10-12, 2008. (6/20/07)

EPA Risk Study May Thwart Nuclear Rebirth Despite GHG Benefits (6/20/07)

US Tennessee Valley Authority Strategic Plan Fails to Address President’s Call for Energy Independence, public comments needed! (4/19/07)

What is the “Global Nuclear Energy Partnership”?  Why You Should Care! (3/5/07)

TEC Conducts Water Quality Training with Vanderbilt students on Mill Creek (3/5/07)

Update Public Hearing for DuPont landfill (2/8/07)

Severe permit violations discovered along Grassy Branch Creek, Spring Hill (12/4/06)

Oak Ridge May be Site for New Nuclear Facility (12/04/06)

TEC works to protect high quality wetland

Editorial supporting Heritage Act (02/01/06)

Tennessee Conservation Bond Initiative (January 2006)

Toxic Releases in TN Still a Major Concern 


 

The mission of the Tennessee Environmental Council is
to educate and advocate for the protection of the environment
and public health in Tennessee.

Since 1970, TEC has worked to empower the collective force of the environmental community and provide leadership in program areas of  clean water, clean air, pollution prevention, healthy forests and smart growth.