Loving Nature, RU Supporting TN Scenic Vistas Protection Act?

[Carol Landis]

     I believe a majority of Tennesseeans enjoy nature, for a whole host of reasons. Whether for hunting (animals or morels or wildflowers), fishing, hiking, cycling, photography, birding, off-road fun, camping, and many other pursuits, I have to believe that we share our appreciation of our mountains. For many, the natural landscapes may even be a good part of the reason for living or settling here.

     Many people have studied and appreciate our mountains for their bounty, their beauty, and their diversity. The Ecological Society of America has multiple researchers with many publications illustrating the important information that has been gained from formal study of our unique ecosystem and landscape.

     Others, who have lived here for generations, literally created the cultural heritage and the political landscape that shaped this great state.

     I appeal to all of us to please set aside ideas of minimal and very short-term economic benefit (mostly to out-of-state corporations and companies) and come together to support an historic event:  the passage of the TN Scenic Vistas Protection Act (SB 577 & HB 291).

     Please disregard partisan rhetoric as well. This Republican-led legislature can bequeath a legacy to TN and to the nation. This is in keeping with Republicans for Environmental Protection, whose tagline is "Conservation is Conservative."

     This forward-thinking piece of legislation "as introduced, prohibits issuance of a water quality control permit that would alter any ridgeline that is more than 2,000 feet above sea level." (from handout produced by GINI member, Nancy Barrigar). 

     It does NOT:

• significantly limit coal mining in this state (90% of TN coal is below that elevation)
• reduce employment (mountaintop removal mining reduces coal mining jobs);
• disregard the lives of people who have lived in nearby valleys for generations;
• permanently destroy a landform that is thousands of years old;
• allow unstable "approximate contours" to replace natural rock layers that protect the streams from chemical weathering of rocks that are buried;
• remove ecosystems that are renowned the world over for their biological diversity; nor
• limit the future development of the region.

      There are probably more things that could be listed here. But I firmly believe that it is shortsighted to use destructive technologies to remove small amounts of TN coal, when that coal will likely be worth more money later. If it's needed in the future, I'm convinced there will be ways to get the coal with much less invasive technology and we will be glad that we waited.