SUPPORT FOR SCENIC VISTAS BILL IS INSPIRING

[Carol Landis]

Written by Jan Barnett, and forwarded by Nancy B.---published in Erwin Record (not available online otherwise): 

         When I was asked to write and call our Tennessee state legislators, I could have said, “Why bother?” or “I don’t have time.” But I believe in the cause I’m supporting. And I’m inspired by the commitment and courage of others who believe in it.

            The “cause” is protecting Tennessee’s scenic mountain ranges over 2,000 feet high from being blown to pieces by mountaintop removal coal mining. The Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act, which would have done this, was introduced in the state legislature over three years ago. But something happened and the Vistas Bill all but bit the dust in the Tennessee legislature until recently when voters began making a ruckus about letting Big Coal destroy our scenic mountains.

            In fact, Tennessee’s state senators have been so bombarded with citizen support for the Vistas Bill, they actually brought it to a Senate voter earlier this month. But that was after they took out the provision that would have prohibited mountaintop removal mining. Is this not amazing? Their new version of the Vistas Bill would have allowed Big Coal to blast the mountains away as long as they piled the rubble back on top of the rock that is left.

          I’m not the only person wondering how that piled up rubble would restore the natural beauty, animal and plant habitats, and streams that are destroyed when the mountaintops are blasted off. 

          I find it inspiring that many church denominations are questioning Tennessee legislators’ actions regarding the Vistas Bill. In a recent editorial in The Tennessean, the Rev. Gradye Parsons, a former Tennessee farm boy and the Presbyterian Church (USA’s) highest elected official, took the Tennessee General Assembly to task and noted his denominations’ official stance against mountaintop removal mining.

          Reporting by journalists, such as Johnson City Press’ Robert Houk, has exposed some interesting relationships between Tennessee legislators and Big Coal. I find this kind of journalistic integrity quite inspiring. In one of his columns, Houk noted that the coal industry has made campaign contributions of $195,000 to Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey during his time in the Tennessee General Assembly.

           Big Coal perks evidently mean more than the tourism revenue potential of the counties most affected by mountaintop removal coal mining - Anderson, Campbell, and Claiborne. Estimates are that these counties currently take in $165 million in direct tourist spending annually. Surely, they need their scenic vistas more than they need a few temporary mining jobs. Most mountaintop mining is done with massive machines.

           The Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act, with the original provision that would protect our mountains from mountaintop removal mining, is up for vote in the state Senate April 2. On March 27, the House will vote on HB291, which also addresses this issue. We have another chance to let our legislators know how we feel about this. The fact that voters have made their voices heard is inspiring. But will our elected officials back us or Big Coal?