On Wed, April 14, 2010 TCWN released a report on TDEC’s enforcement program in the Division of Water Pollution Control.  We made the following findings:

In 2008, 204 sites across the state had enforcement actions.  Of those sites 2% were on farmland, but not for farming activities, 2% were against mining and 73% were against developers.

The average fine that was required to be paid was $2,000 or less. The average total assessed fine was between $2,000 - $5,000 (the amount is bartered down in settlement negotiations).

The majority of enforcement actions (65%) were Expedited Enforcement Actions which are for small permit violations, like not having your pollution prevention plan on site, not water quality violations and the fines can be reduced by half if there is no appeal.

To read more, click here.

TCWN announces the winners of the Wilma Dykeman Prize for Essay Writing. The two winners are Leigh Stanfield of Soddy Daisy, TN for the prize in the 17 and under category and Arthur Stewart of Lenior City, TN for the prize in the 18 and over category.

“I am grateful to be a part of honoring Ms. Dykeman’s memory and works, and this year’s contest entries were excellent.”  Said, Janet King, Board member of TCWN. “The winners’ essays not only reflect Ms. Dykeman’s love of our natural resources, specifically water, but the writers also deserve recognition for their research and creativity.   I applaud TCWN’s commitment to sponsorship of this event.”

To find out more click here.

I just received an update from LEAF about the up or down vote on the Scenic Vistas Act that would protect Tennessee’s beautiful mountains from destruction while NOT discouraging other forms of mining. It’s a well written bill and is not hostile to mining as some are painting it to be.

Today Rep. McDonald asked for a vote, Rep McCord moved to adjourn.   A motion to adjourn overrides any pending motion. Rep McCord killed the vote on that bill.  The Committee then voted, 6 to 4, to adjourn. By invoking an obscure rule, the Sub-Committee closed its hearings for the year without voting either for or against the bill.

Many thanks to Rep. McDonald for faithfully sponsoring and supporting the bill.  Rep. McCord gets a thump on the head AGAIN.

RvH

Come on, EPA.  Everyone associated with coal ash knows how hazardous it is. Ok, maybe the coal industry won’t admit it, but who’s surprised there?  We’ve been waiting patiently for years to get coal ash catagorized as hazardous and it looked like it would happen within the year. But no!  Again EPA has put this decision on hold.

We now demand that EPA classify coal fly ash as hazardous.  How many more Kingstons do we need!

RvH

Dear Anon,

We got your letter regarding the discharge you have observed at the Memphis Zoo.  Dana did a file review in Nashville and found out that they do not have a National Discharge Elimination System permit. You were right!  In accordance with the Industrial Waste Survey, all of the zoo’s solid waste is taken off-site for disposal. They do have a permit for construction stormwater and we were curious to see that one of the  activities they described was “drainage structures”.  Drainage to where?

We are planning to look into this further. The next time we’re in Memphis we will ask to look at the construction permit to figure out what drainage structures they have and where they go.  If you have photos, you need to send them to us.  Digital photos are fine.

Thanks so much for thinking of us. If you want to contact me personally feel free to do so at 865.522.7007 x100.  We will keep all your information confidential.  Also, I’d happily join you for a visit to the zoo next time I’m in Memphis!

RvH