1) ACTION ALERT: Save the Clean Water Act!
2) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY: Group 2 Watershed Meetings
3) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Corps Lakes Seek Volunteers for National Public Lands Day
4) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Creek Cleanup - Nashville Area
5) EVENT: "Be Aware: Build Your Environmental IQ"
6) EVENT: World Water Monitoring Day
7) NEWS: EPA Report Opposes Easing of Water Rules
8) NEWS: EPA Encourages Landlords to Bill Apartment Dwellers Only for Actual Water Usage
9) RESOURCE: New Heinz Center Report on Dam Removal Research
10) PUBLIC NOTICE: NPDES Permits
11) PUBLIC NOTICE: Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) Notices
12) PUBLIC NOTICE: US Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Permit Notices
13) Show Your Commitment to Protecting and Restoring Tennessee's Watersheds...Join TCWN Today!

1) ACTION ALERT! Save the Clean Water Act!
In 1972 Congress passed the Clean Water Act to make the nation's waters safe for fishing and swimming, eliminate harmful discharges of pollution, and protect the nation's wetlands. Now, this landmark law and the waters it protects are under attack. Ask your Members of Congress to tell the Bush administration to reject the attempt by polluting industries to reverse 30 years of progress and instead make sure that the Clean Water Act continues to protect all of our nation's waters.
To learn more and to take action, visit http://images.salon.com/src/ads/soe/index.htm

Source: Clean Water Network

2) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY: Group 2 Watershed Meetings
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is using a watershed approach to address water quality. In order to provide an opportunity for the public to become involved, the approach includes a public meeting to review the draft Watershed Water Quality Management Plan for each watershed.

The first five-year watershed management cycle is complete for Group 2 Watersheds. Meeting dates for the fall of 2003 have been set to discuss watershed-specific plans, which can be viewed and downloaded at: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/wpc/watershed/wsmplans/

Forked Deer and North Fork Forked Deer
October 6, 2003
Basement, Humboldt Municipal Center, Central Highway (Hwy 45N) and Osborne Street, Humboldt
5:30 pm

Loosahatchie River
October 7, 2003
Commissioners' Meeting Room, City Hall, 10001 Hwy 70, Lakeland
6:30 pm

Caney Fork River
October 14, 2003
Sparta Civic Center, 519 East Brockman Way, (Near intersection of Hwy 80 and 74), Sparta
6:00 pm

Lower Elk River
October 16, 2003
Pulaski Recreation Center, Highway 64, (Just east of Highway 31), Pulaski
6:30 pm

Fort Loudon Lake
October 27, 2003
Cafeteria, Heritage High School, 3742 East Lamar Alexander Hwy, Maryville
6:30 pm

South Fork Holston River
October 28, 2003
Sullivan County Regional Health Department, 154 Blountville Bypass, (Near intersection of Bristol Hwy and Bluff City Hwy), Blountville
6:30 pm

Pickwick Lake and Wheeler Lake
October 30, 2003
Columbia State Community College, Lawrenceburg Campus, 1620 Springer Road, (Near the intersection with Weakley Creek Road), Lawrenceburg
6:30 pm

Upper Elk River
November 3, 2003
Circuit Courtroom, Franklin County Courthouse, Winchester
6:30 pm

Collins River
November 4, 2003
County Administration Building, 201 Locust Street, (Locust Street connects North Spring Street and North Chancery Street), McMinnville
6:30 pm

Hiwassee River
November 6, 2003
Glen Lowe Airmark Room, Sherman Hall, Tennessee Wesleyan College, 204 East College Street, Athens
6:30 pm

For more information, please contact:
David Duhl, Watershed Coordinator
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Watershed Management Section
401 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37243-1534
(615)532-0438 · e-mail: [email protected]

3) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Corps Lakes Seek Volunteers for National Public Lands Day
You can become part of the largest volunteer effort in America by joining those who help tidy up Nashville District lakes in September. Old Hickory, J. Percy Priest, Cheatham, Center Hill, and Cordell Hill will welcome volunteers Sept. 20 to help with a variety of projects. Dale Hollow Lake and Martins Fork Lake will then do the same on Sept. 27.
Volunteers at Old Hickory Lake will have a unique opportunity to give something back to the area and community by installing new benches, mulching flower beds, installing birdhouses, and removing trash along the trail at the Old Hickory Lake Environmental Study Area. Check-in for this year's event will be at the Study Area at the corner of Walton Ferry Road and Luna Drive and volunteers should arrive by 8 a.m. on Saturday. At 11 a.m. For more information or to pre-register, call Park Ranger Mark Klimaszewski at (615) 822-4846 or 847-2395.
J. Percy Priest Lake volunteers can celebrate Public Lands Day Saturday, Sept. 20, by assisting with cleanup of Primitive Island Campsites. Volunteers will travel to the islands on a scenic boat ride after meeting at Anderson Road Day Use Area at 9 a.m. Trash bags, gloves and refreshments will be provided. If you would like to enjoy this wonderful opportunity to be outdoors and participate, please call Park Ranger Justin Reed (615) 889-1975.
Cheatham Lake volunteers will help perform campsite/trail maintenance and improvement, cleanup of litter, and removal of exotic plants not native to the area. Those wishing to help with the effort should meet at Lock A Campground at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. For more information, call Park Ranger Jerry Strother at (615)792-5697.
Center Hill Lake volunteers will install bird boxes, place interpretive placards, and perform minor maintenance and clearing on a nature trail. Those wishing to help should meet at the Buffalo Valley Nature Trail at 8 a.m. For more information, call Park Ranger Scott Fanning at (931) 858-3125.
Cordell Hull Lake invites volunteers to help conduct a cleanup of the shoreline by meeting at the Defeated Creek Beach or Roaring River at 8 a.m. Lunch will be provided for volunteers. Call Park Ranger Travis Wiley at (615) 735-1034 for more details.
Dale Hollow Lake will conduct a shoreline cleanup on Sept. 27. Volunteers can check in starting at 8 a.m. at any of the following locations: Obey River Day Use, Lillydale Day Use, Pleasant Grove Recreation Area, and Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. Following this event, all cleanup volunteers are invited to participate in a free cookout at Dale Hollow Dam Recreation Area beginning at 1 p.m. Numerous donated door prizes, including a free houseboat rental, savings bonds, cash, T-shirts, etc. will be awarded to volunteers during the cookout. Call Park Ranger Gary Bruce at (931) 243-3136 for more information.
Martins Fork Lake will also conduct a shoreline cleanup on Sept. 27 and volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. at the Hilltop Picnic Shelter. Call Park Ranger Dave Robinson at (606) 573-1468 for more details.
4) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Creek Cleanup - Nashville Area
Metro Water Services is sponsoring a cleanup of Mill Creek (off Murfreesboro Pike in the Nashville area) on Saturday, September 27, between 8:30-10:30 am. Mill Creek is home to the endangered Nashville Crayfish, and is an important tributary to the Cumberland River. Volunteers should arrive between 8-8:15 am, and park at Rivalry's Sports Bar, 1038 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville. For more information please contact Sonia Harvat at 615-862-4494.

Source: Middle TN Environmental Forum

5) EVENT: "Be Aware: Build Your Environmental IQ"
The Sierra Club is sponsoring a conference entitled "Be Aware: Build Your Environmental IQ" on Saturday, October 4, 2003 at LeMoyne-Owen College, 807 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN. This conference is an opportunity for community members to learn more about environmental problems, such as toxic pollution, emergency hazards, restoring our rivers, as well as community organizing to demand more protection from our government agencies. Experts will be on hand to share ideas on where to find information, and how to organize ourselves for greater environmental protection. Plus, there will be workshops to build skills in media relations, becoming better activists, and to encourage the enjoyment of the great outdoors!

This conference is developed and hosted with several goals in mind; as an effort to increase your awareness of pressing and current environmental issues, and at the same time provide a forum for community networking and empowerment. The overarching goal is for community members to effectively speak for themselves to demand a safer environment; participate in public hearings, challenge permits, and question lax decisions that do not provide adequate protection.

Conference is free and open to the public; however, registration is required to reserve a meal for lunch. You may register on the day of the conference but may not be guaranteed a meal. Pre-registration deadline is October 1, 2003. You may register by e-mail to [email protected]

Sponsors: Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program, LeMoyne-Owen College, Sierra Club Chickasaw Group, Memphis TN

Source: Sierra Club

6) EVENT: World Water Monitoring Day
From September 18 to October 18, people around the world will be taking to their local waters to sample water quality and post their data as part of World Water Monitoring Day events. Monitoring activities and events will culminate on World Water Monitoring Day, Oct. 18, 2003-- which is the 31st anniversary of the Clean Water Act. EPA is partnering with America's Clean Water Foundation and others to encourage participants to use a simple test kit to take water quality samples of local streams, lakes bays or wetlands, enter their data into an international database, and take part in activities that educate us all about our role in protecting clean water. For more information on ordering water test kits and to register your monitoring location, visit http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org.
In addition, EPA has developed a number of new outreach materials for Monitoring Month and World Water Monitoring Day, and more information on these materials is available at: http://epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/monitoringmonth.html. Available outreach materials include:
· "Be Part of Something BIG! World Water Monitoring Day, October, 18, 2003," 1-page trifold brochure, EPA 841-F-03-010,
· "Monitor Your Watershed," magnet, EPA 841-E-03-005
These 2 items and others related outreach materials are listed on EPA's website listed above and may be ordered at National Service Center for Environmental Publications at 1-800-490-9198 or by emailing them at: [email protected] - please include document numbers and quantity desired. EPA will be ordering monitoring kits and holding demonstrations for interested staff. For more information, please contact Alice Mayio at [email protected]

Source: EPA

7) NEWS: EPA Report Opposes Easing of Water Rules
More than half the streams and one-third of all the wetlands in the mid-Atlantic region could lose federal Clean Water Act protection under a regulatory change being considered by the Bush administration, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency analysis. The EPA document recommends that the agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reconsider a plan unveiled in January to stop applying Clean Water Act protections to most intrastate, nonnavigable wetlands and headwater streams. Doing so, the EPA report contends, would have "profound and far reaching impacts" and "have serious effects on the progress made during the last 30 years to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation's water."

Earlier this year, the Department of the Interior quashed an analysis by one of its divisions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which questioned the wisdom of rewriting the Clean Water Act rules. Then the department offered written comments supporting the EPA and Corps of Engineers plan. The EPA analysis suggests that removal of regulations that limit pollution flows into smaller wetlands and waterways could increase treatment costs for public drinking water supplies that draw from them. Environmentalists point out that the rule change would remove protections of the most important part of any watershed -- the small wetlands, creeks and streams that mark the headwaters of any river.

Officials at EPA headquarters said that the public record on the proposed rule change is still being compiled and that no date has been set for a final decision.

Source: Clean Water Network

8) NEWS: EPA Encourages Landlords to Bill Apartment Dwellers Only for Actual Water Usage
To help apartment dwellers save water, EPA is proposing to change the regulatory policy on apartment buildings in order to encourage property owners to bill residents only for their actual water usage. EPA is proposing to revise its current policy regarding submetering of residential properties. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the national primary drinking water regulations apply to public water systems (PWS) that have its own water source, treat or sell water.
EPA has previously issued guidance stating that any building or property owner who meets the definition of a PWS and receives water from a regulated public water system, but bills tenants separately for this water, is selling the water and is independently subject to safe drinking water requirements. As a way to promote full cost and conservation pricing to achieve water conservation, the Agency now proposes to change the policy as it applies to a limited aspect of submetering and direct billing of residential tenants.
The 60-day comment period on this proposed policy change began when it was published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2003. For more information on water efficiency, go to: http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency
Source: EPA

9) RESOURCE: New Heinz Center Report on Dam Removal Research
The Heinz Center has released its latest report, Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospects. This new book offers expert insights into the many aspects of a decision on whether or not to remove a dam. It will be invaluable to all those engaged in and affected by decisions on the future of dams--state and local officials, businesses, engineers, researchers, and the public.

To obtain a free copy of Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospects, please contact Judy Goss at (202) 737-6307. The report is also available as a PDF file at www.heinzctr.org

10) PUBLIC NOTICE: NPDES Permits
TDEC has posted the following draft environmental permits to solicit comments and information necessary to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed activities on human health and the environment. Submit comments by mail to TDEC, Division of Water Pollution Control, 6th Floor, L&C Tower, 401 Church St., Nashville, TN 37243, Attn: Public Notice Coordinator; by fax at (615) 532-0503; or by email at [email protected] Comments must be received by OCTOBER 13, 2003.

Individual NPDES Permits

Proposed Reissuances

Applicant name Pickwick Landing State Park WWTF
Permit number TN0074870 Permit Writer HVA EAC Jackson
Major discharger No
Location State Highway 57
County Hardin
City Pickwick Dam
Zip 38365
Description of activity Aerated lagoon
Effluent description treated domestic wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving stream Tennessee River at mile 206.4
Facility latitude 35.061944 Facility longitude -88.265556

Applicant name Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
Permit number TN0067181 Permit Writer VMJ EAC Knoxville
Major discharger No
Location 1808 Jones Street
County Knox
City Knoxville
Zip 37920
Description of activity Storage, blending and distribution of asphalt and asphalt emulsions
Effluent description hydrostatic tank test water and contaminated storm water runoff from Outfall
Receiving stream Tennessee River (Fort Loudon Reservoir) at mile 648.0
Facility latitude 35.951944 Facility longitude -83.903056
Applicant name ConocoPhillips Company - Knoxville Products Terminal
Permit number TN0066842 Permit Writer VMJ EAC Knoxville
Major discharger No
Location 4801 Middlebrook Pike
County Knox
City Knoxville
Zip 37919
Description of activity Facility receives refined petroleum products by pipeline and loads trucks for distribution
Effluent description non-process wastewater and storm water runoff from Outfalls 001 and 002
Receiving stream wet weather conveyance to Third Creek at mile 4.7 for Outfalls 001 and 002
Facility latitude 35.962500 Facility longitude -83.991667
Applicant name Humphreys Co-Buffalo Comm STP
Permit number TN0067865 Permit Writer HVA EAC Nashville
Major discharger No
Location Rochelle Lane, Buffalo, TN
County Humphreys
City Buffalo Community
Zip 37185
Description of activity lagoon
Effluent description treated domestic wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving stream Buffalo River at mile 11.0
Facility latitude 35.886666 Facility longitude -87.826944

Applicant name Clifton Lagoon #1
Permit number TN0061387 Permit Writer HVA EAC Columbia
Major discharger No
Location State Highway 128 East
County Wayne
City Clifton
Zip 38425
Description of activity lagoon
Effluent description treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving stream Tennessee River at mile 157.2
Facility latitude 35.392222 Facility longitude -88.981388
Applicant name Williams Terminals Holdings L.P. - Knoxville Terminal
Permit number TN0060429 Permit Writer VMJ EAC Knoxville
Major discharger No
Location 5101 Middlebrook Pike
County Knox
City Knoxville
Zip 37901
Description of activity Facility receives (by pipeline) and stores (in ASTs) refined petroleum products and loads trucks for distribution
Effluent description hydrostatic test water, truck wash water and contaminated stormwater runoff
from Outfall 001
Receiving stream unnamed tributary to Third Creek at mile 5.3
Facility latitude 35.963056 Facility longitude -84.963056
Applicant name Volunteer Asphalt Company
Permit number TN0055433 Permit Writer VMJ EAC Knoxville
Major discharger No
Location 3111 McClure Lane
County Knox
City Knoxville
Zip 37914
Description of activity Asphalt storage terminal - bulk liquid
Effluent description industrial storm water runoff from Outfall 001
Receiving stream Tennessee River Mile 651.5
Facility latitude 35.954300 Facility longitude -83.860500

Applicant name Big Sandy STP
Permit number TN0022616 Permit Writer HVA EAC Jackson
Major discharger No
Location Big Sandy
County Benton
City Big Sandy
Zip 38221
Description of activity lagoon
Effluent description treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving stream Big Sandy River at mile 15.0
Facility latitude 36.235555 Facility longitude -88.086111
Applicant name Wartrace STP
Permit number TN0020443 Permit Writer HVA EAC Columbia
Major discharger No
Location Wartrace
County Bedford
City Wartrace
Zip 37183
Description of activity lagoon system (exempt from 503)
Effluent description treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving stream Wartrace Creek at mile 2
Facility latitude 35.524444 Facility longitude -86.339444
Applicant name Piney Campground
Permit number TN0020249 Permit Writer HVA EAC Nashville
Major discharger No
Location Golden Pond, KY
County Stewart
City GoldenPond, KY
Zip 42211
Description of activity Septic tank and sand filter
Effluent description treated domestic wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving stream The Kentucky Reservoir at the Tennessee River at mile 62.2
Facility latitude 36.483333 Facility longitude -88.041666

Applicant name Milan Army Ammunition Plant (MLAAP)
Permit number TN0000060 Permit Writer VMJ EAC Jackson
Major discharger No
Location Northern portion of MLAAP Installation (north of Highway 104)
County Gibson
City Milan
Zip 38358
Description of activity loading, assembling, and packing military ammunition
Effluent description storm water runoff associated with industrial activities from Outfalls SW1
through SW5, SW7, and SW8, uncontaminated storm water from Outfall SW6, and treated sanitary wastewater from Outfall E09 under emergency conditions
Receiving stream various tributaries to Rutherford Fork of the Obion River (storm water outfalls)
and an unnamed tributary at mile 0.9 to an unnamed tributary at mile 2.6 to
Rutherford Fork - Obion River at mile 32.5 for emergency Outfall E09
Facility latitude 35.919167 Facility longitude -88.690556
Proposed Terminations
Applicant name Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company
Permit number TN0074861 Permit Writer SEF EAC Cookeville
Major discharger No
Location Highway 53, 5 miles north of Gainesboro
County Jackson
City Gainesboro
Zip 38562
Description of activity silica sand beneficiation facility
Effluent description treated process wastewater through Outfall 001 and storm water runoff from
Outfall SW1
Receiving stream Cumberland River at mile 361.5
Facility latitude 36.423889 Facility longitude -85.648611

Source: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/wpc/wpcppo/mdi/

11) PUBLIC NOTICE: Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) Notices
The following is a list of Public Notices from TDEC of permitting decisions, public hearings, and rulemaking activities. Public comment and participation are encouraged on all of these issues. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date that the notice is posted. Comments on any issue are welcome at any time and may be made by sending e-mail to [email protected]
August 26, 2003
NRS03.036 City of Franklin Water & Wastewater Department: proposed work involves an increase in the instantaneous pumping capacity of the Franklin municipal water supply withdrawal from the Harpeth River, Williamson County
NRS03.232 Tennessee Valley Authority: proposed work involves placement of about 12,420 cubic yards of fill material, Cumberland River, Stewart County
NRS03.282 Whitt Utility District: proposed work involves construction of an intake and withdrawal of water for drinking water supply, Nolichucky River, Hamblen County
NRS03.287 Mark Klass: application for navigation permit - 36' x 24' wooden deck; Reelfoot Lake in Samburg, Obion County
NRS03.305 Corps of Engineers: proposed channel maintenance dredging and dredged material disposal, Tennessee River between Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 631.2 (35º, 51', 40" N; 84º, 00', 41" W) and TRM 632.2 (35º 52' 07"N; 84º, 01', 22" W) in Fort Loudoun Lake (Louisville Quadrangle), Knox and Blount Counties
NRS03.306 Corps of Engineers: proposed channel maintenance dredging and dredged material disposal, Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 642.5 (35o 55' 31" N; 83 o, 57', 28" W) and TRM 643.5 (35º, 55', 53" N; 83º, 57, 10" W) in Fort Loudoun Lake (Knoxville Quadrangle), Knox County.
Source: http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/wpc/wpcppo/arap/
12) PUBLIC NOTICE: US Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Permit Notices
The following is a list of Public Notices issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District for work in waters of the United States. The notices listed are for applications currently under review. All work is proposed unless otherwise noted. If you wish to obtain a copy of a particular notice, you can contact our office at (615) 369-7500 or by mail and we will be happy to forward it to you. Be sure to include the Public Notice Number with your request.
U.S. Army Engineer District, Nashville
Corps of Engineers
Attention: Regulatory Branch
3701 Bell Road
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Notice No.
03-62 - Expires 10/20/2003, SPECIAL PUBLIC NOTICE, Proposed Reissuance Regional Permit for Tennessee Valley Authority Clean Water Initiative Program, Waters of the US in the Tennessee River Basin within the regulatory boundaries of the Nashville District, excluding those waters located within the State of Mississippi
03-73 - Expires 10/6/2003, Word and Boggus Contracting, Inc., Proposed Land Excavation of a 33-Acre Harbor within Lindsey Hollow, Adjacent to Guntersville Lake between Tennessee River Miles 358.0 and 359.0, Guntersville, AL
03-71- Expires 10/3/2003, Brian Homes, Inc., Proposed and After-the Fact Deposit of Fill Material into Wetlands and Proposed Channel Relocation (South Ridge II Subdivision), Knox Creek Mile 5.0 and Adjacent Wetlands, Madison County, AL.
03-42 - Expires 9/28/2003, William J. Farnham, Proposed Commercial Marina, Channel Dredging, and Community Dock Facilities, Mile 3.5 - 4.3 R, Emory River, Watts Bar Lake, Roane County, Tennessee.
03-72 - Expires 9/29/2003, Rogers Group, Proposed fill associated with channel relocation at Borden Creek Mile 7.3 a tributary of the Tennessee River at mile 273.8L, Wheeler Lake, Lawrence County, Alabama.
03-70 - Expires 9/26/2003, United States Gypsum, Proposed Installation of Five (5) Tripod Dolphins for Mooring Twelve (12) Loaded Barges at Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 417.8, Right Bank, Guntersville Lake, Marion County, TN.
03-69 - Expires 9/22/2003, Safe Harbor Ecological Development, Proposed establishment and development of a bank of wetland and stream mitigation credits for commercial sale by restoring, enhancing, creating, and/or preserving wetlands and streams, including stream channels, instream habitat, and adjacent riparian zones.
Source: http://www.orn.usace.army.mil/cof/notices.htm

13) Show Your Commitment to Protecting and Restoring Tennessee's Watersheds...Join TCWN Today!
We are pleased to announce that TCWN has received a challenge grant from the McKnight Foundation for the implementation of our Statewide Enforcement Campaign. The campaign is designed to provide citizens with knowledge about critical enforcement issues and address chronic violators of state and federal water regulations. McKnight has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar funding raised from current members that increase the amount of their last donation, as well as funds raised from new memberships.

We would like to thank our members that made contributions in response to our latest appeal letter announcing the McKnight challenge grant. Your generosity enables us to advocate with great strength on behalf of our watersheds.

Please consider joining TCWN or increasing you donation above previous gifts, by doing so your dollars will go twice as far. Thank you for your commitment to protect, restore, and enhance Tennessee's waters.

You may mail contributions to TCWN at P.O. Box 1521, Knoxville, TN 37901 or through our website - www.tcwn.org