TCWN in conjunction with Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM), the TN Chapter of the Sierra Club, and TN Environmental Council (TEC) created and submitted a questionnaire on a range of environmental issues to gubernatorial candidates Mike McWherter and Bill Haslam.  Their responses are in and can be checked out here.

In April, President Obama announced the creation of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative – now it’s our chance to weigh in.

The President’s Initiative is a critical opportunity to enhance the stewardship of our nation’s rivers and increase ways for the public to enjoy them.  The Obama administration is reaching out to the public to listen to our priorities. In their own words, the administration aims “to develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors.”

We’re working with American Rivers to get Obama to take bold action as well. Specifically, we’re asking the Administration to: (1) launch a new Blueways Initiative to improve recreation and protect river corridors; (2) designate more places as wild and scenic rivers and as wilderness; and (3) fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a national matching fund for parks and conservation.

The listening session is scheduled for Nashville on August 27, 10:00 a.m. at the Main Branch of the Nashville Public Library.

To learn more about this session, click here.

Learn more about Blueways which include water trails.
http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/blue-trails/

Learn more about the President’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Americas-Great-Outdoors-Video.cfm

Last week EPA announced its intent “to propose a limited set of targeted changes to the water quality standards regulation.”  According to the Agency this is an effort to improve water quality.  To learn more, go to EPA’s website.

There will also be listening sessions for the public August 24 and 26.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing an interim guidance document to help agency staff incorporate environmental justice into the agency’s rulemaking process.  The rulemaking guidance is an important and positive step toward meeting EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priority to work for environmental justice and protect the health and safety of communities who have been disproportionally impacted by pollution.

“Historically, the low-income and minority communities that carry the greatest environmental burdens haven’t had a voice in our policy development or rulemaking.  We want to expand the conversation to the places where EPA’s work can make a real difference for health and the economy,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.  “This plan is part of my ongoing commitment to give all communities a seat at the decision-making table.  Making environmental justice a consideration in our rulemaking changes both the perception and practice of how we work with overburdened communities, and opens this conversation up to new voices.”

The document, Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of an Action, seeks to advance environmental justice for low-income, minority and indigenous communities and tribal governments who have been historically underrepresented in the regulatory decision-making process. The guidance also outlines the multiple steps that every EPA program office can take to incorporate the needs of overburdened neighborhoods into the agency’s decision-making, scientific analysis, and rule development. EPA staff is encouraged to become familiar with environmental justice concepts and the many ways they should inform agency decision-making.

EPA is seeking public feedback on how to best implement and improve the guide for agency staff to further advance efforts toward environmental justice.

To view the interim guidance and submit feedback: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/policy/ej-rulemaking.html

More information on environmental justice: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/

South Fayette County near Rossville is the proposed site for a major rail intermodal facility.  The state put on public notice a stream alteration proposal and a draft construction stormwater permit for Norfolk Southern.  The stream alterations include permanent impacts to approximately 4800 feet of unnamed tributaries to Wolf River as well as pond and wetland fills.  Due to the significance of these impacts, the state is hosting a public hearing in Collierville August 3.  Comments on these two permits are due no later than August 16.