tennessee wilderness act of 2010 introduced on senate floor · vice-chair: josie mcquail (931)...
TRANSCRIPT
The bimonthly state newsletter for the Tennessee Chapter Sierra Club Volume 41, Number 4 - July August, 2010
Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
By Bill Hodge – Tennessee WildTennessee Republican Senator Lamar
Alexander introduced on the Senate floor June 9the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010. Thisimportant piece of legislation would protectalmost 20,000 acres of the Cherokee NationalForest with the highest form of protection afford-ed to federal land—wilderness designation.
The lands protected by the bill range up anddown the high mountains of East Tennessee. Thelargest tract would be a new stand-alone wilder-ness of almost 10,000 acres—the Upper BaldRiver Wilderness in Monroe County. This protec-tion, along with the existing Bald River GorgeWilderness, allows for virtually the entire BaldRiver Watershed to be protected.
There are significant additions made to the BigLaurel Branch Wilderness in northeast Tennesseeand the Sampson Mountain Wilderness close tothe Rocky Fork tract. The Big Laurel Branchaddition means further protection for theAppalachian National Scenic Trail. Smaller, butno less important additions are made to the BigFrog, Little Frog and Joyce Kilmer / SlickrockWildernesses.
This bill, co-sponsored by Senator BobCorker, will need to pass through the Senate agri-culture committee before consideration by boththe House and Senate. After passing through thecommittee, the legislation would most likelybecome part of a larger omnibus lands bill beforereaching the president’s desk for signature.Introduction of this bill is only one step in pro-tecting these special places, but it’s an importantstep!
During his speech Senator Alexander spoke ofthe special role a long-time wilderness advocateand Sierra Club member played in getting thebill to this point. While specifically thanking WillSkelton for his efforts, the senator added, “Noone had done more to help more families appre-ciate, enjoy and hike in the Cherokee NationalForest than has Will Skelton.”
The membership of the Club, both at a localand state level, has also played an important partin getting this bill to the Senate floor. The letterswritten by Sierra Club members, along with oth-ers from the conservation community, made animpression not only on Senator Alexander, but onhis fellow sponsor, Senator Corker as well. TheHouse members from Tennessee have also heardthe vocal support for this bill.
It is an important time for the TennesseeWilderness Act of 2010, its sponsors and sup-porters. The two sponsors of this bill are workinghard to make this protection a reality, and theyneed to hear your support and thanks. TheTennessee House delegates also need to hear
Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010 Introduced on Senate Floor
from the conservation community asking them tojoin our Tennessee senators in promoting andpassing this legislation. The Tennessee Wildcoalition has important information on reachingout to our legislators that can be found attnwild.org.
Will Skelton in the Upper Bald River Wilderness Study Area. Photo by Bill Hodge
Sierra Club OfficersTENNESSEE CHAPTER:Chair: Katherine Pendleton (615) 943-6877
[email protected] Chair: Gloria Griffith (423) 727-4797
[email protected]: Bob Hill (865) 966-9435Treasurer: Scott Kramer
Conservation: Gary Bowers (615) [email protected]
Outings: Judith Hammond (901) [email protected]
CCL Delegate: Don Richardson (901) [email protected]
CCL Alternate: Brian Paddock (931) [email protected]
TN LOCAL GROUPS:Cherokee Groupwww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/cherokeeChair: Elizabeth Tallman (423) 619-0379
[email protected] Chair: Jamie Brown (423) 255-3014
[email protected]: Barbara Hurst (423) 866-9503
[email protected]. Chair: Dr. Henry Spratt (423) 425-4383
[email protected] : Barbara Kelly (423) 718-5009
[email protected] Co-Chairs: Jeremy Gazaway (423) 619-6548
[email protected] Kiely (423) [email protected]
Chickasaw Group - Memphiswww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/chickasawChair: Nancy Brannnon (901) 829-4360
[email protected] Chair: Keith Hoover (901) 363-8299
[email protected]: Emily Schwimmer (901) 240-5476
[email protected]: Susan Routon (901) 413-3888
[email protected]: Keven Routon (901) 485-3960
[email protected]: Keith Hoover (901) 363-8299
[email protected]: Matt Farr 901-517-8879
[email protected]: Keith Hoover (901) 363-8299
[email protected] Program: Judith Rutschman (901) 767-5916
Harvey Broome Group - Knoxville/Oak Ridgewww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/broomeChair: Bob Hill (865) 966-9435
[email protected]: David Reister Conservation: Axel Ringe (865)387-1840
[email protected]: Ron Shrieves (865) 922-3518
Middle Tennessee Group - Nashvillewww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/mtgChair: David Bordenkircher
[email protected] Chair: Don Scharf, 615-896-8338
[email protected]: VACANTMembership: Betsy Garber, 615-668-1977
[email protected]: Katherine Pendleton (615) 943-6877
Watauga Group - Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoiand Washington Countieswww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/wataugaChair: Gloria Griffith (423) 727-4797
[email protected] Chair: Sandi Cranford 423-727-5044
[email protected]: Dean Whitworth (423) 727-7214Outings: Webb Griffith (423) 727-4797
Upper Cumberland Group - Cookevillewww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/ucgChair: Mary Mastin (931) 268-2938
[email protected]: Josie McQuail (931) 372-6207
[email protected]: Ralph BowdenSecretary: Peggy EvansConservation: Easton EvansOutings: Vacant
National Sierra Staff in Tennessee:Rita Harris, Community Organizer
Environmental Justice Program (901) [email protected]
Bill McCabe, Central Appalachian EJ Organizeroffice - 423-944-3220 fax - 423-944-3221 (call first)
The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club.
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Submission DEADLINE is the 10th of the month pre-ceding the new month’s issue.1. Email and email attached files are preferred. Send [email protected] either with embedded text messages, orattached files in PC-based formats. Attached files are pre-ferred. Mac users should embed text in body of an emailmessage only.2. Photographs should be scanned in a .jpg or .tif file formatthen either attached to email or mailed via US Postal Service(USPS) on a 3 ½ diskette or CD Rom. Please include astamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like yourdiskette or photo prints returned.3. Hard-copy handwritten or typewritten articles may beaccepted; however, pre-approval from the Editor is required.4. Any materials submitted via USPS mail cannot bereturned unless a stamped, self- addressed envelope is pro-vided.The opinions expressed in the Tennes-Sierranare those of the contributors and do not neces-sarily reflect the official views or policies of theTennessee Chapter, or the Sierra Club.
Please notify the Editor when changes are needed
TTeennnneess--SSiieerrrraann
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Middle TennesseeGroup Conservation
Chair Needed ASAP!Interested? Send an email outlining
your related background & interests to
Dave Bordenkircher,[email protected],
or Gary Bowers,[email protected].
Include a resume, if applicable.
BBllaacckk pprriinntt qquuoottaattiioonn::““TThhee hhuummaann ssppiirriitt nneeeeddss ppllaacceess wwhheerreennaattuurree hhaass nnoott bbeeeenn rreeaarrrraannggeedd bbyy tthhee
hhaanndd ooff mmaann..”” -- UUnnkknnoowwnn AAuutthhoorroonn ggrraayy bbaacckkggrroouunndd..
Page 3 - July/August, 2010The Tennes-Sierran
TVA Resumes Renewable Energy PilotProject
People are interested about what is happen-ing with Tennessee Valley Authority’sGeneration Partners program. The TVA issuedthe following press release about the issue:
June 23, 2010KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Valley
Authority announced Wednesday that it is resum-ing new enrollments in its Generation Partnerspilot project to encourage renewable energy useacross the TVA service territory.
Qualifying solar, wind, biomass or hydroelec-tric projects of up to 200 kilowatts will be eligi-ble for the Generation Partners incentives, whichinclude a $1,000 payment to offset startup costs.In addition, TVA will buy 100 percent of thegreen power that participants produce, paying theretail rate, plus any fuel cost adjustment, plus apremium per kilowatt-hour, depending on thetype of renewable energy produced.
TVA briefly held up new enrollments last weekto adjust to overwhelming customer response.
“TVA launched Generation Partners as a pilotproject, with periodic adjustments expected alongthe way, to encourage customer interest in smallto medium-sized renewable energy projects, suchas rooftop solar panels,” said John Trawick, sen-ior vice president of Commercial Operations andPricing. “The response has exceeded all expecta-tions, prompting us to expand and enhance the
program to include additional projects and helpsupport public interest in renewable energy.”
Trawick said that of the 264 projects approvedor completed through Generation Partners to date,260 are 200 kilowatts or under.
“TVA is honoring all 264 agreements, and weare launching a process to evaluate additionalprojects totaling more than 200 kilowatts each,”Trawick said. “Our goal is to encourage morewidespread use of renewable energy resourcesacross the TVA service territory.”
Additional actions announced Wednesdayinclude:
• Moving 33 additional customer proposals intothe approval process;
• Evaluating various longer-term solutionsaimed at transforming Generation Partners from apilot project to a firmly established TVA program.
Earlier this year, TVA began approving partici-pation in advance to make it easier for customersto finance projects. Since April 1, TVA and localdistributors have received more applications thanexpected, necessitating modifications to accom-modate the larger number of projects.
“It’s a good thing when you realize that yourprogram is increasing in popularity,” Trawick said.“But like any other business that experiences unex-pected demand, we need to take another look at theprogram’s structure to make sure it accommodates
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customer demand and stays within budget.”Trawick explained that TVA is encouraging
increased use of renewable energy as a growingpart of its power generation efforts for the future.
“Renewable generation produces no air emis-sions, which supports TVA’s goal of providing alarger percentage of its electricity from non-car-bon or low-carbon sources,” he said. “The nationis moving toward requiring more low-carbon andnon-carbon electricity generation, and TVAbelieves it prudent to begin finding ways to worktoward this objective.
“Because many renewable electricity technolo-gies are in early stages of development, and cur-rently not cost-competitive for widespread com-mercial use, we hope that programs such asGeneration Partners – which help subsidize earlyadoption of these new power sources – will helpfoster their further progress and make them moreaffordable for the future.”
Watershed Group Fights For Doe CreekBy Dennis Shekinah
Two years ago this reporter published a lamentabout the loss of a public appeal to ban the per-mitting of an asphalt plant yards away from DoeCreek in Butler, Tenn. The essay told about thefutility Watauga Watershed Alliance (WWA)members felt in fighting Radford Quarries’asphalt plant and the initial sense of hopelessnessthe group suffered in being unable to stop asphaltproduction on a native trout fishery.
The hope did not diminish, however, but grewand soon inspired them to look closer at RadfordQuarries’ present crushed stone operation inButler. Enlisting the help of Barry Sulkin, ReneeHoyos and Donna Lisenby, all professional waterquality experts, they visited Doe Creek to findevidence of violations of the Clean Water Act, allfederal offenses.
WWA employed the services of Gary Davis,one of the few attorneys with a degree in environ-mental law practicing in Tennessee, to study thefeasibility of holding Radford accountable forpolluting Doe Creek, something the TennesseeDepartment of Environment and Conservation(TDEC) had proven itself unable, or unwilling, todo.
They aligned themselves with three of the mostpowerful environmental groups in Tennessee:Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter, WataugaRiverKeeper at Appalachian Voices, and theTennessee Clean Water Network (TCWN). Withsupport from these groups and generous dona-tions from many citizens of Johnson County,WWA and TCWN filed their intent to sueRadford for polluting public waters.
The action froze Radford’s state application toproduce asphalt and to expand their quarry’sboundary. They continued business grandfatheredunder their old permit, but their asphalt plant satidle. Months passed and deadlines for depositionsand motions loomed on the horizon. Suddenly, amessage came from Radford’s attorneys: Theywanted to avoid a day in court and negotiate asettlement.
WWA’s board of directors decided on the mainpoints they felt vital and fair for a settlement:
1. Protect Doe Creek from runoff from petro-leum waste produced from the making ofasphalt.
2. Gain protections for Doe Creek in thequarry’s expansion plans.
3. TDEC-permitted discharges allowed fromthe quarry site will be 10-year, 24-hour,extreme rain events.
Requests for leniency and compromise fromRadford’s attorneys rose to a fever pitch in thefinal days, but WWA’s board of directors heldfirm. Finally, their attorney gave them the news:Radford owners had agreed to settle in lieu ofgoing before a judge.
The news was met with cheers and tears ofrelief. As hands were shook, WWA members saidthey felt the same raw surge of community andpurpose as they had nearly two years ago whenfaced with what they assumed was certain defeat.They had, legally and against all odds, protectedDoe Creek.
Formed only five years ago to protect publicwaters from a proposed dairy concentrated animalfeeding operation, WWA finds itself older andwiser, larger yet sharper in focus as they pursueother polluters in the local watershed. WWAmembers carry the torch for clean water to othercommunity groups, churches and locally electedofficials in Johnson County.
Dennis Shekinah is the current president of theWatauga Watershed Alliance and can be reachedat [email protected]
Group shot of WWA's board of directors. (L to R) Ron Rairigh, Webb Griffith, Rita Cowan, Dean Whitworth, EarlTaylor, Donna Lisenby and seated on the swing is Sandi Cranford. Photo: Dennis Shekinah.
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For more information or to place items on theagenda, contact Nancy Brannon [email protected] or (901) 829-4360.Agenda items must be submitted at least 3 days(preferably 5) before the meeting.
Thursday, July 22, 6:30 pm—networking& snacks; 7:00 pm—program. Presentation:TBA. Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library,3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN.
Details to be announced at a later date. Formore information or to suggest a future presen-tation, contact Susan Routon [email protected] or (901) 413-3888.
Thursday, August 5, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm,Monthly First Thursday GatheringOtherlands, 641 S. Cooper, Memphis, TN.
Sierra Club members, activists and friendsmeet in a casual setting to talk about issues andinterests. For more information, contact KeithHoover at [email protected] or (901) 363-8299.
Monday, August 9, 6:30 pm, StrategyMeeting, Panera Bread, 4530 Poplar Avenue,Suite 101, Memphis, TN.
The Executive Committee meets on the sec-ond Monday of every month. This is a businessmeeting but members are welcome to attend.For more information or to place items on theagenda, contact Nancy Brannon [email protected] or (901) 829-4360.Agenda items must be submitted at least 3 days(preferably 5) before the meeting.
Thursday, August 26, 6:30 pm—network-ing & snacks; 7:00 pm—program.
Presentation: "Smokestack Effect & EPA'sNational School Air Toxics MonitoringProgram." Benjamin L. Hooks CentralLibrary, 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN.
Sierra Club Environmental Justice ProgramOrganizer Rita Harris, who is based in theMemphis area, will talk about the 2008-09USA Today series that prompted theEnvironmental Protection Agency to initiate anational air toxics study that identified 60schools across the U.S. deemed to be in theworst polluted areas in the country. She willdiscuss the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) pol-lution report for Shelby County and also the"Terrible Ten" report that her office releasesannually. She will also share a 12-minutevideo her office produced on air pollutionawareness here in Memphis for neighborhoodgroups. For more information or to suggest afuture presentation, contact Susan Routon [email protected] or (901) 413-3888.
"Nature of Conservation" Sierra ClubChickasaw Group Cable TV Show on WYPL-TV 18 (Comcast):
Days and times vary -- see http://www.mem-phislibrary.org/tlc18/schedule/ (or theComcast on-screen guide) for the latest sched-ule. Topic changes every month. For moreinformation, or if anyone has an idea for afuture program, contact Judith Rutschman [email protected] or (901) 767-5916.
Sierra Club Chickasaw Group is now onFacebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Chickasaw.Group/ This is a forum for public discussion, so
please feel free to post comments, raise issues,and express environmental concerns.
WATAUGA GROUP (Northeastern TN)
PROGRAM MEETINGS: Every secondTuesday at 7 p.m. Please contact Gloria Griffithat [email protected] or 423-727-4797 formore information.
Main Street, Chattanooga. Going south onMarket St from downtown, take a left onto Main.Go slow and look to your left -- 63 E. Main is abrick building at the end of that block. If you getto the fire hall on the right -- you've gone toofar! GreenSpaces is kiddy-corner across thestreet from the fire hall. (If you get to Central,you've gone way too far.) If you can't find it, callBarbara Kelly 423.718.5009 -- we don't wantanybody to miss our meetings!
JULY STRATEGY (Board Meeting):Wednesday, July 14, 6 p.m., at GreenSpaces,63 E. Main Street, Chattanooga. All interestedmembers are invited to a meeting where thebusiness of the club gets done!
JULY PROGRAM: Monday, July 28, 7p.m., at GreenSpaces, 63 E. Main Street,Chattanooga.
Davis Mounger will talk about “DIY, DOIT YOURSELF SOLAR!” Davis, a vocation-al teacher at East Ridge High School, has hadhis students working on a variety of sustain-ability projects. He will give us how-to’s oncreating your own home solar system, photovoltaic, from buying solar cells, starting smalland ultimately building your own DIY solarpanels.
Make home solar power a reality using thesedo it yourself solar panels and start livinggreener today. This is easy to do, and does nothave to be expensive. If you choose yourrenewable energy projects carefully, it will costlittle money and save a lot of money on energybills. It will also save many tons of CO2 emis-sions.
The idea is to make sure that the projects youchoose are the ones that will give you the bestreturn for the time, effort and money that youput into them. Davis will supply suggestions forobtaining materials at reasonable prices. Comewith your questions! The public is always verywelcome; great refreshments will be servedafter the program.
AUGUST STRATEGY (Board Meeting):Wednesday, August 11, 6 p.m., atGreenSpaces, 63 E. Main Street,Chattanooga. All interested members are invit-ed to a meeting where the business of the clubgets done!
AUGUST PROGRAM: Monday, August30, 7 p.m., at GreenSpaces, 63 E. Main Street,Chattanooga.
CHICKASAW GROUP (Memphis)
(Sign up for our monthly email events list on the cal-endar page http://tennessee.sierraclub.org/chickasaw/)
Thursday, July 1, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm,Monthly First Thursday Gathering &Beyond Oil House Party, Otherlands, 641 S.Cooper, Memphis, TN
Sierra Club members, activists and friendsmeet in a casual setting to talk about issues andinterests. We will be hosting a Beyond OilHouse Party! We will view and discuss a 15-minute documentary from filmmaker RobertGreenwald—producer of Outfoxed and Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price—about thetrue effects that the BP oil disaster is having onthe Gulf Coast and why we need to end ouraddiction to oil. For more information, contactKeith Hoover at [email protected] or(901) 363-8299.
Monday, July 12, 6:30 pm, StrategyMeeting, Panera Bread, 4530 Poplar Avenue,Suite 101, Memphis, TN.
The Executive Committee meets on the sec-ond Monday of every month. This is a businessmeeting but members are welcome to attend.
HARVEY BROOME GROUP (Knoxville)
All programs except August 10, 2010 pro-gram will be held at the Tennessee ValleyUnitarian Church, 2931 Kingston Pike,Knoxville, TN and will start at 7:00 PM.
July 13, 2010 Program: “CandidateForum” Ms. Judy Poulson will moderate a"Candidate Forum" for Knox County legislativecandidates.
August 10, 2010: Annual Picnic AnnualHarvey Broome Group picnic. The time andlocation for this picnic will be posted later.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE GROUP (Nashville)
PROGRAM: Thursday, July 8, 7:00 p.m.at Radnor Lake Visitor Center, 1160 OtterCreek Road, Nashville
Most of us have heard a lot about the efforts ofthe Beaman Park to Bells Bend efforts to main-tain the rural/agricultural/residential character ofthe area, but did you know that the viability ofthis initiative is being demonstrated by the suc-cess of the Bells Bend Neighborhood Farms?
Four community farms have come together toform a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)under the management of Eric Wooldridge, andorganic food from the farms is available at localfarmers’ markets and through subscription. Ericwill update us on how the CSA works, how theirsis different from others, and how, with severalthousand acres of rich, fertile soil, the Bells Bendarea could potentially provide Nashville with alarge percentage of its food grown locally and ina sustainable manner.
Locally grown food allows us to know whereand how our food is grown and reduces the neg-ative environmental effects of transporting foodacross the country. Join us to learn how you canenjoy the fruits of the labors of the folks at BellsBend Neighborhood Farms.
PROGRAM: Thursday, August 12, 7:00p.m. at Radnor Lake Visitor Center, 1160Otter Creek Road, Nashville
Program to be announced. Please be sure tocheck our website, which will have this programinformation by mid-July. http://tennessee.sierra-club.org/mtg/Programs.htm
STRATEGY MEETING: Third Mondays,July 19 and August 16, 6:30 p.m. at the UnitedSteelworkers Union Building, 3340 PerimeterHill Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37211.
Follow the signs to the conference area. If youarrive late, please ring the bell at the side dooron the left, and someone will come down to letyou in. Conservation issues are first on the agen-da, and all members are invited to attend thisconservation and administrative meeting to getthe news on what’s happening in our MiddleTennessee Group. We welcome you to be withus to learn about the group’s conservation initia-tives and community activities. If you haveproblems finding or accessing the building, callKatherine Pendleton at 615-943-6877.
UPPER CUMBERLAND GROUP (Cookeville)
MONTHLY MEETING: Every 4thThursday at 7 p.m. in the downstairs meetingroom of the Putnam County Library.Alternating program meeting with planningmeetings every other month. For more informa-tion, contact Mary Mastin [email protected] or (931) 268-2938.
CHEROKEE GROUP (Chattanooga)
Directions: GreenSpaces is located at 63 E.
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All participants in Sierra Club outings arerequired to sign a standard liability waiver. Ifyou would like to read a copy of the waiverbefore you participate, please refer to:http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/SignInWaiver PDF, or call 415-977-5630 for aprinted version. Transportation to the outing,including carpooling, ride-sharing or anythingsimilar, is strictly a private arrangement amongthe participants. Participants assume the risksassociated with this travel.
HARVEY BROOME GROUP (Knoxville)
July 11 (Sun). Canoe Float, Clinch River.Put in about 2 miles below Norris Dam, take outat Highway 61, near Clinton. Distance 11 mi.This is a relaxing float, with good current but nowhitewater. We'll start early so we can do mostof the river at low flow, maximizing our chancesof seeing wildlife. With luck we'll observe somewaterfowl. So come along and learn about theecology of a clear-flowing river. Bring a sacklunch and even a cooler if you want. Only verybasic canoe skills are necessary for this trip.Sorry, but I cannot provide canoes. Check withlocal outfitters for rentals. Driving time fromdowntown Knoxville, about 40 minutes. Pre-register with Ron Shrieves at 922-3518 [email protected] (email preferred).
July 24 (Sat). Evening Full Moon hike,Clingman’s Dome to Andrew’s Bald on theForney Ridge Trail, GSMNP. We’ll hike fromthe parking area at 6,300 feet about 2 miles out toAndrew’s Bald to watch the sunset and hike backunder the full moon with an elevation change of600 feet both ways. Learn about the old growthvirgin forest of red spruce and fraser fir and thebalsam woolly adelgid insect that has destroyedthese great trees. Great views of the night sky.Experience nature with nocturnal owls and otherwildlife in their home. Bring your flashlight andextra batteries with a snack for this fun eveningout. We’ll be done about midnight. Rated moder-ate. Drive 70 miles one way. Please register withLinda Smithyman at [email protected] call at 335-3559.
July 23-25 (Fri-Sun). Chapter Meeting, TNChapter of the Sierra Club, at Sterchi Lodge,Max Patch, hosted by Middle Tennessee Group.Chair: Rachel Floyd, [email protected].
July 24-25 (Sat-Sun). Backpack, HighlandsOf Roan. This is perhaps the most scenic highelevation trail in Tennessee, as the AppalachianTrail winds over a succession of grassy balds thatoften tower over 6,000 feet. Clumps of sprucetrees and granite rock outcrops amidst the grassyridges, acres of wildflowers, and unparalleled vis-tas are some of the attractions. Our hike, whichthe Sierra Club has frequently done over theyears, starts at Carver’s Gap on TN 143 near theCity of Roan Mountain and ends at US 19E; we’lllearn about efforts to maintain the grassy baldsalong the way. Hiking distance is about 13.7miles total and it is rated moderate. Pre-registerwith Will Skelton: H 523-2272; Cell 742-7327;email [email protected].
July 30-Aug 1(Fri-Sun). Car camp, BalsamMtn. or Mile High campground in GSMNP.In the Balsam Mtn. area. This outing willinclude at least one day hike on Saturday in afairly remote area of the park. Pre-register withPriscilla Watts: 966-4142; [email protected].
Aug 7 (Sat). Evening event, ShakespearePlay in Market Square, downtown Knoxville.Free to the public although a donation is request-ed. Bring your own chair and refreshments.Maybe we will have dinner somewhere prior tothe show. All ages welcome. The comedy “TheComplete Works of William Shakespeare
Abridged” is the play. Please register with LindaSmithyman at [email protected] orcall at 335-3559.
Sept 5 (Sun). Day hike, Ijams NatureCenter. This protected area has been expanded toinclude a second quarry with several interestingfeatures including a cave and overlooks. Learnabout quarrying and its impact on the environ-ment. Hike 3-4 miles including the boardwalkalong the river. Rated easy and good for begin-ners. Drive 15 miles. Please register with LindaSmithyman at [email protected] orcall at 335-3559.
Sept 11 (Sat). Day hike, Cataloochee areaof GSNMP. A 5.9 mile (requiring a car shuttle)hike on Pretty Hollow Gap trail to LittleCataloochee Trail in the Cataloochee area.Afterwards we will do some elk viewing. Thismay be the weekend that the apple butterdemonstration is usually held. This is rated easyto moderate for some elevation gain. Drive: 80miles each way. Pre-register with PriscillaWatts: 966-4142; [email protected].
MIDDLE TENNESSEE GROUP (Nashville)
August 15 (Sun.) Day hike on BradyMountain edge of Grassy Cove onCumberland Trails, SE of Crossville. I will tryto leave Nashville by 8:00 a.m. to reach the trail-head by 10:30 a.m. Take the Fairfield GladeCrossville exit on I-40 at St Rt. 101. Go towardCrossville and turn right on St. Rt. 392. Thenturn right on Rt. 127. Go straight when the roadbecomes St. Rt. 68 and go for 4.6 miles to thetrailhead.
If you come from Chattanooga, take Rt. 27 toSpring City and then take Rt. 68 to the westernside of Grassy Cove.
The trail is 7.8 miles long. Learn about geolo-gy and how conservation plays into sustaining arock house, an arch and many overlooks ofGrassy Cove. Bring your lunch and water. Wewill hike for a few hours, eat lunch and thenreturn. Please register with Dave Bordenkircherat [email protected] or call615-333-3377 or cell 615-429-6927.
August 21 ( Sat.) Day Hike, Caney ForkRiver Float, 10:00 a.m. Escape the heat withone of Middle Tennessee's coolest floats. Wewill put-in just below the dam on the CaneyFork River around 10 a.m. and float down toBetty's Island in a leisurely sort of way.Naturally we will stop along the way toobserve and learn the identity of wildflowersin bloom, count herons and kingfishersencountered for cookie rewards, and maybetake a quick swim in a cool pool or two alongthe way. Kayakers or canoeists with somebasic experience are welcomed. No childrenplease. Group size is limited and pre-registra-tion is required by contacting Rachel Floyd [email protected] or 615-406-9204.
October 16 ( Sat.), Radnor Lake SunriseOwl Prowl, 6:00 a.m. This will be a sunrise hikein search of Barred, Eastern Screech or GreatHorned Owls and other awakening fine furryfriends that stand out against the autumn chang-ing fauna. We'll meet in the Nature Center park-ing lot at 6:00 a.m. and stroll around the LakeTrail and up to the Ganier Ridge Trail identifyingas many trees as we can. Once we reach the topof the hill we'll stop to enjoy hot coffee or chai teaand organic breakfast treats, which will be servedby your trip leader. Hiking distance will beapproximately 4.5 miles with some strenuous, butshort climbs. For more venue information visit:http://www.radnorlake.org/welcome.html. Pre-registration is required by contacting RachelFloyd at [email protected] or 615-406-9204.
Sierra Club outings offer a variety ofwilderness and near-wilderness experi-ences. It is important to realize that whileall trips are guided by a leader, it is ulti-mately the responsibility of the individualto operate in a safe manner. To this end,the following is a list of essential itemswhich should be modified according tothe particular type of outing. These are:1. Adequate map2. First aid kit3. Compass4. Rain gear 5. Extra clothing (it is a good idea toalways have a wool hat)6. Matches 7. Knife8. Flashlight9. Extra food, water10. The tenth essential: You decidewhat is the most important thing tobring!
Ten Essentials for Hiking
CHEROKEE GROUP
Jeremy Gazaway, outings chair for thelocal Cherokee Sierra Group, leads outingsand hikes at least one or two weekends permonth. Our activities are always open to thepublic. To register, or for more information,contact Jeremy at 423.619.6548 [email protected]
Sunday, July 18: River Gorge Trail, 9am -12pm. This trail is very nice. It offers it all: awaterfall, mountain stream, interesting rock andtree formations that we can learn about, andmany rock ledges providing panoramic views ofthe Tennessee River Gorge.
Saturday, August 21: Sunset Rock Picnic& Hike, 10am - 1pm. Meet @ Bi-Lo in St.Elmo. Open for discussion: Picnic at top of rockor hike into the valley to learn about the area?Call Jeremy with questions or suggestions andregister with him at 423.619.6548, [email protected]
OUTINGS LEADERS WANTED: All youneed is First Aid certification and a shortcourse on Sierra Club policies! We'll set upFirst Aid classes with the Red Cross if we canget enough people interested. Please contactJeremy if you are interested.
CHICKASAW GROUP (Memphis)
Chickasaw Outings Chair Matt Farr, (901)409-3067, [email protected] saidno outings have been scheduled for July andAugust due to the extremely hot weather.
Check the Cherokee Group’s web page, http://ten-nessee.sierraclub.org/chickasaw/, and Facebookpage, http://www.facebook.com/Chickasaw.Group/ ,for the latest updates.
Political Forum Slated inKnoxville
The Harvey Broom Group will host a politi-cal forum of Tennessee State Senate andHouse candidates from districts that includeKnox County to answer questions concern-ing environmental issues facing our state.This forum is open to the public and thepress. Refreshments will be provided.
When: Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m.Where:Tennessee Valley Unitarian
Church at 2931 Kingston Pike inKnoxville
This forum will again be moderated by JudyPoulson. As of now nine candidates haveagreed to attend.
Page 6 - July/August, 2010 The Tennes-Sierran
Renewal Documentary Showcases Faith Community’sCommitment to Preserving Our EnvironmentBy Josie McQuailUpper Cumberland group
The whole world is watching the devastationfrom the Deepwater Horizon spill and many mayfeel hopeless about our ability to counteract suchwholesale environmental degradation. But theremay be hope in already well-established faith-based organizations which the Sierra Club candraw on.
For instance, the Right Reverend JohnBauerschmidt, Episcopal bishop of the state ofTennessee, has established a commission for theenvironment, designed to preserve God's cre-ation, for which I was selected to be representa-tive for the Parish of St. Michael's (eachEpiscopal Parish in Tennessee is represented onthe bishop's commission). Through my involve-ment in the bishop’s Environmental Council, Ireceive educational materials and notices aboutwhat is happening in Episcopal parishes through-out the state.
Accordingly, the Tennessee Sierra Club UpperCumberland Group showed a DVD called“Renewal” at our regular May meeting held,unusually, at St. Michael's Episcopal Church inCookeville. Renewal consists of a series of seg-ments of reactions to environmental issues of allkinds from the efforts of people of many faiths.The focus is on people of faith working to createa sustainable future.
Many different religious denominations areemphasizing the importance of preserving theenvironment for the sake of God, nature and/orhumanity. Religious organizations can be valu-able allies in the fight to preserve the environ-ment.
Renewal is the first feature-length documen-tary film to capture the vitality and diversity oftoday's religious-environmental activists. Fromwithin their Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslimand even nondenominational traditions,Americans are becoming caretakers of the Earth.
With great courage and dedication thesewomen, men and children are re-examining whatit means to be human and how we live on thisplanet. Their stories of combating global warm-ing and the devastation of mountaintop removal,of promoting food security, environmental jus-tice, recycling, and land preservation, and ofteaching love and respect for life on Earth are atthe heart of Renewal.
Thomas Berry, a leading scholar of the world'sreligions and author of The Sacred Universe:Earth, Spirituality, and Religion in the 21stCentury (Columbia University Press, 2009),asserted, "Renewal offers a comprehensiveoverview of what different religions are doingabout the awesome devastation of Earth's lifesystems now taking place. The filmmakers'vision of the problem and understanding ofviable solutions show rare depth of perceptionand are matched only by their sense of theurgency of action if we are to realize our hopesfor the future."
TV journalist Bill Moyers commented, "Iwatched this film with admiration and hope mil-lions of others will have the chance to see it. Youwill be stirred to discover people of differentfaiths who are engaged in an exhilarating stew-ardship of the earth that offers our best chance toyet save creation."
Our audience at the viewing in Cookevilleconsisted of a mix of community members andparishioners of St. Michael's, and we had a livelydiscussion after each segment of Renewal wewatched.
The evening was capped by a wonderfulannouncement by former Cookeville mayor andChairman of the Board of Tennessee Parks andGreenways Foundation Dr. Charles Womack,who announced that a beautiful waterfall withsurrounding acreage near Cookeville calledCummins Falls was successfully purchased pro-visionally, subject to paying back a loan requiredto bid on the property which came up for auctionin May.
A developer bid on the property, which is cur-rently undeveloped, but fortunately through thehelp of a private (though contingent) donation toTennessee Parks and Greenways the developerwas staved off for the moment.
According to Tennessee Parks and Greenways:"Tennessee ranks 7th in the nation in loss of openspace to roads and other development. We lose80,000 acres each year. Tennessee is rich withnative plant and animal life, with more than4,000 species. We are one of the top ten richeststates in America for biological diversity; yet, weare ranked among the most threatened in thenation due to loss of natural areas. Our quality oflife and economy depend on protecting 'thegreenest state in the land of the free.' It's whatwe're famous for. Businesses, new residents andtourists come to Tennessee because of the beautyof our homeland and it's at risk -- partly due toroad-building."
We can easily imagine, based on news photosof the spill, the sort of devastation which the GulfStates and its people are threatened with due tothe Deepwater Horizon debacle. But we inTennessee must work locally to preserve our owntreasures.
It is time to call up all the forces for a fight ofepic proportions to counter corporate interestsand private greed which threaten nature.
You can help in several ways: by showing thefilm Renewal to faith-based groups, communityorganizations, schools and universities, or atSierra Club meetings in order to increase thenumber of people willing to get involved in thefight to preserve the environment; by supportingthe Sierra Club and/or Tennessee Parks andGreenways Foundation and similar organizations;by going down to the Gulf States or other pollut-ed areas yourself to volunteer in cleanups or toprotest destruction of our environment; and/or by
raising hell about environmental devastation inany way you can, including, but not limited to,writing your state, local and federal representa-tives.
The only good thing that may come from theDeepwater Horizon disaster is that people will nolonger tolerate such terrible threats to the envi-ronment. One place to start is, as PresidentObama emphasized, to end our addiction to oil,coal and fossil fuels.
We must truly change our way of living, alongwith our thinking about nature—Who can givepermission to drill in those offshore waters?Who do those waters belong to anyway?—beforewe have nothing left.
Spirituality offers one way that we can seenature as not just a resource to be exploited forhuman benefit, but something that is alive andholy, and which humanity has no right to plun-der.
The Renewal DVD can be ordered for $19.95at http://www.renewalproject.net/dvd or by call-ing 626-388-7974.
To contribute to the Tennessee Parks andGreenways Commission, you may go tohttp://www.tenngreen.org/howtohelp.htm
If you are interested specifically in helpingwith the preservation of Cummins Falls be sureto specify that by contacting the commissiondirectly at (615) 386-3171 (ask for Steve Walsh).
Come visit Cummins Falls, a spectacularwaterfall that rivals any in Tennessee, though it isnot as high as Fall Creek Falls or Burgess Falls.It is unique, though, in being totally undevelopedright now. Leave Cookeville on SR 135 North &drive 10.25 miles. Turn left at Cummins MillRoad. Continue West on Cummins Mill Road 3.0miles to pull-off. Cummins Falls is about 80 feethigh. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2276598,www.google.com
Cummins Falls at flood stage, Jackson Co, TN. Photo by Chuck Sutherland.
Page 7 - July/August, 2010The Tennes-Sierran
Inner City Outing at Historic Mansker’s Station Lets TeensExperience 18th Century LifeBy Joy Mayfield
Monroe Harding is a residential campus forteens that partners with at-risk youth and familiesto provide a bridge toward independence. One ofits goals is to introduce teens to healthy choicesin recreation and relaxation—a perfect match forSierra Club's Inner City Outing (ICO) group.
Last July, Betsy Garber and I spent three hourswith eight energetic, fully engaged teens (afterremoving their iPods) touring 18th centuryMansker's Station in Goodlettsville, Tenn., aswell as the Bowen Plantation House. I don'tknow anybody who doesn't love to play "fort"and these teens were no different. Bill Maddox(fort manager) let them don clothes of the period,had them haul water using burden yokes, gavethem an early Tennessee history lesson, had themraise the flag and then fired his musket for themout in the field.
The tour terminated at the fort's 18th centuryvegetable garden where Bill encouraged theyoung men to pick corn and green beans for theirsupper since they confessed to him they had tocook for themselves in their cottages. Most ofthem never had the pleasure of picking their ownproduce before and couldn't wait to get back toput the corn on the grill. What a lively, talkative,happy bunch of young men they were when wesaw them off on their van! As Betsy said pro-foundly as we waved our good-byes, "They arejust BIG kids."
Betsy Garber took so many excellent, descrip-tive photos of this trip that I wish we could haveshared them in this newsletter; however, we didnot have permission to use their photos in anypublication. I have selected some to share that Ithink will not violate anyone's privacy.
Male Hike Leaders NeededWe are in need of more hike leaders, especially
men. The Monroe Harding facil-ity presently houses male resi-dents only. I couldn't help noticehow these young men gravitatedtoward Bill Maddox at the fortand realized again how direly weneed men as ICO volunteers. Youdon't have to be a leader if theprocess of becoming one seemstoo daunting to you. You cansimply volunteer as a helper.Contact [email protected] ifyou'd like to share in this reward-ing Sierra Club outreach pro-gram.
The Green Review Summertime Reading Picks for Tennes-SierransBy Amy Lou Jenkins
Eaarth: Making a Life ona Tough New Planet, by BillMcKibben, Times Books,2010, 210 pages.
Twenty years ago, BillMcKibben declared in TheEnd of Nature that nature hadbeen forever altered by humanacts. He was right. He foretoldof a dangerous tide of changethat was likely to follow.
Although his book was well-received, sold a lotof copies, and remains a popular environmentalstandard, McKibben admits: It did no good.Fossil fuels continue to be burned; forests obliter-ated; oceans over fished; stuff manufactured toreplace last year’s model; CO2 levels rose; cli-mate changed.
McKibben now tells us our old Earth has mor-phed. We have a new planet, a new version—eaarth, formed within a “crescendo of cascadingconsequences.” Over a billion people are hungryor at risk of hunger (more than 1 in 6). Massiveswarms of jellyfish bloom in warmer acidicoceans, devouring native species. Extensive blobsof E. coli filled mucus, up to two-hundred kilo-meters long, float on the warmed seas, aggregateon piles of garbage or open ocean, and suffocatesea life by clogging their gills. Droughts, hurri-canes, tornadoes, floods, insect swarms, and path-ogenic viruses and bacteria are all on theincrease. Species extinctions mount on a dailybasis. The diatribe of devastation is lengthy.However elegant his prose, this is uncomfortableto face, so many avoid it.
Climate change skeptics are unlikely to pick upthis book. If you read his book –or even thisreview—you are under recruitment. We’ve
changed our light bulbs, ridden our bikes, andlimited our beef intake. We now need systemchanges, better thinking. The theme “bigger is notbetter” seems antithetical to capitalistic thought,but McKibben makes it seem plausible.
McKibben joins the voices calling for smarterhigh and low tech solutions and a stop to ourobsession with growth. It’s time to retool. A timefor each community to find solutions that are bestfor their circumstances, while supporting andintegrating their solutions into the small and biggovernmental plans.
McKibben calls us to re-imagine our life onthis new eaarth. He asks us to halt our vision ofan ever-expanding economy; to support smallfarms, which as it turns out have higher yieldsand use less fossil fuel even before we take thefood transport cost into effect; to retool oureconomies; to end our addiction to the fossil fuelsthat destroyed the Earth we knew; and to use theabundant renewable energy sources at hand.
Eaarth calls for a new vision. Citizen-activistsand voters must drive change because mega cor-porations entangled in fossil fuel business willcontinue to use their dollars and power toobstruct the required retooling. Eaarth has givenus factual ammunition, insight and hope. Eaarthis a recruitment brochure. Find current actionplans and get started at McKibben’s site:www.350.org. He has not just thrown his hands inthe air; he’s thrown them out to us. Announcement about the GreenReview columnist
Amy Lou Jenkins’ debut book has beenreleased with an impressive list of endorsements.
Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting, by Amy Lou Jenkins, HolyCow! Press, 2010, 184 pages.
“Any reader drawn to the outdoors will cherish
Every Natural Fact and its author's sensual intelli-gence potted in the fertile soil of a boundlesscuriosity for the world. Amy Lou Jenkins is theAnna Quindlen of the north woods, the RachelCarson of the good land of Wisconsin, bequeath-ing to her son and to all of us an indestructiblesense of wonder.” — Bob Shacochis, NationalBook Award-winning author of Easy in TheIslands and The Immaculate Invasion
“Braiding together history, memoir, gentle par-enting guidance, and superb nature writing,Jenkins' prose illuminates the details of ordinarylife."—Susan Cheever, author of AmericanBloomsbury
"If you combined the lyricism of AnnieDillard, the vision of Aldo Leopold, and the gen-tle but tough-minded optimism of FrankMcCourt, you might come close to Amy LouJenkins, a writer who obliterates the distinctionbetween regional writing and actual, honest-to-god writing. I, for one, would follow her any-where."—Tom Bissell, author of The Father ofAll Things
"What makes this book such a marvel is theway the human and the non-human are kept inperfect balance: the psychological dance of amother and son, with all its funny, touching, real-istic two-steps, intersects with the desire to beopened up to the mystery and rapture of the natu-ral sublime. It is a splendid fusion, as much about
parenting and education andgeneration gaps as it is aboutpatient observation of land-scapes in flux. Jenkins' pol-ished literary style makes it,sentence by sentence, a joy toread."—Phillip Lopate, authorof Waterfront
More atwww.AmyLouJenkins.com
Above: Teens pick corn for their sup-per. Right: Teens raise the fort’s flag.Photos: Betsy Garber.
Page 8 - July/August, 2010 The Tennes-Sierran
By Adelle WoodThe Middle Tennessee Group (MTG) welcomed
about 60 members and friends to the May social atthe home of Betsy Garber and Steve Vining. Thefood, provided by Craig and Marcia Jervis of theMad Platter, was fabulous with an assortment ofdelicious finger foods based on local and organicproducts. Our hostess was thrilled with how Craigand Marcia took care of everything and that all ofthe dishes and flatware were washed for re-use!
Dr. Cliff Cockerham, chair of MTG’sEnvironmental Justice Committee, provided a con-tinuous slide show and program information to anumber of interested attendees while others chat-ted, learned more about the Sierra Club, andenjoyed the offerings on the buffet table. Thanks toall who came and all who contributed, includingour roving photographer, John Pigg.
“Happy Hour” July 15We invite you to join us for our “happy hour”
member social on Thursday, July 15 from 6:00 to
Middle Tennessee Group Social A Success
The Sierra Club-Middle TN Group
Tennes-Sierran3340 Perimeter Hill DriveNashville, Tennessee 37211
Bimonthly Newsletter for the TN Chapter Sierra ClubVol. 41, No. 4 - July/August, 2010
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Nashville, Tennessee
Permit No. 3225
Attach mailing address label, or fill in currentname, address & Membership ID#
Current Address:
Member ID#
My new address is:NameAddressCity/St/Zip
Mail to:Sierra ClubP.O. Box 52968 Boulder, CO 80322-2968
Moving?
8:00 p.m. at the United Steelworkers building,3340 Perimeter Hill Drive, Nashville, Tennessee37211 (very near the intersection of Harding Place
and I-24). We will serve finger foods and wine,and we look forward to seeing you there.
By Steven Sondheim and Don Safer Seventy-eight activists from 26 states, Canada
and Australia, including members of the NuclearEnergy Information Resource Service, NuclearInformation Resource Service and the Sierra Clubmet in Chicago June 4-6 to consider actions to dealwith the spread of radioactive waste from currentand future nuclear power plants.
Groups met around national issues and geo-graphic/regional alignments. The southeast groupincluded Steven Sondheim of the Tennessee SierraClub, Don Safer of Tennessee EnvironmentalCouncil and Susan Corbett of the South CarolinaSierra Club.
In the discussions about “hot spots” around thecountry it became clear that Tennessee standsalone in its role as the nation’s destination for“low-level” radioactive waste processing and dis-posal. This role is currently expanding rapidlywith proposals or plans for a seventh radioactivewaste incinerator, importing Italian radioactivewaste, and accepting the Class B and C waste(more radioactive than Class A) from the reactorsin 36 states for processing.
A Green Ribbon Nuclear-Free Commission wasformed to give feedback to the national BlueRibbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.
National Forum on Radioactive Waste Policy Sets RecommendationsRecommendations:
1. Stop making new nuclear waste—no newnuclear plants.
2. Prohibit reprocessing of irradiated fuel whichhas not solved the radioactive waste problem andactually exacerbates it by creating numerous addi-tional waste streams and increases nuclearweapons proliferation threats.
3. Current storage preferred is hardened on-site(HOSS) dry caste storage until a safe and securelong-term repository can be established.
4. Storage should be maintained on site.
5. Not in favor of transporting waste to centralstorage sites.
6. Nuclear power is not a solution to globalwarming. It’s too carbon intensive, too dangerousand costly, and there are insurmountable wastepollution problems.
7. Instead use efficiency to keep from buildingnew power plants in the short term and use thetremendous resources that nuclear would take tobuild up renewable energy.
8. As renewables come on board, retire dirtiestand oldest coal and nuclear power plants.
Photos: John Pigg