VSET Advocacy - SOCM

   This is a brand new page devoted to Save Our Cumberland Mountains, particularly to their campaign to resist Mountain Top Removal in East Tennessee. Sure it would make our weather more predictable if we eliminated our mountain tops, but we're used to 'em. It took nature millions of years to form their majesty, but ruthless coal barons can bring them to their knees in a matter of months. Read more below.

To help protect East Tennessee's crowning glory, send a letter to Governor Bredesen; see sample below. You may also want to get involved with the organization that's been engaged in this struggle for thirty years, Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM).

Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM)
Attn.: Tiffany Hartung
PO Box 479
Lake City, TN 37769
(865)426-9455    (865)426-9289 (Fax)    <tiffany@socm.org>     <www.socm.org>

Mountain Top Removal Comes to Tennessee!During the first week of July, the Knoxville Office of Surface Mining and the Water Pollution Control office of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued permits for the 2100 acre surface mine in the community of Elk Valley in Campbell County.  This is no ordinary surface mine, it's a new  type of mining called Cross Ridge Mining.Cross Ridge Mining is a variation of Mountain Top Removal, in which all or most of a mountain is removed, and then the operator purports to put the mountain back to approximate original contour (AOC). The word approximate is key, given that the peaks will not necessarily be restored to their original elevation and OSM’s guide lines call for 20’ wide terraces every 50’.  If an operator is successful in rebuilding a mountain after it has been blasted apart and the coal has been removed it will not look like the mountain that was there before.  

There are over 100 homes within a 1/2 radius of the permit area and an  elementary school about 3/4 of a mile away.  This mine is too close to people's homes to be safe.  The Office of Surface Mining and coal companies are testing the waters to see if they can begin mountain top removal operations here in Tennessee.  Let's send the message that we won't let them do to our state what they have done to West Virginia and Kentucky.

To help keep this type of mining out of Tennessee, please contact Governor Bredesen (see sample letter below).

Governor Bredesen
Tennessee State Capital
Nashville, TN 37243-0001

phil.bredesen@state.tn.us     
Phone: 615.741.2001
Fax: 615.532.9711

Dear Governor Bredesen;

  I am concerned about a new method of surface mining called "Cross Ridge Mining."  "Cross Ridge Mining" is largely a new word for mountain top removal.  It is a variation of Mountain Top Removal, in which all or most of a mountain is removed, and then the operator purports to put the mountain back to approximate original contour.

  I'm particularly concerned about the proposed strip mining of Zeb Mountain in Campbell and Scott Counties that uses- in this case, mining through the 3 peaks of Zeb Mountain.  There are over 100 homes within 1/2 mile and an elementary school just over 1/2 mile away.  This area has been prone to flooding in the past.  I don’t want to see the devastation that has happened in West Virginia happen in Tennessee.

   I am asking you to help by considering the potential damage that can occur with these experimental strip mining methods in a heavily populated rural area, and relaying your concerns to TDEC.  I am also asking that you do not allow what has occurred in West Virginia and Kentucky to occur here, please keep mountain top removal out of Tennessee!

Sincerely,

xxxxxxx

• Tiffany Hartung
  Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM)
  (865)426-9455
  (865)426-9289 (Fax)
  PO Box 479
  Lake City, TN 37769
  tiffany@socm.org
  www.socm.org
  Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM) is a 30 year old grassroots organization that works for social, environmental and economic justice in rural Tennessee.  
  _____________________________________________
  Mountain Top Removal Comes to Tennessee!During the first week of July, the Knoxville Office of Surface Mining and the Water Pollution Control office of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued permits for the 2100 acre surface mine in the community of Elk Valley in Campbell County.  This is no ordinary surface mine, it's a new  type of mining called Cross Ridge Mining.Cross Ridge Mining is a variation of Mountain Top Removal, in which all or most of a mountain is removed, and then the operator purports to put the mountain back to approximate original contour (AOC). The word approximate is key, given that the peaks will not necessarily be restored to their original elevation and OSM’s guide lines call for 20’ wide terraces every 50’.  If an operator is successful in rebuilding a mountain after it has been blasted apart and the coal has been removed it will not look like the mountain that was there before.  
  There are over 100 homes within a 1/2 radius of the permit area and an  elementary school about 3/4 of a mile away.  This mine is too close to people's homes to be safe.  The Office of Surface Mining and coal companies are testing the waters to see if they can begin mountain top removal operations here in Tennessee.  Let's send the message that we won't let them do to our state what they have done to West Virginia and Kentucky.
  To help keep this type of mining out of Tennessee, please contact Governor Bredesen (see sample letter below).
  For more information, contact Tiffany Hartung at SOCM (Save Our Cumberland Mountains) at tiffany@socm.org or (865)426-9455.Sample letter to the Governor:
  Governor Bredesen
  Tennessee State Capital
  Nashville, TN 37243-0001
  phil.bredesen@state.tn.us     
  Phone: 615.741.2001
  Fax: 615.532.9711
• 
  Dear Governor Bredesen;
    I am concerned about a new method  of surface mining called "Cross Ridge Mining."  "Cross Ridge Mining" is largely a new word for mountain top removal.  It is a variation of Mountain Top Removal, in which all or most of a mountain is removed, and then the operator purports to put the mountain back to approximate original contour.
    I'm particularly concerned about the proposed strip mining of Zeb Mountain in Campbell and Scott Counties that uses- in this case, mining through the 3 peaks of Zeb Mountain.  There are over 100 homes within 1/2 mile and an elementary school just over 1/2 mile away.  This area has been prone to flooding in the past.  I don’t want to see the devastation that has happened in West Virginia happen in Tennessee.
     I am asking you to help by considering the potential damage that can occur with these experimental strip mining methods in a heavily populated rural area, and relaying your concerns to TDEC.  I am also asking that you do not allow what has occurred in West Virginia and Kentucky to occur here, please keep mountain top removal out of Tennessee!
  Sincerely,
  xxxxxxx