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The monthly state newsletter for the Tennessee Chapter Sierra Club Volume 47, Number 1 - January/February, 2015
Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
Alberta, Canada is basically a petro state. Oil andgas production rule everything and it's happeningeverywhere in the north of the province. Pipelinescriss-cross most of Alberta. As a result, leaks ofwells, facilities and pipelines are a constant thing allover the province.
But we Canadians almost never hear about them.Our main media, CBC, does not provide any cover-age of the many, many spills and gas releases thathappen every month, nor the efforts to clean up themesses. They're simply not considered news...at leastnot on the scale of disasters like some attention grab-ber showing up at the War Memorial onRemembrance day in uniform and bedecked withmedals — none of which (uniform included)belonged to him. The guy is under arrest for imper-sonating an officer.
But back to the non-news. It seems someone is tak-ing notice. West Coast Native News (WCNN) hasbeen quietly keeping tabs on all the spills and leaks.What they have found is shocking!!
More past the toxic orange spill...careful you don'tget any on your shoes!!
The WCNN is reporting on all the spills and natu-ral gas releases and have kindly provided the inci-dence reports to back up their claims.
Over the past year WCNN has reported on manyCrude oil and Toxic produced water spills all overAlberta, in fact we have reported over 600,000 Litresof toxic crap that has been spilled just last month andyet not one mainstream media outlet has picked upthe incidents. So lets take a look back at just the lastmonth (October) and see just what the mainstream isnot telling you.
Oct 3, 2014 – Canadian Natural ResourcesLimited – 11Km East of Delia – 10,000 litres ofCrude oil
Oct 5, 2014 – Nexen Energy ULC – 2.5KmSouthWest of Kinosis – 5,800 litres of Toxic water
Oct 5, 2014 – Cenovus Energy Inc – 56Km Eastof Brooks – 9,800 litres of Toxic water
Oct 5, 2014 – Nexen Energy ULC – 41KmSouthEast of Ft. McMurray – 13,000 litres ofCondensate
Oct 10, 2014 – Husky Oil – 30Km SouthEast ofVermilion – 50,000 litres of Crude oil and 25,000litres of toxic water
Oct 13, 2014 –Arc Resources – 5Km North ofRedwater – 150,000 litres of Toxic water
Oct 11, 2014 – TAQA North Ltd – 44KmSouthWest of Spirit River – 24,000 litres of Crude oil
Oct 14, 2014 – Whitecap Resources Inc – 37KmNorthWest of Sexsmith – 10,000 litres of Toxic water
Oct 15, 2014 – Penn West Petroleum Ltd -14KmSouthEast of Slave Lake – 52,000 litres Crude oil
Oct 14, 2014 – Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd – 26KmNorthWest of Vauxhall – 8,000 litres of Toxic water
Oct 17, 2014 – TAQA North Ltd – 32KmNorthWest of Rocky Mountain House – 18,000 litresof Toxic water
Oct 21, 2014 – Harvest Operations Corp – 20KmEast of Galahad – 200,000 litres of Toxic water
Oct 26, 2014 –Apache Canada Ltd -9Km East ofZama City – 50,000 litres of Toxic water
Total = Over 625,000 Litres of toxic crap spilled inAlberta for just the month of October and not oneMainstream media reports about it.https://sheet.zoho.com/...
Curious, I went back to July,August andSeptember of this year, and found that October's inci-dents weren't unusual at all!! In July 27 incidents
How Many Pipeline Spills? A Note From Canadawere reported --16 involved pipelines spilling eithercrude oil or gas production. August saw 39 spills orreleases happen, 28 involving pipelines. September--26, of which 22 were pipeline spills or releases.October-- 41 total incidents (24 pipeline incidents).
The grand total for four months — 133 incidents ofwhich 90 involved pipeline spills....68%!!!!
What is produced that is mentioned in the incidentreports? OilfieldWiki states that it is either watermixed with the oil as it comes up from the groundand from two sources: with the oil, or separate from it— OR it's injected fluid.
Sources of this water may include flow from aboveor below the hydrocarbon zone, flow from within thehydrocarbon zone, or flow from injected fluids andadditives resulting from production activities. Thiswater is frequently referred to as “connate water” or“formation water” and becomes produced waterwhen the reservoir is produced and these fluids arebrought to the surface. Produced water is any waterthat is present in a reservoir with the hydrocarbonresource and is produced to the surface with the crudeoil or natural gas.
I regret to say that due to my non-existent math
skills, I can't calculate the volume of the spills intoliters for you all. Perhaps someone else can do themath for me.
I noticed that in the report of an incident document,every single report mentions that no effects to wildlifeor waterways occurred... WHAT?? How can spillingeven a small amount of oil not affect the soil andwater, and in turn affect the wildlife. Even theremoval of the contaminated soil will have an effect.This is the kind of glossing over important facts thathappen when there is only self-reporting done. Noone follows up or studies the results. And no onecalls them on their shoddy reporting.
It shouldn't need to be said, but those who thinkthat putting a pipeline that carries oil, dilbit, or naturalgas over any agricultural, environmentally sensitive orheavily populated areas should have their little headsexamined. Pipelines are neither safe nor infallible. Isee the U.S. House of Representatives has passed abill to allow the Keystone XL to be built andused...folly...sheer idiocy!
Originally poted to GwenNedd on Mon Nov 17,2014 AT 02:52 P.M. PST.
TTeennnneess--SSiieerrrraann
Page 2 - January/February, 2015 The Tennes-Sierran
Target Date forMarch-April Issue isJanuary 25, 2014.
All meetings and outingsnotices, articles, and
photographsshould be in by then.
Send material toGene Van Horn at
The bi-monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club.
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E-mail: [email protected]: Gene Van Horn, Editor
895 Red Cloud TrailSpring City, TN 37381423-365-0692
ARTICLE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Submission Target Date is January 25 for the March-Aprilissue.1. E-mail and e-mail attached files are preferred. Send [email protected] either with embedded text mes-sages, or attached files. Attached files are preferred. Wordis preferred but Apple users may send articles in Pages. 2. Photographs should be scanned in a .jpg or a .tif fileformat then either attached to e-mail or mailed via U.S.Postal Service on a 3 1/2” diskette or CD RM. Pleaseinclude a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you wouldlike your diskette or photo prints returned.3. Hard-copy handwritten or typewritten articles may beaccepted: however, pre-approval from the Editor isrequired.4. Any materials submitted via USPS mail will not bereturned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is pro-vided.5. Concerns or complaints should be addressed to:Barbara Kelly, Communications Committee,[email protected] opinions expressed in the Tennes-Sierran arethose of the contributors and do not necessarilyreflect the official views or policies of the TennesseeChapter, or the Sierra Club.
St. Croix River Dam Passages Removed So AlewivesCan Swim Free
The Sierra Club's Maine Chapter worked in collabo-ration with state's Environmental Priorities Coalition topass a bill requiring the state to ensure that the fishwayson the Woodland Dam and the Grand Falls Dam bereconfigured or operated in such a way that "allows theunconstrained passage of river herring." The bill, L.D.72, was passed by overwhelming majorities in bothstatehouse chambers and took effect May 1. ThePortland Press Herald in its coverage called the deci-sion "historic."
Tactical Highlights: To aid in this win, the MaineChapter used online grassroots action alerts, public tes-timony, and grasstops outreach. When: 2013.04.23.Related Campaign: Protecting Waters.Minnesota Passes First Solar Standard andInnovative Solar Policy
The Minnesota legislature passed a comprehensiveclean energy package with particular emphasis on solar,including a 1.5% solar portfolio standard by 2020, newincentives for solar photo-voltaics made in Minnesota, acommunity solar gardens program, and support for anumber of forward-looking studies.
Tactical Highlights: The Sierra Club 's North Star(Minnesota) Chapter held a 700-person rally at the statecapitol on Earth Day, and the Club was a primary driv-er behind making that event a success. The Sierra Club
was one of the few organizations that had dedicatedstaff working on this legislation from the very begin-ning of the session, including the Chapter lobbyist andsignificant Beyond Coal Campaign organizing staffsupport. In addition, several key legislators involved inthis work were elected with active support from theNorth Star Chapter's state PAC. When: 2013.05.18.Related Campaign: Clean Energy Solutions.Mississippi Public Service Commission PassesEnergy Efficiency Rule
Three years after it was put on the docket in early2010, a new Energy Efficiency Rule has been approved3-0 by Mississippi's Public Service Commission (PSC).In the end, public comments tipped the balance in favorof the rule, much to the surprise of the rural electriccooperatives, which had expected the PSC to kill it.
Tactical Highlights: Since 2010, the Sierra Cluband many other groups mounted a persistent campaignto get this rule passed. The most creative thing aboutthis effort was the networking and helpful positive con-tribution from all kinds of national organizations thatpromote energy efficiency. While these organizationsdid a lot of the technical work, the Club and otherorganizations focused on the in-state advocacy. TheClub remains vigilant as the rural electric cooperativesare calling for a re-hearing of the rule. When:2013.07.03. Related Campaign: Clean EnergySolutions.
VICTORIES
Sierra Club Officers
Please notify theEditor when changes
are needed
TENNESSEE CHAPTER:Chair: Keven Routon (901) 485-3960
[email protected] Chair: Charles White (731) 307-8140
[email protected]: Barbara Kelly (423) 718-5009
[email protected]: Alice Demetreon (660) 247-2288
[email protected]. Treasurer: Bob Perlack (865) 229-5027
[email protected]: Axel Ringe (865) 850-0255
[email protected]: Phil Davis (423) 247-0473
[email protected] Delegate: Keven Routon (901) 485-3960
TN LOCAL GROUPS:Cherokee Groupwww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/cherokeeCo Chairs: Barbara Kelly (423) 718-5009
[email protected] Doyal (423) [email protected]
Treasurer: Barbara Hurst (423) [email protected]
Conservation: Davis Mounger (423) [email protected]
Outings: Sheryl Campbell (423) [email protected]
Upper CumberlandCommittee: John Harwood, 931-372-0493
Chickasaw Group - Memphiswww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/chickasawChair: Judith Rutschman (901) 485-3960
[email protected] Chair: Mark Plumlee (901) 679-4622
[email protected]: Keven Routon (901) 767-3960
kwratcs.me.comTreasurer: Ed Jones (901) 374-0582
[email protected]: Scott Banbury (901) 619-8567
Harvey Broome Group - Knoxville/Oak Ridgewww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/broomeChair: Robin Hill (865) 966-9435
[email protected] Chair: Dave Reister (865) 670-8991
[email protected]: Kris Christen (865) 593-9876
[email protected]: Bob Perlack (865) 229-5027
[email protected]: Axel Ringe (865) 850-0255
[email protected]: Ron Shrieves (865) 922-3518
Middle Tennessee Group - Nashvillewww.tennessee.sierraclub.org/mtgChair: Cliff Cockerham (615) 336-3905
[email protected] Chair: Penny Brooks (615) 792-5306
[email protected]: Charles High
[email protected]: Joel Gearhardt (615) 591-0268
[email protected]: Scott Heflinger (615) 351-2626
[email protected]: Craig Jervis (615) 400-4309
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]: Dennis Shekinah (423) 727-6497
[email protected]: Cindy Johnson (423) 895-1687
[email protected]: Dean Whitworth (423)727-7214Outings: Webb Griffith (423) 727-4797
Page 3 - January/February, 2015The Tennes-Sierran
Overall, the Sierra Club’s polls and focusgroups find that:
- Most Americans do not have a full under-standing about where their electricity comes from.
l Few American adults claim that they arevery knowledgeable about electricityissues.l Most Americans are unfamiliar wittheir own state’s electricity profile.l Americans generally have ambivalentrelationships with their electric utilities,but they do not necessarily see localutilities (or local coal companies) as badactors. l Few Americans feel they have controlover their energy choices.
- We don’t need to spend time convincing peo-ple that coal is undesirable – public opinion ofcoal is already negative.
Beyond Coal: Research-Based Messaging l Coal is consistently the least-popularenergy source among Americans; solarand wind are the most-popular amongDemocrats and Republicans. MostAmericans think we should rely less oncoal and more on cleaner sources.l Coal is seen as dirty, outdated andundesirable but also cheap and reliable. l Mountaintop removal coal mining isespecially unpopular.l Americans disapprove of federal sub-sidies for the coal industry.
- The strongest arguments against coal revolvearound public health and pollution.
l In the last year, there is evidence toshow that a secondary climate message
can work well with certain audiences(namely Democrats and those who acceptthe realit of climate disruption) but, even
among these audiences,a health message is(usually) even morepersuasive.
l Simply showing ortalking about the con-trast between dirty, out-dated coal and clean,growing wind and solarcan be a powerful mes-sage itself.
l Talking aboutAmerican clean energyinnovation and pioneer-ing is effective withvoters across the politi-cal spectrum.
- The jobs and econom-
ic arguments are important; Americans are sensi-tive to job loss in this economic downturn.
l Any talk of retiring coal plants shouldinclude specific references to local jobcreation in other industries and to re-training opportunities.
- Americans are wary of “environmental regu-lations” in the abstract, but they are supportive ofspecific protections – especially the Clean AirAct and Clean Water Act.
l There is broad and deep public supportfor the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency to limit the amount of carbonpollution power plants can emit.
Messaging Recommendations1
1) Don’t assume that Americans already havea negative perception of their electric utility.
- People are quick to assume that big corporatepolluters do not have their best interests at heart,but we need to provide background on their mis-deeds and how they relate to electricity supplies.Otherwise, Americans view their local utility (orcoal company) neutrally or positively.
2) Messages emphasizing the health impactsof pollution from coal-burning power plants aremost effective.
- Avoid getting caught in the other side’sframes or repeating their arguments.
3) Never talk about coal retirements withoutmentioning how that electricity would bereplaced with cleaner alternatives.
4) Local or personal stories or examples areusually more powerful than facts and figuresalone.
1These recommendations are generalized based on researchacross the country and different audiences. But every coal mes-sage should be tailored to be most effective in your local fight.Please work with your local press secretary to figure out whatwill work best for you.
Thank you so very much to our NovemberDefender contributors, including:Charles AkersNancy AndersonWilliam and Kathryn BendallJim BlackstockGary BowersSharon BoyceBob and Anne BrandtGary and Terri BrunvollCarol and Frank BurgerCharles and Marion BurgerCraig CananStewart and Louise CliftonRichard and Frieda ColemanWilliam and Dorothy DeVan Mary Lynn DobsonLarry and Carolyn DunnBetsy Garber and Steve ViningTom GattiSenator Doug HenryJay HiattCharlie High and Deb DixonDr. Lisa LangenbachDaniel LindstromRichard and Sherry LollerDr. and Mrs. Reginald LoweJoy MayfieldElizabeth and Robert PeelleJohn PiggMeg RobertsonCynthia and Steven RohrbachDon Scharf and Teri DavisDiane ShifrinMarty SimmonsGene and Ruth Van HornAnonymous donors and those who did notcomplete the form
Your name here next issue?
Tennessee Sierra Defenders Needs Your Help As We Mark 19 Successful Years What, you may ask, are the Defenders? This is a group of people who have contributed to our legislative efforts,enabling our lobbyist Mike Murphy and our dedicated volunteers and staff to make an impact on our state legis-lators. As a result of their hard work, our legislators know who we are and what we want; and they listen! Theymay not vote our way the first time around, but continuing insistence on what is right for our environment andfor the citizens of Tennessee brings the changes of which we are rightly proud. As a result of natural attrition,we must now increase our donor list. Generally, only people who have been part of this effort in the past are senta letter each year, and those people do not receive other solicitations from the Tennessee Chapter. We ask you tobecome a Defender by supporting this invaluable program.
We don’t know what bills will be brought up next legislative session, but some issues that we may addressinclude:
Further renewable energy legislation and/or support for community solar projects;Continued opposition to reversion of mining regulation oversight to state government;Support of any bill opposing mountain top removal mining;Defense against any regulations that would adversely affect Tennessee’s air, water, and land;Container deposit legislation, if brought up again.
Please support the Sierra Club Defenders, and contact your legislators about important bills. We can send youe-mail alerts (only as needed) during the session, and Tennessee Conservation Voters (TCV) sends out a weeklylegislative update. Check the box(es) below if you wish to receive these alerts.
Send the following form with a check made out to the Sierra Club with “Defenders” on the memo line toSierra Club Defenders, c/o Adelle Wood, 4641 Villa Green Drive, Nashville, TN 37215.
Thank you!
Amount q $75 q $150 q $250 q $1,000 ___________ Other
Name: _________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
City, state, zip: ___________________________________________
E-mail address: ____________________________________________ We will not divulge yourinformation.
q Check here to receive e-mail alerts when the Sierra Club needs contacts to state legislators on criti-cal votes. Include your e-mail address above. Don’t check this box if you already receive these alerts.
q Check here to receive weekly e-mail updates from TCV (include your e-mail address above) duringthe legislative session. Don’t check this box if you already receive these updates.
q Yes q No May we thank you in the TennesSierran?
q No acknowledgement letter needed. Please save Defender funds for program purposes.
Donations to this fund are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes
P.M., at Radnor Lake Visitor Center.“Owls” -- Robert English (photographer, natu-ralist, and very entertaining speaker) has sight-ed all nineteen species of North American owlsand nineteen species of owls from other coun-tries around the world. A birder for 31 years,Robert’s photographs have been published inthe National Audubon Society books, The BirdGarden and The Audubon BackyardBirdwatcher. Robert is the founder of LEAPS,an environmental consulting service that con-ducts research to provide natural area interpre-tation and management techniques to parksand natural areas. He is also a member andinstructor for the Tennessee NaturalistProgram.
STRATEGY MEETINGS: January 20,February 17, and March 17 - Tuesdays at6:30 P.M. Everyone is welcome at this localissues and business meeting. Meetings areusually held at the Mad Platter Restaurant,1239 Sixth Ave. North, Nashville 37208 (nearthe Nashville Farmer's Market), but there maybe times we meet elsewhere. If you are not aregular attendee, please contact Betsy at 668-1977 or [email protected] in case themeeting location has changed. Come a bitearly because we start the meeting at 6:30.The Mad Platter is not open on Tuesdayevenings, so be sure to eat before you come orbring something with you. We look forward toseeing you.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: (contactBetsy at 668-1977 or [email protected])
1. We need someone to assist Joel makingchanges each month to our web page.
2. Joy would welcome folks to assist her inpresentations to elementary school students.
3. We need more hike leaders and assistants.4. We need more ICO (disadvantaged youth)
hike leaders and assistants.5. We need folks to distribute brochures to
libraries, etc.
WATAUGA GROUP (Northeastern TN)
PROGRAM MEETINGS: Every secondTuesday at 7 P.M. Please contact GloriaGriffith at [email protected] or 423-727-4797 for more information.
CHICKASAW GROUP (Memphis)
Checkhttp://www.facebook.com/Chickasaw.Group/for meeting information.
HARVEY BROOME GROUP (Knoxville)
January 13, 7:00 P.M. Tennessee ValleyUnitarian Universalist Church, 2931Kingston Pike, Knoxville. ExpandingKnoxville’s Urban Wilderness. Carol Evans,Executive Director, Legacy Parks Foundation
February 10, 7:00 P.M. Tennessee ValleyUnitarian Universalist Church, 2931Kingston Pike, Knoxville. "Birds" -Listing, Education, and Conservation.John O'Barr, President, Knoxville Chapter ofthe Tennessee Ornithological Society
March 10, 7:00 P.M. Tennessee ValleyUnitarian Universalist Church, 2931Kingston Pike, Knoxville. A Preview ofHarvey Broom Group 2014 OutingsProgram. Ron Shrieves, Harvey BroomeGroup, Sierra Club, Outings Coordinator
MIDDLE TENNESSEE GROUP (Nashville)
Program: January 8, Thursday, 7:00P.M. Radnor Lake Visitors Center“Climate Change, Mountain Top Removal& Music” -- Nell Levin and Dan Joranko, Co-Executive Directors of Tennessee Alliance forProgress (TAP), will present a program (withmusical interludes) on the facts behind climatechange, how to respond to common argumentsand resistance to change, and the practice ofmountain top removal to mine coal.
Program: February 12, Thursday, 7:00P.M. Radnor Lake Visitors Center –“Nashville’s Recycling – Where Does itGo?” – We put our recyclables in the bin, butwhat happens then? Marge Davis, coordinatorof the Tennessee Bottle Bill Project (RecyclingRefunds), will look at some of the ins and outsof Nashville's recycling program, includinghow Nashville is doing on recycling, how therecycled materials are processed, and wherethey end up.
Program: March 12, Thursday, 7:00
The public is very welcome at ALL SierraClub Meetings and Activities! All memberstraveling across the state should feel free todrop in and attend another Group’s meet-ings. You will find yourself among friendsand learning something interesting.
CHEROKEE GROUP (Chattanooga)
Welcome the New Year Mixer/Pot Luck,Jan. 4, 5 P.M. to 8 P.M., Audubon Acres:You're invited to a Party! Bring friends anda covered dish to share, we'll supply drinks,utensils, plates, etc. Come start the new yearwith people who share the same interests anddreams for our environment as you. Location:Audubon Acres Visitor Center, 900 SanctuaryRoad, Chattanooga, 37424 -- the new buildingjust inside their gate, in East Brainerd, offGunbarrel Road. Fun and fellowship!
Strategy/Business Meetings: Jan. 12 andFeb. 9 (2nd Monday) 6:30 P.M., - Held atSecond Presbyterian Church, at the corner ofE. 7th Street and Pine, 700 Pine Street [park-ing is free in their Pine Street lot, across thestreet from the church, next to the old BlueCross (orange) building.] If you want to beconnected to the Environmental Buzzin/around Chattanooga -- this is where to be.Come add your ideas and share your concerns.We'll be planning our actions: we're active onseveral fronts: clean energy, forest watch/pro-tection, mining/fracking issues, and energizingour Outings program. All are welcome!
NOTE: We're moving! 2015 Programmeetings will be at Green|Spaces, 63 E. MainSt., Chattanooga. 37408. Parking availablealong the street and around the corner of thebuilding. Mark your calendars now!!!
January Program: 4th Monday, Jan. 26,7:00 P.M. at Green|Spaces, 63 E. Main St.,Chattanooga. 37408. Sustainability atYOUR House: Get the Most Bang for YourBuck! Carylon Smith and Jeffrey Maxwell,from Home Depot, will be showing us how tomake our homes more energy-efficient whilesaving $$. They have great presentation mate-rials, some hands on demonstrations, and willbring goody bags for everybody. Learn how tomake your house over energy-wise, at thesame time you lower your electric bills!
The public is very welcome and healthysnacks are served. Invite your friends!!Look for our banner.
February Program: 4th Monday, Feb.23, 7:00 P.M. at Green|Spaces, 63 E. MainSt., Chattanooga. 37408. Looking atForestry Best Management Practices(BMPs): Our State Forests. Shannon Gann,Area Forester for Bradley, Hamilton andSequatchie, and Jim Lane, Forester for PrentissCooper State Forest, will be teaching us aboutforestry "Best Management Practices" for ourstate forests. Come learn about how ourforests should be handled! We'd like to start aForest Watch for Prentice Cooper; we'll behaving a hike there in March.
The public is very welcome, healthy snacksare served. Invite your friends!! Look for ourbanner.
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Page 5 - January/February, 2015 The Tennes-Sierran
CHEROKEE GROUP (Chattanooga)
Sheryl Campbell is our Outings Chair,and point-person for outings information forour Group. Our activities are always open tothe public and to members of the Club fromacross our state! Outings are planned to take inthe interests and skill levels of the participants.For more information, contact Sheryl at [email protected]. Also check ourFacebook page, Cherokee Sierra, for the lateston our outings.
Jan. 17 (Sat) Basic First Aid & OutingsLeader Training: 8:30 to 4 P.M. You will startthe day earning your basic first aid certification,enjoy lunch, and then complete Outings trainingfor Sierra Club leaders. You will leave at the endof the day ready to plan your first outing -- be itan afternoon walk, a day hike, canoe trip, watersampling trip, camp out, wild flower outing,whatever! Cost is $30 members, $45 non-mem-bers. We’ll reimburse you after you have led 2outings! Open to the public! To RegisterContact Barbara Kelly [email protected] or call 423-718-5009 fordetails.
Jan. 18 (Sun) TN Sandhill Crane Festival,Birchwood. We'll meet at 8:30 A.M. inChattanooga, then carpool out to the BirchwoodCommunity Center to catch the shuttle buses tothe Hiwassee Refuge to view the thousands ofcranes that migrate through or spend the winteron and around the Hiwassee Refuge. Bringbinoculars, a sack lunch and water. Dress forthe weather! In addition to the sandhill cranes,we’ll see endangered whooping cranes, bald andgolden eagles and other native wildlife at therefuge, and check out the special programs forthe Festival at the community center. For moreinformation, and to register, contact ContactBarbara Kelly at [email protected] or 423-718-5009 for details.
Cherokee NewsPlease Like Uson Facebook -- our Organization Page:https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeSierraon Facebook - our Group Page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/65310596576/Join our MeetUp --Green Events-- Group:http://www.meetup.com/greenhome-107/
Keep those e-mall addresses coming so youwill get our E-News: send your e-mail addressto Alice at [email protected]
CHICKASAW GROUP (MEMPHIS)
Time and dates of outings are to be deter-mined. Checkhttp://www.facebook.com/Chickasaw.Group/
HARVEY BROOME GROUP (Knoxville)
10 January (Sat). Dayhike, Virgin FallsState Natural Area. The Virgin Falls trailwinds along and down into a gorge for about 4miles before reaching Virgin Falls. There is aloss of 800 feet in elevation along the way.Virgin Falls is formed by an underground
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
stream that emerges from a sinkhole, runs overa large flat rock, drops over a 110 foot cliff,and disappears into a cave at the bottom.Before reaching Virgin Falls we will pass someoutstanding geologic features – Big BranchFalls, the Caney Fork Overlook, Big LaurelFalls, and Sheep Cave. This trail has steep sec-tions, and is rated moderate to difficult, requir-ing about 6-7 hours to complete. Virgin Fallswas the first Pocket Wilderness Area estab-lished by Bowater Southern Paper Corporationin 1970. It was purchased by the State ofTennessee in 1996. Rated moderate. The driv-ing distance from West Knoxville is about 85-90 miles. Preregister with BJ and Bob Perlack:[email protected]; 229-5027.
31 Jan - 1 Feb (Sat-Sun). WinterBackpack, Abrams Falls (the Back Way!),GSMNP. This is a round-trip hike of about11.6 miles total, but most of it will be concen-trated on the second day. The first day, we'llhave a short hike into Campsite #17 and set upcamp, collect lots of firewood, and enjoy a longevening by the campfire (assuming we gethalfway decent weather). Day 2 we'll continuewith daypacks to Abrams Falls and then returnto the backcountry campsite, where we'll col-lect the rest of our gear and head back to thecars. We use several trails in the process of thistwo-day hike: Cooper Road Trail (0.9 mile),Little Bottoms Trail (2.3 miles), HatcherMountain Trail (0.8 mile), and the AbramsFalls Trail as far as Abrams Falls (1.8 miles).Most of the trail closely borders Abrams Creekand offers wonderful views of stream and val-ley. This route is only lightly used and offers aquiet, contemplative alternative to the shorterand much busier trail to the falls from CadesCove. The backcountry camp fee is $4 per per-son – the leader will make reservation for thefirst 10 participants. This hike is rated moder-ate because of the season and one fairly steeppitch. Drive: 33 mi each way. Pre-registerwith Ron Shrieves at 922- 3518 or [email protected] (email preferred).
14 Feb (Sat). Take-a-Hike, Laurel-SnowState Natural Area, near Dayton, TN. Withthe water flowing, the hike along RichlandCreek out and up to Snow Falls provides awe-some scenery. We'll hike up the historic trailthat follows Richland Creek through an oldmining area before turning to ascend the ridgeon which the falls are located. We'll also takethe spur trail out to Buzzard Point, where we'llhave great views of the watershed. The lack ofleaves on the trees in winter enhances views ofthe surrounding area, as well as giving greatviews of the spectacular mountain creek andseveral waterfalls. Round-trip hike distance, 11miles. Rated moderate. Two creek crossings,hopefully with boots on. One-way driving dis-tance, 80 miles. Pre-register with Ron Shrievesat 922-3518 or [email protected](email preferred).
21 Feb (Sat). Dayhike, Old Settlers Trail,GSMNP. This is a 10-mile out and back hikefrom Maddron Bald Trailhead along the eastend of the Old Settlers Trail. We will visit acemetery, the McCarter barn, and explore awonderful historic area covered with walls andchimneys. Icy conditions may make a high
foot-log crossing and a later rock-hop crossinginteresting. Rated moderate. Driving distanceabout 60 miles each way. Pre-register withRob Davis at 865-202-6661 or [email protected] (email preferred).
MIDDLE TENNESSEE GROUP (Nashville)
January 10 – Sandhill Crane outing toWheeler Natural Area – Please join us as wetravel down I-65 to view the Sandhill Cranes ata favorite stop on their migration south. Youwill be required to sign a waiver to participatein this outing. Register with Joy at [email protected]. (put “sierra club hike” inthe subject line).
January 17 – Peeler Park hike – Join us forthis hike to one of the newer Nashville parks.This will also serve as a training session for ourhike leaders and assistants, but all are welcome.(We would love to have more hike leaders andassistants by the way.) You will be required tosign a waiver to participate in this outing. Pleaseregister with Betsy at [email protected].(put “sierra club hike” in the subject line).
February & March Outings: We have anactive outings schedule and want you to comealong! Many times our outings are planned toolate to be included in this newsletter. To checkout our outings, please click on the outing ofchoice at http://www.meetup.com/Middle-Tennessee-Sierra-Club-Outings-and-Adventures/events/calendar/
OUTINGS LEADER NEEDEDWe need YOU as an outings leader!
All you need to do to become a certified out-ings leader for MTG Sierra Club is:
— Complete the on-line OLT 101 course(available on Clubhouse) and take the self-assessment quiz at the end
— Have a current Red Cross Basic First Aidcertification (we reimburse after you have led 3outings)
— Assist or co-lead 3 provisional hikes witha certified outings leader before leading an out-ing solo.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT! IF YOUEVER CONSIDERED BECOMING AN OUT-INGS LEADER, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT!
Outings Chair: Craig Jervis([email protected] or 615-400-4309)
Outings leader: Joy Mayfield ([email protected] or 615-851-1192)
Page 6 - January/February, 2015 The Tennes-Sierran
From The Rev. Stephen Phelps and StephanieLow, 11/27/2014
While the country contemplates how themidterm results will impact policies, one thing has-n’t changed: the administration and some membersof Congress are still pushing for a new trade dealthat makes the North American Free TradeAgreement look puny.
This agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership,includes the U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim coun-tries comprising 40 percent of global trade.(Negotiating countries include Mexico, Canada,Japan, Vietnam, Australia, Brunei, Singapore,Chile, Malaysia, Peru and New Zealand.) Its provi-sions could destroy jobs at home, underminenational sovereignty and threaten clean air andwater everywhere.
Twenty years ago, NAFTA promised Americanjobs and economic prosperity by opening tradewith Canada and Mexico. We didn’t get the jobs,but we sure did get problems. According to PublicCitizen’s Economic Policy Institute, NAFTA out-sourced jobs from all 50 states. Approximately46,200 were lost in New York alone. Moreover,U.S., Canada and Mexico increased manufacturingthat polluted water, land and air in all three coun-tries. To top it off, NAFTA created foreign tribunalswhere corporations can challenge the environmen-tal and public safety laws of any member nation.Headed by just three private sector lawyers, the tri-bunals have no obligation to disclose the full termsof their decisions, and their decisions allow noappeal.
In a current suit before a NAFTA tribunal, anAmerican fracking company is suing Canada tochallenge Quebec’s moratorium on fracking. IfCanada loses the case, its taxpayers will be on thehook for a fine of $230 million. Public Citizenreports, “In the first seven years of NAFTA ... anastonishing $13 billion [was] claimed by corpora-tions in their initial filings,” and more than 85 per-cent of the $3 billion already awarded involves law-suits “against national resource, energy and envi-ronmental policy.”
This is outrageous. The past 20 years have seenmore than enough damage. We cannot and will notstand for more.
But now Congress is considering a “fast track”bill that would allow the TPP to be pushed throughto easy passage. Under “fast tracking,” Congressabandons its over-sight of trade agreements andrenders itself unable to change a single word of theTPP or any other trade agreement. Fast-trackingwould undermine the system of checks and bal-ances that the Constitution put in place to preventone branch of government from grabbing too big ashare of power. The voice of the elected congres-sional representatives of the people would besilenced.
Fast-tracking the TPP would put our jobs upagainst those in countries such as Vietnam, whereworkers make a shocking $2.23 a day. It wouldexpand Big Pharma’s monopoly protections, trad-ing away low-cost access to medicines. It wouldmean transnational corporations could sue the U.S.and challenge nearly any law they claim cuts intotheir “future expected profits.” Laws protecting the
air we breathe, the water we drink, the food on ourdinner tables and our very health would be threat-ened.
These provisions are so clearly bad for the U.S.that the most recent attempt to pass a fast track billwas dead on arrival when introduced in Congresslast January. Nonetheless, it’s likely that a new fast-track proposal will be introduced in the next fewmonths. Early this month, TPP trade ministers fromall member nations met in Beijing in an effort tomove negotiations closer to a conclusion. That willbring pressure on Congress to facilitate the TPP bypassing this legislation quickly.
Trade can be of real benefit if it is done responsi-bly. But leaks from TPP texts show that the TPPwill take us in the wrong direction and send theprofits to the very corporations that helped writethe texts, not to workers or communities.
Rep. Charles Rangel, we hope you, along withthe whole New York congressional delegation, willjoin us in the fight for our jobs, our wages, ourenvironment, our food and our health. We haveelected you year after year because you have con-tinually fought to protect us. We call on you now toprotect us once more to publicly oppose any fasttrack bill, just as you did by rejecting the previousone. We call on you to do it again, congress- man.Do it for the sake of your own great legacy and forthe sovereignty of our beloved country.
The Rev. Stephen Phelps is a former interim sen-ior minister at Riverside Church and StephanieLow is chair of both the Sierra Club AtlanticChapter TPP Task Force and the NYC TPP TaskForce.
A Letter to Rep. Charles Rangel Concerning a New TradeAgreement
By Steven SondheimIf someone gave you a bag with $6 billion in it,
and you wanted to reduce or avoid carbon emis-sions from electricity generation, how would youspend it? Here's a radical idea: Transfer the moneyplanned for new nuclear to renewables. TVA saysthat they get so much electricity from nuclear thatthey don't need renewables or efficiency. We say,'Why don't you look at it the other way? If youramp up efficiency and renewable sources, youwon't need nuclear.'"
We can get three to five times the carbon avoid-ance for the next same money with energy efficientand renewable energy as we can with nuclear.Spending money on nuclear energy robs us of aclean energy future.
Susan Corbett, team leader of the Sierra Club'sNuclear Free Campaign, has been a leader in anti-nuclear activism since the 1970’s. Growing up inSouth Carolina, the state with the highest depend-ence on nuclear energy in the U.S., she was drawninto the anti-nuclear movement when a nuclearplant was built ten miles from her childhood home.
This past weekend, Corbett, myself, and DonSafer (Tennessee Sierra's Nuclear Chair) joinedalmost 100 other leaders in the anti-nuclear move-ment, representing many concerned SierraChapters, over 30 U.S. states, Canada and Japan,for The Summit for a Nuclear Free Future in ournations capital. The Sierra Club’s Nuclear FreeCampaign was there in force, along with theNuclear Information and Resource Service, Beyond
Nuclear, Nuclear Energy Information Service,Institute for Energy and Environmental Research,Uranium Watch, Southwest Research andInformation Center, the Information Network forResponsible Mining, Earthworks, San ObispoMothers for Peace and many others.
These activists discussed transitioning off ofnuclear power, dealing properly with radioactivewaste, fighting nuclear industry attacks on cleanenergy, and getting to a nuclear-free and carbon-free future.
Nuclear power is not a viable option to lessenour dependence on coal and natural gas. Corbettnotes that “without government subsidies and sup-port for nuclear, it would be too expensive.Nuclear energy “would be priced out of the marketwithout the government propping up the nuclearindustry.”
Nuclear energy is already “risky as an energysource” -- with a poor track record made worse bythe recent Fukushima disaster.
Nuclear energy production creates a host of otherproblems, like radiation and toxic waste, which areharmful to our environment, our wildlife, and ourfamilies. “We can barely keep a trash containerfrom leaking for 50 years,” said Corbett.“Byproducts can’t be safely isolated for 10,000+years.”
The activists at the Summit for a Nuclear FreeFuture are driven by the belief that nuclear energy’shazardous pollution far outweighs any benefits -and that’s the message they took to Congress, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and the NuclearRegulatory Commission on two lobby days follow-ing their conference
Members of the Navajo tribe took up the issue ofnuclear energy on Native American lands includingthe Yucca Mountain Waste Repository and uraniummines. Others told the EPA that a proposedincrease in what is deemed “acceptable” doses ofradiation should be scrapped. “There is no accept-able level of radiation,” notes Corbett. “It is harm-ful to everyone at any level.”
The lobbying push is more important than ever.With a new Congress taking power in January,fears are rising that the House and Senate willattempt to kick start the Yucca Mountain nuclearwaste repository and fail to clean up nearly 10,000uranium mines on Native American lands.
Corbett said that’s why the planning that hap-pened at The Summit for a Nuclear Free Future isso important. Anti-nuclear activists like Corbettand many others are engaged and ready to fight --armed with the hope for a clean energy future freeof dangerous, expensive nuclear energy.
-------------------------------------------Checkout/Join Sierra Club's effort:facebook.com/NuclearFreeCampaign
Other sources:beyondnuclear.org or nirs.org
Sierra Magazine's A Cleaner Southsierraclub.org/sierra/2014-6-november-december/feature/cleaner-south
Summit for a Nuclear Free Future
Page 7 - January/February, 2015 The Tennes-Sierran
By April BryantWhy is it that we can no longer depend on
our state and federal agencies to protect ourenvironment? Isn’t that why they exist? Isn’tthat why we pay them with our hard-earnedtaxes? Why would we continue to pay themif we have to protect our own environment,ourselves? Are we going this alone?
A year ago I would have never said I wasan environmentalist. Sure, I’ve always been anature lover and appreciated the natural beau-ty of the world, but I don’t think I would haveclassified myself to that degree. All of thesudden, almost overnight, I have become astaunch defender of the environment. Why,you ask? What caused this overnight meta-morphosis? The answer is that the environ-ment I need to defend is my back yard andwhen I say back yard that is not a euphe-mism. I literally mean my own back yard.
Our family farm sits on the banks of theNolichucky River. It is where I grew up,under the shadow of Bird’s Hill, a locallyfamous, huge rock-cliff on the opposite sideof the river, playing in the water where 200years of family generations have done thesame. This farm has been handed down sinceshortly after the Revolutionary War whenJoseph Conway, who served with GeorgeWashington at Valley Forge, acquired it via aland grant. Am I emotional and sentimentalabout this land? You bet!
So when I found out that an explosivescompany wanted to put in pipelines to takewater out of and dump wastewater back intothe river, my river, I was terrified and angry!I can’t tell you if I was more terrified orangry because those feelings alternated (stilldo) regularly. Even more disturbing is thatwe were not notified by anything other than avery small public notice sign, a short 30 days
before this was to be approved by theTennessee Department of Environment andConservation (TDEC). And just like that, Ibecame an environmentalist!
The reason why this company wants unfet-tered access to the Nolichucky River?Because it would cost too much for them toget water from the local utility company andto pay for sewer usage. Really? Is this avalid reason? How is this OK?
It wasn’t just me, either. Friends andneighbors became environmentalists, too.There’s nothing like being a newbie at fight-ing and getting thrown in the ring withGoliath. Learn on the fly? Oh yes! Whenit’s your children’s drinking water youbecome very passionate. I received somewonderful advice from a friend, one of themain points being to “get big” and be quickabout it. I created a Facebook page andshared it to everyone I knew and on all theenvironmental group’s pages I could find,asking for help. The Sierra Club was aGodsend in helping us get rolling and givingus advice on what to do next that would bemost effective. I became a member. Look atme, an active member of the Sierra Club, whowould have thought?
A few of us met and organized arally, several, in fact. We handedout fliers and information sheets.We wrote letters and went personto person and had them sign a peti-tion and write comment lettersagainst this atrocity and submittedthem to TDEC. Our small groupwas turning into hundreds of sup-porters.
What happened next? We submitted over
500 letters and over 4,800 signatures andwell, TDEC eventually gave them their per-mits anyway, just a couple of days after theyreceived the letters that they were, by law,required to read and consider. We found outthey must be speed-readers and super fast atconsidering. Does this show what they areclaiming they do? Does it illustrate the rea-son for their existence?
From their webpage:TDEC exists to enhance the quality of life
for citizens of Tennessee and to be stewardsof our natural environment.
Pardon me, but I’m not feeling it. Drinkingchemicals is not an enhancement to my quali-ty of life, unless, of course, it would trans-form me into some sort of super-hero Nordoes dumping chemicals on the endangeredmussels, only found in one other river any-where on the planet, seem to be an exampleof good stewardship of the natural environ-ment. Does it?
What now? We load our slingshot againand seek legal advice on filing an appeal. Anappeal. An appeal paid for by everyday peo-ple who don’t have vast resources. An appealfiled against a government agency that -- waitfor it -- is going to use our very own tax dol-lars to fight us back. Wait. What? That’sright. We are funding both sides. There’ssomething inherently wrong about that, isn’tthere?
Ansel Adams, the great nature photogra-pher, once said, “It is horrifying that we haveto fight our own government to save the envi-
ronment.” He was on target with that state-
ment. I will attest, first hand, that it is indeedhorrifying. They have vast reserves of ourmoney to spend.
During this discussion of appeal, we(continued on page 8)
Who’s Minding the Store?Observations from a Fledgling Environmentalist
Photo by Kenny Carlisle
Page 8 - January/February, 2015 The Tennes-Sierran
The Sierra Club-Middle TN Group
Tennes-Sierran3712 Ringgold Road, #156Chattanooga, TN 37412-1638
Bi-Monthly Newsletter for the TN Chapter Sierra ClubVol. 47, No. 1 - January/February, 2015
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Attach mailing address label, or fill in currentname, address & Membership ID#
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Moving?
those same citizens down. Even went so faras to have a citizen arrested for asking themto speak loud enough so the audience couldhear at the reapplication meeting. Why arewe paying these guys? Are we paying theirsalaries to enable them to shove pollutiondown our throats and have us arrested if wedon’t agree? What country are we in? Ithink I may have accidentally wandered intoNorth Korea. Can someone bring me back tothe America I thought I lived in?
We just received word that TennesseeValley Authority (TVA) and the Army Corpsof Engineers have now signed off on the finalpermits for the pipelines. Those pipelines are“essential” because a company refuses to payfor water and sewer. It’s astounding, isn’t it?
Now, here we are at the legal phase, spend-ing hard earned money fighting agencies thatare funded by taxpayers. Four lawsuits havebeen filed in this matter and thousands of citi-zens are outraged, and as well they should be.Who’s minding the store here?
This company is bad for the environmentand has bullied their way into the community.They originally came here saying they wouldhelp the community and that they would beusing “an estimated $1 million annually inwater” and “…buy its water from the Town ofMosheim, which in turn purchases its waterfrom the Greeneville Water Department.”1
This would have reduced water bills for thoseusing the same utility. That was a blatant lieto the community. How can we possibly trustthem now?
Our politicians, aside from one faithfulState Representative, have been noticeablyabsent and non-responsive. Don’t we paythem, too? Wow, we sure do pay a lot of peo-ple who are supposed to represent us, don’twe? Why am I having to fundraise for legalfees? I’d like a refund of my tax moneybecause it’s not being used properly by theagencies that are supposed to look out for ourbest interests, not the interests of big busi-ness.
(continued from page 7)received some excellent news. The TennesseeDepartment of Transportation (TDOT) haddenied their permit to use the state right-of-way (ROW) to run their pipeline.
Their decision read in part:Upon examination of the application docu-
ments, it appears that the proposed pipelineswould be for the private use of US Nitrogen,LLC only and would not provide any publicservices to the general community.
We were elated! Finally a state agency hadlooked at the laws and honestly evaluated theinformation. The company started negotia-tions with the local utility company and thelocal utility went out of their way to accom-modate them. Ah, all was well with theworld and we could rest easy from our pro-tective stance of guarding our treasuredNolichucky.
Not so fast! Seems the negotiations wereonly a ruse to buy time, to get those of usfighting the pipelines, off their backs, all thewhile getting advice from TDOT officialsthemselves about how to skirt the law. Wait.What? TDOT, those wonderful folks whohad done their appointed job and evaluatedthe situation, granted their second request fora permit to use the ROW. The only changewas that the county Industrial DevelopmentBoard (IDB) would own the pipelines andtransfer them to the company and that othercompanies could use the pipelines. TDOTtold them no new plans or specifications wereneeded. Where do TDOT officials paycheckscome from? Are activities like conferringwith companies about finding a way around astate law really what their job entails?
This development was even worse! TheIDB could now open the door for other com-panies to take water from and dump into theNolichucky. Here again, the county officials,paid by tax dollars, being bombarded by theircitizens to stop this since the plant first cameto the county under seemingly questionablepractices from the very beginning, are letting
Who’s Minding the Store?Observations from a Fledgling Environmentalist
It’s certainly been an eye opening experi-ence for me and I know for a lot of others, aswell. I knew there were issues where bureau-cracies were involved, but I had no idea justhow bad it really was. Corruption of peopleseems to be as big of an environmental issueas corruption of our environment itself.
So, maybe the term environmentalist does-n’t mean what I thought it did. Maybe justcaring about the water you drink and the airyou breathe, where your children play, andthe health of your family and friends doesn’tmake you an environmentalist with the tree-hugger connotation, maybe it just makes youa responsible citizen of your community.
We pay these agencies to uphold the lawsand we should be able to trust them to keepus safe and not be pawns in political games,to be immune to politics completely. I’msure the mussels in the river are neitherRepublican or Democrat and that they could-n’t care less who is; only that they not die ofexposure to chemicals, and endangered mol-lusks should be a bi-partisan issue, bivalve bi-partisan!
Nearly every day I see these same thingshappening to people all over our country andmore and more citizens are having to standtheir own ground. We need, and we shouldhave the support of these agencies or theyshould be disbanded or reorganized, as theyare only a waste of taxpayer money if theyare not doing their jobs. We become the vic-tims twice if we have to pay to keep themrunning and then have to fight our own battleswith our own money.
We need to take a long, hard look at whowe are paying and why.
For more information, or to help keep theNolichucky clean, please visitwww.SaveTheNolichucky.org or visit theSave the Nolichucky Facebook page.
1Jones, Rich. "US Nitrogen Breaks Ground For $220-Million Plant." The Greeneville Sun. 18 Feb. 2012. Web. 1Oct. 2014.
