HBG January Program
Tuesday, January 8, 7:00pm, Tennessee Valley Unitarian-Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike.
TBA - check the Harvey Broome Group website in early January for details.
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Climate change is intensifying, but Trump rejects conclusions
It’s no surprise to our readers that climate change is not a fiction. Just try telling it to our President. “Major Trump administration climate report says damage is ‘intensifying across the country’ “ (https://wapo.st/2FYSl3l), and “Trump rejects dire climate change report by his own administration: 'I don't believe it’” ( https://trib.in/2RDqo2k).
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Coal Ash Issues Pile up in Illinois
Tennesseans sadly recall the disaster of the Kingston Coal Ash spill in 2008. Other states and regions the US are also concerned. In 2018, for the first time, Illinois utilities were required to publicly report groundwater pollution conditions related to coal ash disposal. A consortium of environmental organizations (including the Sierra Club) examined the data and found significant groundwater contamination at the majority of the 24 dumpsites. The full report by the consortium can be found at: https://bit.ly/2G2959X. An executive summary quoted from the report follows:
- There are more than two dozen coal ash dumpsites spread across Illinois that contain over 80 individual ash ponds and landfills. Almost all of these ash dumps sit right next to rivers and lakes, separated from them only by thin earthen embankments. They are disproportionately located in communities with limited resources but pose a threat that extends far and wide.
- The vast majority of coal ash ponds in Illinois are unlined. Just two of thirty-five reporting Illinois coal ash ponds have liners. This means there is little or nothing stopping the toxic pollution in those ash ponds from leaching into groundwater.
- These dumps are leaching toxic pollution into groundwater. Our report shows that 22 of 24 power plants for which we have groundwater monitoring data are leaching unsafe levels of dangerous pollution into Illinois waters. Coal ash pollutants at unsafe levels in Illinois groundwater include but are not limited to arsenic, boron, cadmium, cobalt, lead, selenium, and thallium.
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Keeping Tabs on Fossil Fuel Disasters
For an insightful visual graphic summary of major Fossil Fuel Disasters in the U.S., see: https://bit.ly/2EgQepE
Map of Major Fossil Fuel Disasters.
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Keeping Tabs on Fossil Fuel Disasters
For an insightful visual graphic summary of major Fossil Fuel Disasters in the U.S., see: https://bit.ly/2EgQepE
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Interior Recycling Bins Available at all TN State Parks
The bins are part of a broader sustainability initiative within the Tennessee State Parks known as “Go Green With Us,” which promotes the integration of sustainable practices into park management and operations. (https://bit.ly/2rkzVzE)
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More Bad News for Coal?
A report published in CBS’s Money Watch cites a study by investment banking firm Lazard which concludes that the cost of building and operating a utility-scale solar or wind farm is now below that of operating an existing coal plant! (https://cbsn.ws/2DJ3of2)
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Farm Bill Secures Wilderness Act for TN
A long-sought goal of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club is achieved, and thanks to Will Skelton and others who have worked hard on this.
“Farm Bill Secures Wilderness Act for TN.” December 13, 2018 - Antionette Kerr, Public News Service (TN). See the article: https://bit.ly/2CbalU3.
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Testing reveals groundwater contamination threat from TVA's Kingston coal ash landfill
Jamie Satterfield, Knoxville News Sentinel - Dec. 13, 2018. See the article: https://bit.ly/2PBNg0f.
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DOE's extension of the comment period for the O.R. hazardous waste landfill proposal
January 9 is the new deadline for submitting comments on DOE's controversial Oak Ridge EMDF hazardous waste landfill proposal to John.Japp@orem.doe.gov. Those most critical of this dangerous plan are those best qualified to understand it. Their comments make good talking points for our own:
Sid Jones and Dale Rector’s cautionary slideshow: https://www.facebook.com/JToddWaterman/media_set?set=a.2344097142285147&type=3
Retired TDEC groundwater contamination expert Sid Jones details shortcomings in DOE's plan at a November 7 hearing.
TDEC’s EMDF Fact Sheet https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/remediation/documents/oakridgereservation/emdf-documents/73212_EMDF_PP_State_Acceptance_Fact_Sheet_10_25_2018_r1.pdf?
Virginia Dale's Comments on behalf of the Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation (AFORR) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zi4kny5OkIMiKjUx5LYWGlnmDmsDAWGFF-xVoqqaS8E/edit?usp=sharing
Virginia Dale complains of losing a home sale to West Oak Ridge's reputation for contamination.
Brian Paddock's Comments
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jgNC5FNO119sFYmWUaylW4NLpgFdjzhL1TNMFJYAukg/edit?usp=sharing
Jan Berry's Comments https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aUX4L549AADzRgJscSrc7Qa3EwHcVI5mT0ouNUZKd9w/edit?usp=sharing
Ellen Smith's Comments https://docs.google.com/document/d/1susiqvv5Oncz2nxwlp4sKo4GDXx3JEsxng34s5WNQFU/edit?usp=sharing
EMDF Coverage in The Oak Ridger
https://www.oakridger.com/search?text=EMDF&start=1
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RECODE Knoxville
by Axel Ringe, Harvey Broom Group
So far citizens haven't been successful at getting more robust landscaping standards incorporated into current drafts of Recode Knoxville. This is the bad news. The good news is that after many requests from the public, Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and City Council have agreed to get off the speeding train to passage and slow the process down. We are now on the third - and what was supposed to be final - draft, but in November MPC agreed there would be a fourth draft. City Council has also agreed to break down the ordinance into sections, rather than consider the whole thing at once. This gives us more time and opportunity to advocate for our position. See our landscaping suggestions at: https://bit.ly/2QTUiC9 The main obstacle to better standards seems to be the city administration - especially the Department of Plans Review and Enforcement. It's not the result of best planning practices. We believe the city should adopt the best ordinance possible first, and worry about enforcement later.
City Council will have the final say about what is included in the ordinance. Our allies have already begun talking to some members of Council about this. If you live in Knoxville please do the same if you have the opportunity.
Areas of Recode that will be pulled out for further consideration and discussion by City Council will be determined in part by the number of comments submitted on the topic. We hope everyone will submit a comment supporting better landscaping standards. You don't have to be detailed or technical, you just have to let them know it's important to you. Although the deadline for the 4th draft was November 16, keep sending in comments. Even if you're late, it's better than not submitting any comment.
You can submit your comment here: https://bit.ly/2CepDYb. Don't worry about repeating what's already been said (hopefully with somewhat different wording). If you have additional concerns, include those, too. Gerald Green swears they read every comment and the more redundancy the better, because that's how they determine the issues that need attention.
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HBG/Chapter Events
Tue, Jan 8: Program Meeting, speaker TBD Monthly program meeting. 7-9 PM, Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Non-members welcome!
Sat, Jan 12: HBG Annual Retreat HBG annual retreat, 10 AM-4 PM, 4064 Kingston Park Drive, Knoxville TN 37919-6674. Pot luck lunch, so bring a dish. Bring: Dish for Pot Luck lunch.
Fri, Jan 25 - Sun, Jan 27: Tennessee Chapter Meeting, Cedars of Lebanon State Park. See Tennes-Sierran for details.
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HELP THE HARVEY BROOME GROUP
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
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Can't donate now? Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards. Kroger donates a portion of what you spend to the Harvey Broome Group as long as you designate HBG as your preferred charity.
Here's how:
1. Go to the Kroger Community Rewards web page
2. Register (or Sign In if you already have an account.)
3. Enroll in Community Rewards (or Edit if you're already enrolled.)
4. Enter HBG's Community Rewards Number 27874.
That's it. Swipe your Kroger Card when you shop and know that you're helping protect your environment.
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Who We Are
Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with more than two million members and supporters. Our successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. More recently, we've made history by leading the charge to move away from the dirty fossil fuels that cause climate disruption and toward a clean energy economy.
The Harvey Broome Group (HBG) is one of five Sierra Club Groups within the Tennessee Chapter. HBG is based in Knoxville and serves 18 surrounding counties. HBG's namesake, Harvey Broome, was a Knoxvillian who was a founding member of the Wilderness Society and played a key role in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Visit our website.
Join HBG.
Donate.(click the Donate button on the HBG home page)
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