Over the past 30 years, mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR) has destroyed more than 500 mountains and buried over 2000 miles of rivers and streams across Appalachia. More than one million acres, a land mass the size of Delaware, have been leveled by the coal industry in search of thin seams of coal. This extreme form of strip mining takes miners out of the mines and replaces them with explosives and large earth moving equipment.

While the vast majority of MTR is occurring in our neighboring states to the north, the coal industry has its sights set on the Volunteer State. Tennessee produces less than 1 percent of our nations coal, however 2/3 of that coal comes from destructive strip-mining practices. Since 1985, the TN coal industry has eliminated 85 percent of its own workforce. During that same time period, the percentage of coal coming from strip mining operations in Tennessee has increased by 44 percent.

To prevent the devastation that has occurred in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, a broad coalition of organizations/individuals is pushing for the passage of the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act – a bill that would ban mountaintop removal coal mining on peaks above 2000 feet in Tennessee. If passed, Tennessee would become the first state in America to pass a ban on this destructive mining practice.

In an effort to educate L-Club members about the issue, Shelby White-board member of Tennessee Conservation Voters – will be on hand February 11 to discuss the issue and ways individuals can get involved with the campaign. Shelby is working with a coalition of faith-based groups, environmental organizations, university students and community leaders across the state that support protecting our state’s highest peaks. The presentation will focus on various aspects of the issue from the economic impacts of coal in Tennessee to the public health and safety issues that come with blowing up mountains. White will also discuss action steps each person can take to support the effort to end MTR in Tennessee.

Host: Juliana Ericson, 6317 Percy Drive, 37205