tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53342134733486453812012-01-21T21:21:04.990-05:00<strong>An effort to mine coal in the Rock Creek watershed is underway<br>which has potential to destroy Rock Creek water quality.<br>This blog will document our attempt to protect<br>the environment in Rock Creek Gorge.</strong>Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-23095171935859381622010-01-08T09:11:00.001-05:002010-01-08T09:12:11.096-05:00

Scientists call on regulators to stop permitting mountaintop removal mines in Appalachia http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=9510600&page=1

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-15469646784734393852009-12-13T07:43:00.002-05:002009-12-13T07:43:04.671-05:00

Jim sent the following letter to Rock Creek area representatives and senators; the Governor with a copy to Jim Fyke, TDEC; all members of the house committee on environment; all members of the senate committee on environment. I am writing this with deep concern as it has been brought to my attention that coal exploration drilling was completed recently in the 1987 Lands Unsuitable for Mining

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-35699309587368318272009-12-13T07:42:00.001-05:002009-12-13T07:44:08.591-05:00

Jim: Regarding Big Possum Creek, some observations you already know but didn't have room to state below: E Branch Blanchard Creek drains a mined area and pollutes everything downstream. At its junction with W Branch Blanchard Creek, not far from the CT, the brown rocks look more like Utah's canyon country than East Tennessee. Blanchard Creek then enters Big Possum Creek, which looks the same

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-39591965658529562352009-12-08T21:13:00.007-05:002010-05-22T11:02:13.546-04:00

Here is an update of where I presently am regarding this matter: In an attempt to better understand the issue, I have corresponded with Landon Medley, the author of the letter to Rep. McDonald regarding this matter. Analysis of the map provided by Landon indicates that the test bore lands in question are located on the extreme western edge of Walden’s Ridge near the western escarpment and in an

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-50505487163000960702009-12-08T21:11:00.005-05:002009-12-09T07:50:06.184-05:00

Dear Mr. Schroeder, I appreciate your interest and attention to this serious matter of pending surface coal mining in the lands suitable Rock Creek Watershed. SOCM has been dealing with this issue for three years. I am attaching some related information to your question. This is an early heads-up. I any help to stop the re-opening of the Rock Creek LUMP to surface coal mining. It is our

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-63564281528422455852009-12-08T21:10:00.003-05:002009-12-09T07:50:26.015-05:00

Mary, SOCM has been involved with the Highlands Land Company's exploration drilling permit #3201 for over three years. Highlands finally started drilling a few weeks ago. The drill site is located in the northern portion of the 1987 designated watershed between Skiles Creek and Reel Creek. Under SMCRA regs, companies are allowed to do exploration drilling in lands unsuitable areas. We

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-63822969706216481922009-12-08T21:08:00.004-05:002009-12-09T07:50:45.629-05:00

Mo, Thanks for CCing reply to David. I would take the proposal by Highlands Land Company and America Energy Company of mining 1700 acres in the headwaters of Rock Creek serious. These headwaters create Hall Creek which runs into Rock Creek then into the gorges. Hall Creek and Suzanne Branch are designated Tier 2 streams. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently seeking to designate endangered

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-80393312428196766502009-12-08T21:03:00.005-05:002009-12-13T11:50:12.465-05:00

Hi David, I think someone from SOCM has probably clarified with you that the Rock Creek Lands Unsuitable Petition (LUMP) which SOCM won back in the '80's specifically designated the Rock Creek gorge itself as off-limits to mining. Mining in the rest of the watershed was considered enough of a threat that the LUMP specifically mentioned that mining in the Sewanee coal seam, a highly toxic seam,

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-16451838287681140202009-12-08T21:00:00.004-05:002009-12-09T07:52:00.093-05:00

This a whole new ball game with a different set of legislators directly involved than in Hamilton County. I have not met with any of the Bledsoe County area representatives and both the house and senate environmental committees have a different make up than when we undertook our last efforts to get legislation enacted. As I understand it, there are existing laws which govern coal mining and it

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334213473348645381.post-10700713429880017052009-12-08T20:36:00.016-05:002010-05-22T11:03:05.891-04:00

Dear State Rep. McDonald, I know that you and other members of the Tennessee General Assembly are deeply concerns about environmental protection for Tennessee State Parks. I wish to update you and other members of the current status of the coal exploration drilling done in the 1987 Lands Unsuitable for Mining area of the Rock Creek Watershed in southern Bledsoe County and northern Hamilton

Don Deakinsnoreply@blogger.com