The pesky bill (SB 742) that gives the state of Tennessee responsibility for permitting and enforcing coal mining will be heard tomorrow (Wednesday, March 31) by the Senate 2021 Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. These responsibilities, ever dwindling as coal mining industry wanes, are currently handled by the federal Office of Surface Mining.
If the bill passes, and when it’s fully implemented, the state will be paying more than $850,000/year to take over this function. That is an unnecessary expense to Tennesseans.
For more info about the tempt to restart the coal industry in Tennessee, check out TDEC & SMCRA Primacy Fact Sheet.
Please reach out to members of the committee, listed below, tonight or tomorrow morning, and let them know that this is NOT a good move for Tennessee.
- sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.heidi.campbell@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.katrina.robinson@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov;
- sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
More contact info on the above senators:
- Senator Steve Southerland, Chair (R) District 1
Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, and Sevier Counties
sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-3851
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s1.html - Senator Frank Niceley, 1st VChair (R) District 8
Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union Counties
sen.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov (651) 741-2061
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s8.html - Senator Mark Pody, 2nd VChair (R) District 17
Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson Counties
sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-2421
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s17.html - Senator Janice Bowling (R) District 16
Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie, Van Buren and Warren Counties
sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-6694
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s16.html - Senator Heidi Campbell (D) District 20
Part of Davidson County
sen.heidi.campbell@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-6679
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s20.html - Senator Shane Reeves (R) District 14
Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore and parts of Rutherford Counties
sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-1066
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s14.html - Senator Katrina Robinson (D) District 33
Part of Shelby County
sen.katrina.robinson@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-2509
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s33.html - Senator Paul Rose (R) District 32
Tipton, and part of Shelby County
sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov (615) 741-1967
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s32.html
