STOP Coal Ash (or other waste) From Coming To Cumberland County, TN!

Hill won't seek another term.

2010-02-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill, has announced that he will not seek another term as Mayor of Cumberland County!

And soon it will be election time here in Cumberland County, TN. If you're a Cumberland County resident be sure to remember who voted to make Cumberland County the "Ashtray of Tennessee".

"THE ELEVEN": Commissioners Tollett; David Gibson, 4th District; Jack Davis and Trey Kerley, 5th District; Wendell Wilson and Terry Carter, 6th District; Harvel and Kenneth Carey, 7th District; Jeff Brown and Greg Maxwell, 8th District; and Cramer.

This election cycle let them know: "It's not business as usual any more".

NO Coal Combustion Waste in Cumberland County!

2010-02-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Don't Let Cumberland County Become the 'Ashtray' of Tennessee!

When you think of Cumberland County, Tennessee, you think of the 'Golf Capital' of the state. However, that is not exactly what Smith Mountain Solutions, LLC has in mind for the partially reclaimed Turner Mine on Smith Mountain.

The Cumberland County Chapter of SOCM has been knee-deep in the struggle to keep Cumberland County free from a Coal Combustion Waste (CCW) landfill. Coal ash is severely toxic and inherently unsafe. To place it in a partially reclaimed mine that sits within the most toxic coal seam in the state, the Sewanee coal seam, has indeterminate severe consequences to the land and waters surrounding, the air and the health of the people in the Smith Mountain Community and Cumberland County. Do you live in Cumberland County? Join SOCM today, and help us save Cumberland County from becoming the 'ashtray' of Tennessee! We meet once a month on Mondays at 5:30pm (cst) in Crossville. To join, contact Chris Hill atchris@socm.org or call the SOCM office at (865)426-9455. For more information, visit us online.

STOP the Hazardous Materials Landfill in Cumberland County

2009-10-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Show Up to Show Your Opposition to Coal Ash Landfill

Say YES to Protecting Cumberland County and Our Smith Mountain Neighbors, NO to the coal ash dump!

The Office of Surface Mining will have a public hearing on the proposal to put coal ash on top of Smith Mountain. Show up and show your opposition to using Cumberland County as an ash dump. 6 pm Thursday, Nov. 5 at Stone Memorial High School, 2800 Cook Road. Crossville (see map here)

OSM can stop the coal ash landfill! Show up and be counted!

You need not speak, but if you so choose, you will have three minutes. Speak from your heart. Tell OSM why you don't want coal ash in Cumberland County!

For more information:
Save Our Cumberland Mountains: 484-8079
Cumberland Stewards: 484-2633

This Just In

2009-09-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Video from WSMV-TV Nashville

http://www.wsmv.com/video/20733301/index.html

Smith Mountain residents file suit against county

2009-08-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/local/local_story_225173646.html

Cumberland County Politicians and the Voters

2009-08-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Two Story Outhouse: Cumberland County citizens on the bottom. Cumberland County politicians on top.

A Small Victory for the Citizens of Cumberland County

2009-07-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

The TDEC decision on Smith Mountain Solutions, LLC's request for a Permit-By-Rule for a coal ash dump:

"Smith Mountain Solutions has applied for construction of a landfill at the Cumberland coal site in Cumberland County. The permit application states the applicant plans to dispose of coal ash at this facility. The applicant’s permit application was for a Permit-by-Rule coal ash landfill as described in the Solid Waste Regulations at 1200-1-7-.02©(1.)(ii) (page 20 of the rules).

After examining the permit application and the solid waste regulations, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (the Department) determined that the applicant should modify the permit application and resubmit the request as a Class II landfill application. The reason for this decision is that the Department does not believe that the landfill permit application for this site meets the criteria as specified in Rule 1200-1-7-.02©(1)(ii) for a coal ash landfill for structural fill or other such similar uses as the commissioner may approve.

The Department has returned the original permit application to be revised as a Class II land fill permit application. The Department will follow the public notice and public comment requirements as set in the regulations insuring opportunities for public review. The Department will require the landfill proposal to be designed to meet the Department’s Class I landfill design criteria for geologic buffer, synthetic liner, leachate collection, etc."

The Natural Jewel of Tennessee

2009-07-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

"In recent years, there has been much written about the Cumberland Plateau and the dangers threatening

it. The vast woods covering this region of Tennessee is quickly diminishing due to building, logging practices and other disturbances such as the introduction of non-native species. However, the plateau is

extremely biodiverse and with large tracts of wild land remaining, it is well worth the fight to conserve the forests and features so unique to it." - From the Tennessee Conservationist Magazine

It's beyond belief that Cumberland County has eleven elected officials that apparently "don't get it" since they supported virtually unchanged, the request of the applicant to construct a coal ash landfill in the heart of the Cumberland Plateau.

These officials apparently ignored the beauty of the place where they live, ignored the lives of the people directly effected by this project, and failed to recognize the long-term negative publicity this onerous project will have on Cumberland County.

Commissioners . . . the citizens will not forget your decision when you run for re-election in 2010. We are not going away. You can count on that!

"THE ELEVEN"

Commissioner Tollett; David Gibson, 4th District; Jack Davisand Trey Kerley, 5th District; Wendell Wilson and Terry Carter, 6th District; Harvel and Kenneth Carey, 7th District; Jeff Brown and Greg Maxwell, 8th District; and Cramer.

EDITORIAL: Clink, clink, clink

2009-06-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

Today's Crossville Chronicle Editorial says it all.

Go to:

http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/opinion/local_story_169153942.html?keyword=secondarystory

Eleven County Commissioners Support CCP Project

2009-06-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

On the evening of June 15th, the Cumberland County Commission voted 11-5 to approve a proposal by Smith Mountain Solutions, to haul Coal Combustion Product (coal ash) and dump it in what will be a Subtitle "D" landfill on property currently owned by Crossville Coal Company on Smith Mountain Road.

The people of Cumberland County and especially the families living on Smith Mountain Road seem to have been viewed as so much collateral damage by those Commissioners that supported this proposal.

The Commissioners supporting this project were:

Commissioner Tollett; David Gibson, 4th District; Jack Davis and Trey Kerley, 5th District; Wendell Wilson and Terry Carter, 6th District; Harvel and Kenneth Carey, 7th District; Jeff Brown and Greg Maxwell, 8th District; and Cramer.

NO to Coal Ash

2009-06-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

Over 2000 Cumberland County registered VOTERS have signed petitions against the county becoming a dump for TVA coal ash (or any other material).

Are you listening Commissioners? The operative word is: voters.

Kingston Coal Ash Leaving By Rail

2009-06-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

TVA CEO Tom Kilgore reported to the TVA Board this morning, June 4, that TVA has contracted for construction of a new rail spur at Kingston Fossil Plant to be used for ash loading.

Now that the coal ash will be shipped out by rail, there is no need for the County Commission to approve the Smith Mountain Solutions, LLC request.

(Unless coal ash isn't really what the landfill will be developed for.)