Save the Pigeon

My apologies for posting this both as a discussion and a blog, but this is an immediately urgent river environmental issue, so I wanted to get the word out to as many people as possible.

Hi,

This is an urgent plea from a river brother that is very close to the situation as he lives by the Pigeon River in Hartford, TN and works and plays on the river often. I plan to get these emails out as this is a river I'm on a lot too. We'd appreciate all the boarders in the southeast (or anywhere else), but especially in western, NC and Eastern, TN to take part in emailing officials. I would be at the meeting myself if I didn't have to work, but if you can make it that night please do so. Those of you that know me know that I'm not a "sky is falling, global warming" proponent, but keeping our rivers free from harmful contaminants is worthwhile no matter what side of the spectrum you fall under in other environmental issues.- Kevin,

Fwd From Chris Carswell (better known as Ewok),

Friends,

A situation has arisen which requires me to ask for your immediate support.

The Pigeon River community has been fighting water pollution caused by the pulp mill up stream in Canton NC for many years. Once the river ran as black as coffee and everyone knew that to eat or drink from the river was unsafe. Through years of legal battles the pulp mill was slowly forced to improve methods for processing pulp and dumping waste. With time the pollution has begun to improve, but so have our technologies for reducing paper mill waste.

The Draft of the new ‘soon to be granted’ permit allows Evergreen paper mill to violate the 1972 federal clean water act, Tennessee law and North Carolina law. This is illegal and unacceptable. We have only one opportunity to speak out against this draft before it becomes a legal permit.

This Draft proposes that the pulp mill be allowed to increase the amount of pollution they dump from 34000 lbs of toxic waste per year to 38000 lbs. There are no daily limits only yearly limits on the amount of toxic soup they can pump into our precious water way. Furthermore this draft does not enforce any steps towards implementing any technological improvements that would continue to reduce the polluted waste they are dumping directly into the river. At this time the law does not put any restrictions on dumping during times of drought and does not require an outside agency to police the water quality of the pigeon river and instead allows the mill to test and report the water quality, in effect asking everyone to ‘take their word’, The draft allows these things to continue.

The Pulp Mill and their bevy of legal pencil pushers have been preparing for the hearing that will take place in Waynesville North Carolina at Tuscola High on Jan 26 at 6pm for two years. We have been given less than two months to look over the new permit and begin to prepare to present an argument against allowing the pollution to continue.

How can you help? As of yet the draft is just that. It has not been accepted as law yet. We can stop this. We can make a difference! We have this single opportunity, let us not allow it to pass us by.

We are asking for people to show their support by allowing us to collect your personal information for contact as well as providing us with a statement against the draft which allows the pollution of the Pigeon River to continue. Feel Free to E-mail us at freedomrings2008@live.com and we will print out your information and comments and present them at the public hearing in Waynesville North Carolina at Tuscola High on Jan 26 at 6pm.

We need people to contact the following government representatives and let them know that a permit that breaks the law, continues to allow pollution to accumulate in our river without enforcing any daily limits on toxic waste, and risks the health of hundreds of thousands of people is not acceptable.



We need people to show up at the public hearing in Waynesville North Carolina at Tuscola High on Jan 26 at 6pm. For those on the Tennessee side, we are making transportation from Hartford TN to the Hearing and back available.

Lastly Spread this Far and wide, Family, friends, communities, Schools, Etc. We have Only 13 days to be ready!!

TN Public officials:

Representitive Phill Roe
419 cannon HOB
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6356
Andrew.duke@mail.house.gov

Cocke County Mayor
Ilif McMahan Jr
Newport Tn 37821
(423)623-8791

Representitive Eddie Yokely
35 legislative Plaza
Nashville Tn 37243
Rep.eddie.yokely@legislature.state.tn.us

Newport City Mayor
Connie Ball
(423) 623-1063
mayor@cityofnewport-tn.com

North Carolina Division of water Quality
NPDS unit
1617 Mail service center
Raleigh NC 27699