Industry lobbyists are trying to push the legislature to pass a bill that would force the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to take over regulation of coal mining from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

State lawmakers will be voting on the bill over the next few days. Find your legislator and tell them to oppose the “Primacy and Reclamation Act of Tennessee,” SB 0842 and HB 0833.

For years, coal companies have successfully pressured state regulators in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia to ease enforcement of environmental protections, and they hope to do the same in Tennessee. Those states have what is called “primacy” under federal surface mining law, and with state primacy, mountaintop removal has proliferated.

If Tennessee were to gain primacy, it would not only lead to more pollution, it would be a nightmare for our state’s taxpayers. An effective coal mining regulatory program would cost as much as $4 million annually, and Tennessee only produces around .1 percent of coal mined in the U.S. each year. Instead of allowing the federal government continue to fund the Office of Surface Mining’s field office in Knoxville, Tennessee taxpayers would pick up the tab.

Click here to find your legislator or check the list below to see if they are members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources or Senate Government Operations committees. Please call your representatives and senators today to let them know you oppose the “Primacy and Reclamation Act of Tennessee,” bills SB 0842 and HB 0833, and that they should too.

House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee: 

Chair: Curtis Halford �” 615-741-7478 �” rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov

Vice-chair: Andy Holt  615-741-7847 �” rep.andy.holt@capitol.tn.gov

David Byrd �” 615-741-2190 �” rep.david.byrd@capitol.tn.gov

David Hawk –  615-741-7482  rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov

G. A. Hardaway – 615-741-5625 �” rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov

Bud Hulsey – 615-741-2886 �” rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov

Ron Lollar – 615-741-7084 �” rep.ron.lollar@capitol.tn.gov (Chair of sub-comm.)

Pat Marsh –  615-741-6824 �” rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov

Steve McDaniel –  615-741-0750 �” rep.steve.mcdaniel@capitol.tn.gov

Debra Moody –  615-741-3774 �” rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov

Dennis Powers –  615-741-3335 �” rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov

Jay Reedy –  615-741-7098 �” rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov

Johnny Shaw –  615-741-4538 �” rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov

Art Swann –  615-741-5481 �” rep.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov

John Mark Windle –  615-741-1260 �” rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov

Senate Government Operations Committee:

Chair: Mike Bell –  615-741-1946 �” sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov

1st Vice Chair: Ed Jackson –  615-741-1810 �” sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov

2nd Vice Chair: Kerry Roberts –  615-741-4499 �” sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov

Paul Bailey – 615-741-3978 �” sen.paul.bailey@capitol.tn.gov

Mae Beavers – 615-741-2421 �” sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov

Janice Bowling – 615-741-6694 �” sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov

Rusty Crowe – 615-741-2468 �” sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov

Lee Harris – 615-741-1767 �” sen.lee.harris@capitol.tn.gov

Brian Kelsey – 615-741-3036 �” sen.brian.kelsey@capitol.tn.gov