Progress18

Progress Report No. 18

August 21, 2000

Over the past year, USEPA and other federal agencies have hosted a series of regional roundtables as part of the national Clean Water Action Plan. One of these roundtables focused on mine drainage problems in the Coal Region. CCWF was one of 14 watershed groups that participated in the Coal Region Restoration Roundtable. Now that the regional roundtable meetings have been completed, USEPA is hosting the National Watershed Forum with participation from all the regions of the country.

CCWF has been selected to represent the entire 10-state Coal Region at the National Watershed Forum. Barry Thacker, PE of CCWF will be on the steering committee that plans the 3-day meeting that will be held in Washington next year. The intent of the forum is to provide a unified voice as feedback to public and legislative agencies on water quality issues. CCWF was selected to represent the Coal Region because others believe that our approach to improving water quality, by improving the quality of life for those who live in the watershed, is the right way. This approach is not only valid for the Coal Region, it is valid for all regions of the country. Also, participation in the Democratic National Committee party platform hearing, involvement in our watershed by Congressman Wamp, and the diverse partners involved in Coal Creek were important factors in our selection.

Being selected to represent the Coal Region at the National Watershed Forum is yet another indication that we have selected the right course of action.

CCWF volunteers have completed the following tasks since the time of the last progress report.

	Larry Hasty (Planning Engineer), Carol Chandler (Biologist), and Alan Neal (District Conservationist) with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) toured the Coal Creek watershed on August 17, 2000. The purpose of the tour was to familiarize NRCS representatives with the problems and our remedial initiatives. The tour included many of the stops along the Motor Discovery Trail and the site of the potential dry dam in Tennessee Hollow. After the tour, we discussed how NRCS can provide assistance. Alan Neal will be participating in Coal Creek Discovery Day on August 22nd including the tour of the watershed with Congressman Wamp.
	At the community meeting at Briceville Elementary on August 17th, Dave Turner, Environmental Specialist with TDEC, made a presentation on why restrictions are placed on disturbances to streams. Dave illustrated that regulations in the 1970s (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act) placed stringent requirements on mining companies to protect the environment and reduce the potential for downstream flooding. The Clean Water Act of the 1970s placed similar requirements on all activities to protect the environment and reduce the potential for downstream flooding. Mining performed in accordance with SMCRA requirements protects people living in the Coal Creek watershed. Work done to reduce flooding in Coal Creek must be done in a manner that protects the people living downstream of the flood reduction measures. In other words, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Flood reduction measures can be permitted, provided they meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
	Also at the community meeting, plans were made for Coal Creek Discovery Day 2000 and the tour by Congressman Wamp, which will occur on August 22nd. Organizations and agencies participating in the event will include TU, ASCE, UT, BSA, TVA, TDEC, NRCS, OSM, Corps of Engineers, and Anderson County. The church ladies showed us the hand-sewn coal miners quilt that will be presented to Congressman Wamp during his visit. Bob Stephan (Manager of Cracker Barrel in Lake City and a member of the Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited) provided gift certificates, which we gave to the church ladies in appreciation of their efforts in making the quilt.
	Sara Hill, an intern furnished by OSM to the Tennessee Environmental Council has included Coal Creek in an application to provide AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers to assist with the various initiatives in the watershed. Sara participated in our Deadwood Removal Day activities and became aware of our efforts through communications with Dr. Allan Comp of OSM.
	Dr. Charles Faulkner, Professor of Cultural Anthropology at UT, is scheduled to tour Coal Creek on August 23rd. He will provide guidance for our removal of the trash dump in Tennessee Hollow scheduled for October 21st and the on-going development of the Motor Discovery Trail.