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People working together for social, economic and environmental justice in Tennessee
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SOCM Action Alerts
News of hearings and pending legislation: Things you can do now to help SOCM members organize and take action for justice in Tennessee.
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LOBBY DAY: MARCH 28, 2006
COME TO NASHVILLE and join other SOCM members in our annual Lobby Day!
Training for all volunteers will be begin at 9:00, followed by small groups of SOCM members meeting with State Senators and
Representatives. Lunch will be provided by SOCM and SOCM members who drive to Nashville can be reimbursed for their gas mileage.
We will be lobbying for SOCM sponsored bills and bills sponsored by our coaltition groups. Bring a car full, and have a fun day!
Let your legislators know WE ARE SOCM AND WE VOTE!
Contact the Socm office for the time and place to meet, or to make arrangements for a ride if you wish
to carpool with someone from your area.
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URGENT: YOUR COMMENTS NEEDED ON NEW MINING IN "LANDS UNSUITABLE" AREA
Over 20 years ago OSM declared the highly toxic Sewanee coal seam of the Rock Creek lands as "lands unsuitable for mining".
There has been no new technology that would make mining safe for the environment in this area!
In January 2006 Tennesse's TDEC issued a letter to SOCM saying they were not aware of any effective handling plan for acidic mine drainage.
HOWEVER, the Federal OSM is now considering issuing a permit for coal exploration in this area.
Your action, support, and comments are urgently needed. Please see the details in the SOCM News Release of March 22, 2006
and send your comments to OSM. You can also contact lauren&socm.org for further information on how you can help stop this future tragedy.
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ABANDONED MINES CLEANUP CAMPAIGN
Since 1999 SOCM members have worked to build county and state level support for the AML campaign.
Now we are working with the Citizens Coal Council to get an AML Reauthorization and Reform bill passed by the US Senate.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
• Please contact Senator Frist and Senator Alexander and ask them to support
reauthorization of the AML program that increases minimum program funding to
$4 million and that give Tennessee the same guarantee of minimum program
funding as other states. Ask them not to support legistlation that would CUT the AML fee.
• You can call Sen. Alexander's DC office at 202-224-4944 or send an email by going to the following website: http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home/.
• You can contact Sen. Frist's DC office at 202-224-3344
Or by going to the following web site: http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm.
• If you have any questions, please email lauren@socm.org or call 865-426-9544.
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WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO
• Help SOCM set up an "in-district meeting" with your Congressman. Contact lauren@socm.org if you can help with this.
• There are four counties with AML problems which have not passed SOCM's resolution.
If you live in, Claiborne, Marion, Rhea or Union county: Work with others in your area to pass the AML resolution.
Contact the SOCM office for materials to assist you in this effort.
• We need the support of a wide range of groups in order to win more money for Tennessee.
If you are a member of an outdoors, sports, watershed, labor, or other group ask them to support the AML campaign! Contact the SOCM office for more information.
• Join the SOCM Stripmine Committee to be a part of the group that helps coordinate the AML campaign in Tennessee, and help set national strategy. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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ABOUT MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL
There are currently four Mountaintop Removal operations in Tennessee. The largest is the 2100 acre mine in the community of Elk Valley in Campbell County.
There is the possibility of as many as twelve Mountaintop Removal mines in the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area.
In Tennessee the coal industry is calling Mountaintop Removal "Cross Ridge Mining." In this strain of Mountain Top Removal, all or most of a mountain is removed, and then the operator attempts to put the mountain back to approximate original contour.
SOCM members across the state are working to keep this practice from spreading. Let's send the message that we won't let them do to our state what they have done to West Virginia and Kentucky.
• Contact Governor Bredesen to tell him to keep this kind of mining out of our state!
CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE LETTER
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. If you are willing to write a letter to the editor please email lauren@socm.org.
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TOXICS/AERIAL SPRAYING:
SOCM is working toward obtaining legislation and/or regulations covering aerial spraying.
If you feel your health has been affected by aerial spraying of pesticides or fertilizers in your area please call the SOCM toll free hot line at 1-800-431-7626, leave your name and phone number, and a SOCM representative will contact you.
Or SEND AN E MAIL, and please include your name, phone number, and some information about the problems you are experiencing.
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FAIR TAXATION
SOCM is a member of the statewide coalition Tennesseans for Fair Taxation and supports tax reform.
During the 2002 legislative session many Tennessee house members stood up for tax reform by voting yes on the Naifeh plan.
This plan would have implemented a flat income tax with modest exemptions and taken the tax off food.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Write a letter to the editor of your local paper in support of tax reform in Tennessee.
(Check out http://yourtax.org for more information on tax reform.)
Send an e mail to SOCM or call 865-426-9455 to learn more about getting actively involved in passing tax reform.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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UPCOMING HEARINGS:
None scheduled at this time.
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UPCOMING SOCM EVENTS:
None scheduled at this time.
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OTHER ISSUES
If you are interested in attending a SOCM chapter meeting in your area, or finding out more details about any of SOCM's committees,
please go to the CONTACTS page for the appropriate person(s) to contact.
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