Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment

11/08/2011- Coalition Files Three Lawsuits to Demand National Coal LLC Treat Polution from Coal Mines- Company's own records show violations of legal limits of iron, selenium, other heavy metals in local waterways.

10/31/2011- Knoxville Energy Alliance Announces Partners in Fight for Energy Sustainability- Group hosts mayoral debate on November 1

10/25/2011- Newly-formed Energy Alliance Asks Mayoral Candidates about Plans for Energy Efficiency and Green Jobs- Group hosts mayoral debate on November 1.

8/16/11- Poll Released Today finds Powerful Opposition to Mountaintop Removal Mining throughout Appalachian- Appalachians also want stronger clean water protections.

8/3/2011- Citizen Groups Speak Out Against TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Plant- Press conference and zombie rally planned in protest of TVA's proposal to finish construction of a 40-year old nuclear reactor at the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility.

07/21/2011- EPA Issues Final Guidance on Mountaintop Removal Mining, Calls for Stronger Oversight- Tennessee communities snubbed by the scope of EPA's guidance.

04/26/11 - Groups join in organizing People's Hearing for better oil and gas drilling regulations - Several environmental groups have joined together to demand TDEC provide greater oversight of gas drilling permits and practices.

04/22/11 - April 28 People's Hearing planned regarding Tenn. oil and gas drilling regulation - TDEC will hold a public hearing regarding proposed rule changes for gas drilling regulations in the state.

04/13/11 - Comment period for North Cumberland LUMP closes Thursday - SOCM announced today that the organization delivered a petition signed by more than 300 people supporting the North Cumberlands Lands Unsuitable for Mining petition to OSMRE.

04/05/11 - National Coal Corp. fails to uphold agreement to report toxic selenium levels - Regional environmental organizations have filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville against National Coal Corporation.

03/29/11 - Zeb Mountain permit fails to sufficiently limit toxic selenium - Yesterday, several environmental groups took action by challenging the pollution discharge permit allowing operations at the Zeb Mountain mine.

02/21/11 - Regional environmental organizations call for tighter regulations for gas drilling - Several environmental groups have joined together to ask the TDEC for greater oversight of gas drilling permits and practices.

02/23/11 - Reading event by celebrated author Jeff Biggers to benefit SOCM

02/16/11 - 49% property tax hike in Fentress Co. urges citizens group - A small Tennessee town is shutting out resident questions regarding a 49 percent tax hike, passed September 2010, that would support the building of a new county justice center.

02/16/11 - SOCM urges participation in public scoping meetings - SOCM is urging Tennessee residents to take part in three public scoping meetings to help OSM consider the possible effects of the North Cumberland Lands Unsuitable for Mining Petition.

01/31/11 - SOCM headquarters moves to Knoxville, Tenn. - SOCM announced today that the organization is moving its headquarters to Knoxville, Tenn.

01/19/11 - Anti-racism Transformation Team members to speak at Southern agriculture conference - Several members of SOCM's ART Team will present on the topic of diversity at the annual Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms conference, hosted by the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.

01/19/11 - Coalfield citizens react to EPA's Spruce Mine Decision - Coalfield citizens and community members affected by destructive mountaintop removal mining will host a press telebriefing to discuss the EPA's historic veto of the water pollution permit for Spruce No. 1 mine.

01/13/11 - Historic U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Vetoes Proposed West Virginia Mountaintop Removal Mine - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took an historic step by vetoing the water pollution permit issued by the Army Corps of Engineers for the Spruce No. 1 Mine project in West Virginia, one of the largest mountaintop removal mines ever proposed in Appalachia.