Turner Surface Mine, Catoosa and Mineral Extraction on Public Lands

WHEN
Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 5:00p.m. CDT 6:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE
O‘Brien Room 101
Roane State Community College
276 Patton Lane in Harriman, Tennessee

WHAT
The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) will hold and informal conference with a public comment session on the Turner surface mine. During this time there will be an opportunity to comments on the record about the issue of potential mining at Catoosa and the renewal of the Turner permit.

WHY?
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is about 82,000 acres of protected public land in northern Cumberland County. The Obed Wild & Scenic River, an Outstanding National Resource Water that provides critical habitat to two endangered species, flows through the Catoosa. Catoosa is set aside for recreation including hunting, fishing, kayaking and hiking, although the primary use is hunting. In April 2013 an investigative report by News Channel 5 in Nashville reveled that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) was in talks with Hillsborough Resources Ltd., the parent corporation of Crossville Coal, to lease mineral rights under the Catoosa to allow for underground mining in land that has been set aside for recreation and conservation.
Currently one of the permits that Crossville Coal needs to operate is up for renewal and the public has an opportunity to comment on the renewal and address concerns about how the mine may impact the surrounding area. The Turner Surface Mine has a history of acid mine drainage (AMD), the remediation of which must be addressed in any permit renewal. Additionally, this location would also be used for the proposed underground mine below Catoosa, adding to the significance of this public comment opportunity.

Contact:
Tennessee Clean Water Network Stephanie Matheny, 865 244-5121stephanie@tcwn.org
SOCM, Parker Laubach, 865 249-7488, parker@socm.org
TN Chapter Sierra Club, Scott Banbury, 901 619-8567, smbanbury@gmail.com