The combination of legislative pussyfooting and the use of an obscure procedure has all but killed prospects that a ban on mountaintop removal would pass the state Legislature this year.
As proposed, the TN Scenic Vistas Protection Act would prohibit altering or disturbing ridge lines above 2,000 feet for the purpose of surface mining. It would allow strip and underground mining to continue, but directly restrict mountaintop mining—a practice in which ridges of mountains are dynamited to reach thin coal seams near the surface, and which state Sen. Doug Jackson, the legislation’s Senate sponsor, calls “the worst idea in mining people have conceived of.”
But after unanimously passing an amendment to clarify the bill, the House Environment Subcommittee voted Tuesday to adjourn before actually voting on the bill itself. Rep. Joe McCord, of Maryville, proposed the unusual maneuver, and the vote for adjournment fell six to four, along the same lines some had predicted a final vote against the bill would fall.
“Clearly it was an attempt to kill the bill,” says Rep. Mike McDonald, the legislation’s sponsor. “It is highly irregular when someone makes an adjournment motion before you can vote on the bill.” McDonald believes the bill is most likely dead for the year, although the Senate could revive the proposal if it so chose....cont'd
http://www.metropulse.com/news/2010/mar/30/house-move-blasts-hopes-end-mountaintop-mining-yea/Mountaintop mining ban stalls in TN legislatureBill may wait until next year
The controversial issue of mountaintop coal mining probably will be deferred in the state legislature until next year, after a bill to ban the practice stalled Tuesday in a House subcommittee.
The bill would have banned mining on mountaintops over 2,000 feet above sea level when the ridgeline is altered as a result of the practice.
Critics say mountaintop mining hurts one of Tennessee's most valuable natural resources and negatively impacts tourism. Proponents say there are 381 direct mountaintop coal mining jobs and enough regulations are already in place.
Rep. Mike McDonald, D-Portland, introduced amendments to the bill, which were approved by the committee unanimously...cont'd
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100331/NEWS0201/3310365/1009/NEWS01SourceWatch - Mountaintop Removalhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mountaintop_removal
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