Dear SOCM members and supporters,   

In September 2010, SOCM members fought vigorously to let the Environmental Protection Agency know that a hazardous regulation, under Subtitle C, of coal ash is needed. Tennessee efforts, though, could be in vain due to two federal anti-coal ash amendments tacked onto the House budget legislation. Both will likely be considered this afternoon.  

PLEASE TAKE ACTION right now by calling your federal representatives in Congress and asking them to vote NO on amendments 10 and 217. Find your representative by clicking here and entering your information into the "Find Your Representative" widget. 

These two amendments, Amendment 10 offered by Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Amendment 217 offered by David McKinley (R-WV), would prevent EPA from regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste by explicitly preventing the funding of a subtitle C rule. If passed, the amendments, which are nearly identical, would require EPA to regulate coal ash as a nonhazardous waste under subtitle D. EPA's only option would be to issue guidelines for states that are not mandatory and unenforceable by EPA.

The amendments would maintain the status quo of lax (or absent) state oversight of coal ash dumping and would guarantee that polluters will have the legal right to continue to dump coal ash in unlined pits and ponds. 

Your calls will make a difference. Even if we lose in the House, if the margin is not great, we may be able to defeat the amendment in the Senate.

Sincerely,  

Your SOCM Team