On Wednesday and Thursday, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees will be meeting to discuss issues related to the University, but one major item is missing from the agenda: The University of Tennessee Fracking Study.

The University of Tennessee has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) from oil and gas companies to frack over 8,000 acres of University-owned land in the Cumberland Forest (Morgan and Scott Counties) in order to "study" the effects of fracking.

This controversial issue, one that potentially could bring in millions of dollars of revenue for the University, has been blocked from the agenda. According to the Board of Trustees website, the Board "...shall have full and complete control over its organization and administration, also over its constituent parts and its financial affairs."

We think that because of the financial implications, the Board needs to consider the proposal and review related concerns during its June meeting. The project may be finalized before it meets again in October.

We can't let this flawed research proposal, that can potentially bring in millions for the university and damage the ecologically sensitive headwaters of the Emory river, fly under the radar.

Tell the Board of Trustees to put the UT Fracking Study on the agenda at the upcoming meeting and to hold a special meeting before any contracts are finalized. Don't let the University of Tennessee enter into the dirty world of "frackademia."

Board of Trustees Office
University of Tennessee
719 Andy Holt Tower

Knoxville, TN 37996 

Catherine Mizell, Secretary of the Board 

cmizell@tennessee.edu

Chair of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees

Governor Bill Haslam

1st Floor, State Capitol

Nashville, TN 37243   

bill.haslam@tn.gov