Harvey Broome Group

Just say NO to loaded guns in National Parks!

* before June 30 *
(see below)

Do you live in a cool city?

Tennessee Cool Cities Campaign

Stop Interstate-3!

http://www.stopi3.org/

Protect America's Environment: For Our Families, For Our Future

The Sierra Club is a non-profit member-supported, public interest organization that promotes conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions -- legislative, administrative, legal, and electoral.

To Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet

The Harvey Broome Group is the local Knoxville branch of the Sierra Club, Tennessee Chapter.  Join on-line or by mail.

"I am only one; still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  I will not refuse to do the something I can do."         
~ Helen Keller

Proposal to Allow Loaded and Concealed Firearms in National Parks

The Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, proposes to amend regulations presently codified in 36 CFR part 2 and 50 CFR part 27, which provide guidance and controls for the possession and transportation of firearms in national park areas and national wildlife refuges. The proposed amendments would update the regulations to reflect current state laws authorizing the possession of concealed firearms, while maintaining the existing regulatory provisions that ensure visitor safety and resource protection such as the prohibitions on poaching and limitations on hunting and target practice.

(Current regulations allow unloaded firearms.)

Written comments will be accepted through June 30, 2008.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9606.htm

• North Shore Road:
  The TN Chapter and the Harvey Broome Group support the monetary settlement alternative. The Citizens for the Economic Future of Swain County support the cash settlement, Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Elizabeth Dole, Representative Heath Shuler, the Swain County commissioners, the Bryson City Board of Aldermen, a good many residents of Swain County and Gov. Mike Easley all support the monetary settlement. And now the National Park Service has issued its Record of Decision in favor of the monetary settlement.
  
  More info at: http://www.northshoreroad.info/
  
  
• Keep Elkmont Natural: The Elkmont Draft Environmental Impact Statement has been released (Elkmont DEIS Notice).  

  Our preferred alternative is either No Action or Alternative A.  

  Sample comments, history, directions: Elkmont Alert   
  The Park's website: http://www.elkmont-gmpa-ea.com/
  
  Some Letters to the Editor state our position on Elkmont.
  

• Interstate 3:  The Stop I-3 Coalition needs your help in stopping this unneeded and unwanted monster road (http://www.stopi-3.org/). Our most pressing concern at this point is that the feasibility study may be done without sufficient public participation, even though it is required by the FHWA's own guidelines. 
  
  Interstate 3 is a bad idea in every way: It would destroy forests and
  crucial watersheds, cut off wildlife habitat, and displace existing roads,
  farms, homes, and businesses.  It would cut an ugly gash through the Georgia and Tennessee Appalachian highlands (see map).
  
  Please take a moment to write your government representatives:
  Stop_I3  Talking Points  Sample Letter  A hand-written postcard is best.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  

  Smoky Mountain News
  week of 6/28/06

  Momentum keeps building for Stop I-3 Coalition
  By Sarah Kucharski * Staff Writer

  "The Stop I-3 Coalition — the grassroots organization that aims to prevent construction of a proposed interstate running from Savannah to Knoxville — has received a boost to its efforts as the Southwestern Regional Planning Commission has come out against the proposed interstate’s construction."
  
  For the complete article, see:
  http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/06_06/06_28_06/fr_stop_I3.html
  

• Cades Cove Development Concept and Transportation Management Plan:
  The Plan was undertaken to create a long-range management vision to protect the Cove's natural and cultural resources and ensure that visitors continue to have a quality experience.  The second phase of the planning process is underway. It will build on five existing candidate alternatives from the first phase. 
  
  During this second phase, these alternatives will be further refined and assessed based on their potential environmental impacts. In addition to what might be considered more traditional environmental studies, the alternatives will also be examined based upon the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework. VERP will provide useful information on the quality of the visitor experience for each alternative and how natural and cultural resource conditions might be affected by visitor use. Information gained through the VERP process will be used in evaluating alternatives and comparing potential impacts. 
  
  To be placed on the mailing list, go to http://www.cadescoveplanning.com/ and look under Public Involvement, for "Public Comments."  The website also includes the final report from Phase I and much more information on the process.
  
  
• Decrease air pollution in the Smokies (see Clear the Air below).
  
• Join the Greater Smoky Mountains Coalition (GSMC) listserve.  Send a message with your first and last name to:
  Greater_Smoky_Mountains_Coalition-owner @ yahoogroups.com 

TVA Draft Land Policy:

The TVA Board has approved a new policy that would govern planning, retention, and disposal of land under TVA’s stewardship. See TVA Land Policy.

Big South Fork: Management Plan for Oil and Gas Wells

The National Park Service is developing a plan that will set management guidelines for more than 300 oil and gas wells in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BSFNRRA) and Obed Wild and Scenic River (OWSR) for the next 15 to 20 years.

More information

Sample letter

Help Improve Clean Water Goals for Tennessee!  The State has proposed revisions to Tennessee's water quality standards.   http://www.state.tn.us/environment/water      Clean Water talking points     

Clear the Air!   Close the "lethal loophole."  Write letters to Congress demanding that coal-burning power plants meet current emission standards.  This would yield a 71% reduction in nitrous oxide (NO_x) emissions and a 77% reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions, which cause smog, reduced visibility, and acid rain.   http://www.cleanenergy.org/   

Save the Clean Air Act!  Don't let the Bush Administration's EPA weaken the Clean Air Act or change the New Source Review to allow increased levels of pollution.  Write to your Senator.  New Source Review  sample letter

Green Power Switch: Purchase blocks of Green Power from KUB or from SACE. Tell the truth about energy issues.  View this great PowerPoint slide show: Energy Crisis: Fact and Fiction, created by Stephen Smith.



What's happening!  
Local Calendar (Meetings and Outings) for the Harvey Broome Group
Program Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church, 2931 Kingston Pike.

Outings List for 2008-2009

Ron Shrieves' Outings Photos
Will Skelton's Public Gallery (Maroon Bells, Greece, Guatemala & Belize, China, France, Patagonia and more)
Outings Program Information
Local contacts for the Harvey Broome Group
Nature walks in the local area
Bike trail reviews  

Links to other environmental sites

Harvey Broome Group Chairperson: David Reister, 865-670-8991, dreister @ bellsouth.net

Maintained by TNSCwebmaster @ yahoo.com, last updated May 14, 2008 .