Milton H. Hamilton, Jr.
Commissioner, TDEC
21st Floor, L&C Tower
401 Church St.
Nashville, TN 37243

Dear Commissioner Hamilton;

I urge you to rethink the sewage plan for the City of Spencer. The current plan would allow up to 250,000 gallons of sewage effluent to be released every day into Dry Fork Creek a Tier II high-quality waterway (no degradation allowed). From there, the effluent would work its way into Rumbling Falls Cave, where it would degrade water quality and endanger rare species.

The Southeastern United States is recognized as a globally significant center of aquatic diversity.  The Rumbling Falls Cave system is an example of the outstanding biodiversity of our area. Twenty-four species of creatures that can live only in caves, such as blind cave fish and blind crayfish, have already been identified there. The cave ranks as one of a small number of global "hot spots" of biodiversity known to harbor at least 20 species of these unusual creatures. The cave system also contains the largest cave room east of the Mississippi River.

The Rumbling Falls Cave system is an ecological and geological treasure. Since the Department of Environment and Conservation was unaware that the sewage effluent would sink underground and enter the cave system when it first approved the plan, I urge that the sewage plan be revisited and that an alternative disposal method be developed for the sewage effluent, such as land application or release into a more appropriate stream.

Sincerely,