n Tennessee Clean Water Network : Pressroom

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Tennessee Clean
Water Network

123A S. Gay St.
Knoxville, TN 37902

Office: 865.522.7007
Fax: 865.525.4988

Press Room

Our Press Room features TCWN press releases and other media coverage highlighting issues relevant to the mission of the organization.

Media Contact

To obtain comments, quotes and interviews from TCWN contact:

Renee Hoyos, Executive Director
Office: 865.522.7007 x100
Cell: 865.607.6618
Email: renee@tcwn.org

Current Releases


Mississippi River Collaborative Targets Solutions to the Dead Zone (8/7/09)

Researchers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium on Monday July 27, 2009 reported on the size of the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. This summer it is 3,000 square miles, an area larger than the State of Delaware. The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico is an area where there is not enough oxygen in the water to support marine life. It forms every summer, caused by high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution coming from the Mississippi River watershed. The nitrogen and phosphorus stimulate excessive growth of algae; when this algae dies, its decomposition uses up much of the oxygen in the water, which chokes marine life. The pollution comes from chemical fertilizer that runs off of farm fields, sewage treatment plants, and polluted runoff from cities. The pollution sources are along the entire length of the Mississippi River.

Tennessee Clean Water Network Puts Knox County Developers on Notice (8/29/09)

Today the Tennessee Clean Water Network and 2 local residents filed a 60-Day notice of intent to sue in Federal Court against the developers of the Legends at Washington Pike Subdivision in northeast Knox County, Tennessee. The named defendants are Victor Jernigan, Jeff McBride (Babelay Farm, LLC, Babelay Farm II, LLC, and Clear Creek Construction, LLC), The Legends at Washington Pike, LLC, James Lee Sharp (Sharp Contracting, Inc) and David Hathaway (Hathaway Construction, LLC). The Network has documented hundreds of days of violation of the Federal Clean Water Act at the site over the past four months, including dozens of water quality violations. To see photos and the 60-day notice, click here.


Destructive Water Bills Defeated by Tennesseans Committed to Clean Water (6/25/09)

At the start of the 2009 Tennessee Legislative Session the Tennessee Clean Water Network was actively watching and working against 14 bills with the potential to negatively impact our state’s waters. Now at the conclusion of this session only 1 bad bill was passed.

To read more about the status of 2009 Tennessee State Legislature's water bills click here.


Bullying at the Cumberland County Commission Meeting over where coal fly ash will reside (6/03/09)

Tuesday June 2, 2009 residents of Crossville gathered at The Palace Theater to participate in a hearing on the disposal of 5.4 million cubic yards of coal fly ash from the Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant in a nearby abandoned quarry. Proponents of the project from Smith Mountain Solutions, LLC were granted unlimited speaking time while the public was given three minutes each to express concerns. The third resident to speak, Margie Buxbaum was forcible removed from the lectern by police for speaking one minute over her time. She was detained behind a curtained door and released minutes later to applause.

  • To see photos of the evening, click here.
  • To read Ms. Buxbaum's testimony, click here.


    • TCWN Director to testify before U.S. House Subcommittee on Kingston Ash Disaster (3/26/09)

    Tennessee Clean Water Network (TCWN) Executive Director Renee Victoria Hoyos will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment regarding the TVA ash spill on March 31, 2009.


    Kingston Coal Ash Disaster interviews

    Tennessee Clean Water Network Executive Director Renee Victoria Hoyos is available for interviews on the Kingston coal ash spill and the impact on area waters


    TCWN Director Meets with President-elect Obama's Transistion Team (12/11/08)

    Renee Victoria Hoyos, Executive Director of Tennessee Clean Water Network and board president of the national Clean Water Network, met with President-elect Obama's transition team Monday in Washington, D.C., along with 30 other state and national environmental groups to discuss water issues across the nation.

    The Irresponsible Water Coalition is Back! (9/29/08)

    A group calling themselves the Coalition for Responsible Water Rights will be speaking at Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 26th Annual Environmental Awards Conference at Montgomery Bell State Park on October 2, 2008, to discuss the deregulation of water.

    TN Clean Water Network and Citizen Group Urge EPA to Veto Reelfoot Lake Spillway

     

    TN Clean Water Network and Members File Clean Water Act Suit Notice

     

    Knox County Spends $1.9M+ on Deficient Stormwater Ordinance
    Taxpayer dollars wasted while property owners suffer damage from overdevelopment

     

    Tennessee Clean Water Network Honors East TN Hero
    Frank Hensley Named 2006 Bill Russell River Hero

     

    TCWN Finds State Launches Expedited Enforcement Program for Tennessee’s #1 Water Polluter

     

    TCWN Comments on TVA Mega Site Program

     

    County’s Non-Compliance with Clean Water Laws Causing Damage to Private Property
    Citizen group kicks off enforcement campaign, Targets Mayor

     

    US Fish and Wildlife Service Leaves out Public While Making Plans to Pollute Reelfoot Lake

    • TCWN comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service

     

    Ragsdale, Wuethrich Jeopardize Clean Water and Individual Property Rights

     

    American Rivers: Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 Announced

     

    TN Legislature Grants Citizens Right to Appeal Water Pollution Permits

     

    TCWN Announces 2005 River Hero

    Last Gasp - COE Chokes out Trout Population on Caney Fork
    Click here to view full report

    TCWN Pressroom

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