Volunteers for a Clean Tennessee

Tennessee Clean Water Network has partnered with Tennessee Environmental Council, American Rivers, and National Parks Conservation Association to create the Volunteers for a Clean Tennessee campaign. By educating and alerting Tennessee residents of significant issues occurring at the national level, the campaign aims to influence the actions of Senator Bill Frist and Senator Lamar Alexander, so that they will take the right steps to protect air and water quality in Tennessee and nationwide.

Through media, public opinion, and grassroots organizing efforts, the campaign is educating the public and decision-makers about attempts to rollback Clean Water Act protections. Through direct and indirect contact with the Senators and their staffs, our elected officials are being called on to stand up against these threats and support strong protections for Tennessee’s waters. Issues of significant concern include the loss of Clean Water Act jurisdiction for small streams and wetlands and a proposed policy to allow sewage blending.

TCWN will continue to work with its state and national partners to “build the buzz” among a larger constituency across the state, including grassroots groups and non-traditional environmental allies, and to serve as a network to influence policy makers on these important issues.

Campaign goals:

• Pressure Senators Frist and Alexander, and Governor Bredesen, to oppose policy proposed by the EPA that would weaken protections against sewage discharges into rivers and streams.
• Pressure Senators Frist and Alexander to support rescission of the guidance issued by the administration that removed Clean Water Act protections from certain waters.

The Volunteers campaign addresses priority 4 of our Clean Water Policy program.