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Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Conservation Voters (TCV), a statewide environmental advocacy group, today announced its top priorities for the 2010 legislative session at a press conference on Capitol Hill. TCV officials said this year’s agenda builds on momentum generated by numerous legislative accomplishments from the 2009 session. During the press event, TCV executive director Chris Ford detailed five environmental areas of emphasis for 2010, including land use issues, water and air quality, mountaintop removal coal mining and state funding for parks and land acquisitions. “As we move into the 2010 legislative session, it is important that our state’s most urgent environmental issues are top-of-mind for Tennessee lawmakers,” said Ford. “Addressing these critical areas will not only help preserve Tennessee’s treasured natural heritage, but it will also ensure that we move into the future responsibly with public and environmental health as priorities. Our state’s natural resources must not be compromised or overlooked.” TCV’s member organizations jointly determined the 2010 environmental priorities, which include: • Restoration of dedicated funds from real estate transfer tax. These funds are dedicated by law to go to the Wetlands Fund, State Land Acquisition Fund, Local Parks and Recreation Fund, and the Agriculture Resources Trust Fund. • Preserving water quality and opposing efforts to weaken protection of streams and rivers. We will fight to maintain selenium regulation and the right to sue for nuisances. • Banning mountaintop removal by restricting issuance of coal-mining permits relative to altering ridgelines and polluting streams, an obviously needed protection with bipartisan support whose time has come. We have seen with sadness this unnecessary devastation of our Appalachian neighbors to the northeast. Our Tennessee economy's second largest sector is tourism from our natural beauty — coal does not even rank in the top 100. • Improving air quality by supporting measures to regulate open burning and aerial spraying and to promote helpful energy bills that play important roles in improving air quality. Our asthma rates and poor air quality consistently rank among the worst in the nation, with many of these negative effects harming the most vulnerable — our children, the elderly and minority populations. • Safeguarding environmental funding and fighting to keep enforcement, parks and other conservation positions and budget items funded in a difficult economy. Our residents' ability to enjoy these state parks and to be protected from pollution even in difficult economic times should be a fundamental priority and right of each Tennessee citizen. The 2010 priorities will build from momentum generated from the successes of last year’s legislative session. Environmental victories from 2009 include helping pass Gov. Bredesen’s Clean Future Act of 2009, as well as promoting better air quality by supporting a bill to explore financing options for mass transit. TCV also helped stop the passage of more than 10 bills damaging to water quality, and provided critical support in maintaining strong legislation to help protect Tennessee waters. In addition, TCV reported on and monitored dozens of bills, enabling hundreds of citizen advocates to become part of the public policy process. To honor legislators who contributed to the 2009 agenda, and to officially launch the 2010 campaign, TCV is hosting its annual Nature Votes event on Friday, February 5, at Historic Travellers Rest in Nashville. Tickets are $60/person or $100/couple and may be purchased by calling 615.269.9090, emailing info@tnconservationvoters.org or visiting www.tnconservationvoters.org. About Tennessee Conservation Voters
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