T.U. Member time to 
take action today to prevent damage to Tennessee streams from mechanized gold prospecting.
A permit has been requested from the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC) to allow by both manual (non-mechanized) and mechanized methods. TDEC has determined that the mechanized prospecting with dredges will degrade water quality, while non-mechanized prospecting with pans and hand tools will result in minimal degradation.
Why We Care
Of particular concern is the potential for mechanized prospecting for gold in several tributaries in the Tellico watershed. As an organization, TU will comment on this application before March 12, meeting the 30-day deadline for written comments. Letters from individual TU members will significantly strengthen the effort to prevent stream damage from mechanized prospecting.
What You Can Do
- By March 12, write a letter commenting on the potential for water quality degradation if mechanized gold prospecting is allowed in Tennessee streams; send a second copy of your letter to the Tennessee Council TU.
- Be sure to include in the letter the name of the permit applicant, Gold Prospector’s Association of America, and the file number, NRS14.341.
- Mail your letter to: Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation; Division of Water Resources, Natural Resources Unit; William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower; 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 11th Floor; Nashville, TN 37243.
- Mail a copy of your letter to: Dick Geiger, Tennessee Council Chair, 265 Andorra Lane, Clinton, TN 37716.
You can read the entire TDEC notice regarding the application at the link below (scroll down to “Water Resources”; under the date February 12, 2015, click on file number NRS14.341, Gold Prospector’s Association of America).
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/ppo/
Sincerely,
Dick Geiger
Chair
Tennessee Council 9TN
geiger3892@gmail.com
(865) 599-2604
