Monday, June 1, 2009

Environmentalists Take Another Ass-Kicking in the State House

Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 6:36 PM

click to enlarge This looks like a wet-weather conveyance. Let's pave it!
  • This looks like a wet-weather conveyance. Let's pave it!
Ignoring the protests of conservationists (what else is new?) the House just voted 72-22 to make it easier for road-builders and real-estate developers to pave over Tennessee's streams. Here's how it'll work under this bill, which also has passed the Senate: To deal with a pesky burbling brook interfering with his plans, a developer will hire a "consultant" to write a report concluding that the stream isn't a stream at all. No, it's merely a "wet-weather conveyance" and therefore unworthy of any protections under environmental law. Just like that, the bulldozers will roll. That's because, under the bill, this so-called consultant's determination is presumed to be correct. "It authorizes anyone who gets this determination to essentially do what they want to do, and that'll have drastic ramifications to our water supply, at least potentially. I think this presents a threat to our environment," Rep. Henry Fincher, D-Cookeville, said. Nashville legislators tried to remove Davidson County from the bill. But its sponsor, Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, said, "These are waters of the state, not Davidson County. There's questions about whether this'll be constitutional," and the House voted 52-41 to table that amendment. McCord said his bill "gives more clarity and consistency to the process." That's true. If developers want to destroy a stream, they'll just do it.

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the alternative scenario has been running something like this: "Look, there's a couple of cattails over there growing by a puddle! We have to immediately stop this homeowner from widening his driveway and force him to protect the precious, rare and unique flora and fauna which make their home in his rainpuddle."
and heaven help you if you were trying develop even a small piece of property and put up a commercial building...

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Posted by RedHatRob on 06/01/2009 at 8:36 PM

Yeah, those poor developers.

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Posted by Anonymous on 06/01/2009 at 10:18 PM

the alternative scenario has been running something like this: "Look, there's a couple of cattails over there growing by a puddle! We have to immediately stop this homeowner from widening his driveway and force him to protect the precious, rare and unique flora and fauna which make their home in his rainpuddle."
Sure, RedHatRob, in Right-wingville that is how it always goes. In reality, not so much, especially in this state. And heaven help developers trying to put up a commercial building because chances are it's going to sit vacant for awhile.

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Posted by chris1974 on 06/01/2009 at 10:24 PM

These conservative right wing schmucks won't be stilled until we are all entitled to fully shit in our own nests for eternity.
Pave it or save it? No argument here.

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Posted by babe hugger on 06/02/2009 at 8:22 AM

Right-wingers? The bill passed 72-22.

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Posted by read the votes on 06/02/2009 at 9:33 AM

Right-wingers? The bill passed 72-22.
Lots of DINOs in TN.

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Posted by TobintheGnome on 06/02/2009 at 9:55 AM

Finally something we can agree on...
The poisoning and toxification of the water table is our NUMBER ONE environmental issue. Any source of fresh water should be viewed as precious and everything that can legally be done to protect said sources should be exploited...
But yeah, the "left vs right" BS is growing pretty old...Plenty of Dems just as clueless as REPS.

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Posted by Kevin on 06/02/2009 at 3:34 PM

chris1974= Left wing nut job

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Posted by You know who... on 06/02/2009 at 3:37 PM
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