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April 13, 2005
By: Amy Souers Kober
Roan #5 on annual list
(Washington, D.C.) American Rivers and its partners
today named Tennessee’s Roan Creek as one of the
nation’s Most Endangered Rivers for 2005, citing the
threat that construction of a factory farm would
have on the health of the stream, residents, and
regional economy. The annual America’s Most
Endangered Rivers report, now in its twentieth year,
highlights rivers with the most uncertain futures
rather than the worst chronic problems. The groups
called on state officials to establish and enforce
stricter rules on factory farm operations.
“Mountain streams like Roan Creek should be about
clear, cool waters, fishing holes and rope swings,
not tons of cow manure and deadly germs,” said
Rebecca R. Wodder, president of American Rivers.
“It’s not too late for state officials to put a stop
to this.”
Maymead, Inc. and its subsidiary High Mountain
Holsteins propose to confine almost 700 dairy cows
in a large barn in a residential community outside
of Mountain City, in Johnson County. Each year, the
cows would produce more than 12 million gallons of
animal wastes -- more than the amount of sewage
produced by the 18,000 people living in Johnson
County.
The liquid animal waste would be stored in huge
lagoons along a Roan Creek tributary, and could
taint Roan in several ways. Liquid manure could seep
into the groundwater below the holding lagoons
contaminating nearby wells, springs, and Roan Creek.
Once the lagoons fill up, workers must spread manure
onto farm fields, which could later wash into Roan
Creek. During a storm, the holding lagoons could
spill, sending waves of liquid manure down the
valley and ultimately into Roan Creek.
“Maymead’s factory farm would harm the area’s
reputation,” said Steve Ferguson of the Johnson
County Citizens’ Committee for Clean Air and Water.
“A reputation that relies heavily on the promise of
fresh air, clean and clear water, and clean country
living to attract new residents.”
Many factory farms, or concentrated animal feeding
operations, are notorious water polluters. The farms
produce and store massive amounts of animal wastes.
Disease-causing germs, heavy metals, hormones,
noxious gases, and other toxins escape the storage
lagoons into the surrounding water and air,
threatening the health of workers and nearby
residents. In 2003, the American Public Health
Association called for a national moratorium on
factory farm construction because these farms cause
so many waterborne and respiratory illnesses.
“The citizens of Johnson County have, and will
continue to, challenge the construction of the
factory farm near Roan Creek citing national studies
and other strong evidence that these farms are
detrimental to communities, local economies, and
water quality,” said Barry Sulkin with Tennessee
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
American Rivers and its partners called on Tennessee
state officials to step up to the plate. The groups
urged the Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation (TDEC) to act responsibly and withdraw
the original permit to build, as the permit violates
the TDEC’s own rules prohibiting authorizations of
additional loadings of the same pollutants into
streams that are already polluted.
The conservation groups also urged the Tennessee
Legislature to revisit state laws that govern
factory farming and citizens’ rights regarding
current TDEC practices. The legislature should
provide Tennesseans with stronger recourse when
factory farms contaminate wells, pollute water or
air, or depress property values. These changes would
encourage factory farms across the state to be
better corporate citizens.
Roan Creek not alone
Mountain City and small towns throughout Appalachia
need federal and state assistance to acquire the
state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants that will
protect the rivers that are the heart of their
communities. Unfortunately, President Bush asked
Congress to cut clean water aid to the state of
Tennessee by almost $5.35 million in 2006. Congress
should reject those proposed cuts and increase
funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan
Fund to $3.2 billion in 2006, of which $46.4 million
would go to Tennessee.
About America’s Most Endangered Rivers
Each year, American Rivers solicits nominations from
thousands of river groups, environmental
organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments, and
taxpayer watchdogs for the America’s Most Endangered
Rivers report. The report highlights the rivers
facing the most uncertain futures rather than those
suffering from the worst chronic problems. The
report presents alternatives to proposals that would
damage rivers, identifies those who make the crucial
decisions, and points out opportunities for the
public to take action on behalf of each listed
river.
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