Conservation Issues Committees

Get the latest on the Committees here:  Bi-Monthly Conservation Committee Report.
 
Land Management Committee

Tennessee development is proceeding at unprecedented rates. Farmlands and forests are disappearing, and sediment runoff is increasing. Volunteers are working to educate about sound land use. The Committee works to:

  • discourage unwarranted clearing and use of harmful chemicals and invasive species
  • encourage use of native plants and expansion of greenway/blueway systems.      

          Learn more about Improving Land Management in Tennessee
          Chair: Virginia Dale virginia.dale4@gmail.com 
          Action: Contact Virginia to get involved.
 

Solid Waste and Mining Committee

The Solid Waste and Mining Committee addresses mining and extractive industries, landfills, manufacturing byproducts, biosolids, and plastic. Current focus is on:

  • Landfills are full and recycling is minimal. The Tennessee Chapter and its partners initiated the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill, recently introduced in the Tennessee Senate, to address the impact of single-use packaging and implement a state program (https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0269).  Learn more:  https://TNWastetoJobs.com 
     
  • PFAS - Volunteers have become citizen scientists to measure PFAS and dangerous chemicals contaminating Tennessee soil and water garnering national recognition for the Tennessee Chapter and its partners. Learn more: PFAS Contamination

          Chair: Dan Firth dan.firth.sierraclub@gmail.com 
 

Energy Committee
  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) lags behind other states adding renewable energy to their electric grid.
  • Retiring coal-burning plants are being replaced with a massive build-out of gas plants and pipelines.
  • Local power companies are building local renewable energy sources and can assist with home energy efficiency. 

  • Sierra Club supporters across the state work together advocating against gas and for renewable energy. 

         Chair: Joe Schiller joeschiller8@gmail.com
 

Forests and Public Lands Committee
  • Conducts on the ground monitoring the management of our 16 State Forests and federal lands, including the Cherokee National Forest and the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area;
  • Work with agencies and other conservationists to identify and protect rare and sensitive habitats;
  • Conduct educational advocacy to the state and federal governments for policy and legislation;
  • Increase size and number of designated wilderness areas and availability of nature-oriented recreation;
  • Work to reduce impacts of timber cutting;
  • Address overall need for ecological-based stewardship of our public lands.

         Chair: Davis Mounger wdmounger@gmail.com  https://heartwood.org/ 
        

Transportation Committee
  • helps Tennesseans find affordable EVs and benefit from the continuing federal tax rebates;
  • works with TN Clean Fuels and Drive Electric TN to promote Drive & Ride EV events around the state, and use video and social media to educate people about financial incentives and ongoing support;
  • supports the continuing expansion of Fast Charge networks and work with rural communities to find proper station locations;
  • is present when transit districts and school districts improve bus service by expanding service territory and/or electrifying fleets. Tennessee now has over 50 electric school buses in service with several transit districts in the process of electrifying their fleets.

          Learn more about Transportation          
          Chair: Kent Minault  kminault@gmail.com
 

Water Quality Committee
  • Tennessee’s waters are held in trust for the use of its residents who, as beneficiaries of this trust, have a right to unpolluted waters. Rapid population growth and new industry bring pollution to our drinking water (e.g., PFAS, microplastics), as well as inattention to preserving the elements necessary for a working natural water system (wetlands, aquatic biodiversity).
  • The Tennessee Chapter advocates and if necessary, litigates for the abatement of existing pollution, reclamation of polluted waters, prevention of the future pollution of our waters, and plans for the future use of our waters.
  • Volunteers meet regularly with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on issues and legislation.
  • The Committee worked in partnership with other water groups in 2024 to stop a state bill that would have eliminated protections of 300,000 acres of wetlands. Essentially the same bill (SB 0670/HB 0541) is back this year, and the work continues.

         Current focus: Wetlands bill SB0670/HB0541 (https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0670)   
         Chair: Axel Ringe onyxfarm@bellsouth.net 
 

Know Nuclear Committee

Chair: Don Safer dsafer@comcast.net

The Know Nuclear in Tennessee Committee engages locally in support of the National Sierra Club's policy against the use of nuclear fission for electricity generation. The Committee works for: (1) reduction of TVA's increasing reliance on dangerous, dirty, costly nuclear power;   (2) reduction of Tennessee's unique role as the nation's, and increasingly the world's, destination for "low level" radioactive waste processing and disposal; and (3) the most responsible and absolute isolation of harmful manmade radiation created by both nuclear power and weapons production.

Chair: Don Safer dsafer@comcast.net