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Individuals present during atmospheric nuclear weapons testing could qualify for a single, substantial financial payment as compensation. (Hamara/AdobeStock)

Monday, April 29, 2024

RECA expansion bill impacts Tennessee, awaits House approval

A Knoxville-based environmental group is advocating for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expansion, currently awaiting House approval…

Tennessee residents typically spend around $177 per month on electric bills, which amounts to an annual expenditure of $2,124. (ABCDstock/Adobe Stock)

TN bill would boost public's role in TVA decision-making process

Tennesseans want more say in how the Tennessee Valley Authority plans for their future electricity needs and a bill now in Congress could give the pub…

Data show Oak Ridge residents pay $2.67 million in taxes toward nuclear weapons programs. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Alliance: 'Skyrocketing' Y-12 facility costs affect TN taxpayers

A Knoxville-based environmental group is voicing concerns over what it sees as an increasing financial strain imposed on taxpayers by nuclear weapons …

According to the American Lung Association, more than 63 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy spikes of soot pollution. (BCH Photo/Adobe Stock)<br />

TN groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stronger air quality standards for soot pollution and one regional organization said it is a step in…

Y12 annually hosts female high school students as part of a program called

Lawsuit probes EPA decision in allowing Oak Ridge landfill

Environmental groups in Tennessee will soon learn more about the approval process behind a radioactive waste landfill which has been processing and st…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects by the autumn of 2024 to develop national recommended ambient water quality criteria for PFAS to protect aquatic life and human health. (Eifel Kreutz/Adobe Stock)

Report: PFAS chemicals contaminate TN rivers, lakes

The latest research reveals alarming levels of contamination in northeastern Tennessee waterways, by the chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl …

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the Y12 complex has about 4,500 employees and another 2,000 contractors. (Enzo/Adobe Stock)

Alliance sounds alarm on contamination in Oak Ridge

A Knoxville-based environmental group is voicing health and safety concerns about the development of a landfill for radioactive waste from the Y12 Ura…

Report: Major TN utility lags in clean energy transition

A report by the Sierra Club rates utility companies for what they say they are doing to transition to cleaner energy sources, compared to what they …

Tennesseans will see peak colors for fall foliage across the state through Oct. 28, according to the Farmer's Almanac 2023. (Jacki/AdobeStock) <br /><br /><br />

Report highlights importance of leaving autumn leaves for wildlife

While it might feel natural to rake the leaves in your yard this fall, the leaves might play a more natural role in your garden or lawn. A new …

The Environmental Protection Agency uses RadNet monitors to track fluctuations in gamma radiation emitted from airborne radioactive particles in Tennessee. (hamara/Adobe Stock)

TN group takes up nuclear weapons prohibition at UN meeting

A Knoxville group of concerned citizens will head next month to an international meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York. Their focus is …

In July, Gov. Bill Lee announced appointments to the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council, to position the Volunteer State as a national leader for nuclear energy innovation and advancement. (Angellodeco/Adobe Stock)

TN Group Fights Y-12 Nuclear Weapon Expansion in Oak Ridge

An environmental group in Knoxville wants to stop construction at the Uranium Processing Facility, part of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak …

It would have taken approximately 815,000 additional trucks to handle the 14.7 million tons of freight that originated by rail in Tennessee in 2021, according to the Association of American Railroads. (Fabrus/AdobeStock)

Swift Passage of Rail Safety Bill Urged

During National Rail Safety Month, Congress is being urged to take swift action to pass the Rail Safety Act of 2023. The measure aims to prevent …

A new EPA report states climate change can increase children's pollen exposures as seasons lengthen and temperatures warm. (WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeStock)

Report Links EPA Climate Change, Children’s Health and Well-Being in TN

In Tennessee and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

The Cumberland Fossil Plant is the largest generating asset in the TVA coal fleet and is located in Stewart County, Tennessee. It powers approximately 1.1 million homes. (David/AdobeStock)

TN Groups Call To Action for TVA Pivot To Clean Energy

Environmental groups in Tennessee have an urgent call to action for the Tennessee Valley Authority to cut fossil-fuel emissions and replace their coal…

In 1943, during WWII, ground was broken in rural East Tennessee for the first production building at the Y-12 Plant. The plant's job was to make enough enriched uranium for an atomic bomb. (Angellodeco/Adobe Stock)

TN Groups Fight Nuclear Processing Expansion in Erwin

Environmental groups want to stop the Nuclear Fuel Services plant in Erwin, Tennessee, from refining highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons…

The latest drinking water testing (from August 2022) in Nashville by Metro Water Services didn't show any reportable levels of the six types of PFAS that EPA is planning to regulate. (Elena Kharichkina/Adobe Stock)

Officials Take Comment on Tennessee Drinking Water Cleanup

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comments on its proposed new drinking water regulations. The agency announced plans to …

The long-term annual standard for particulate matter is 12 micrograms. Tennessee's 2023 State of Health report shows in 2018, the state's annual average was 8 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and therefore met the standard. (Yevgeniy/Adobe Stock)

Groups Demand EPA Get Tough on ‘Dangerous’ Soot Pollution

In Tennessee and across the country, advocacy groups for clean air are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to do more to protect public health …

According to the Tennessee Environmental Council, recycling keeps valuable materials in the economy rather than in local landfills. It estimates Tennesseeans throw away $180 million worth of recyclable materials every year. (Sorapop/Adobe Stock)

TN Bill Would Revamp Recycling Process Statewide

A bill in the Tennessee Legislature aims to reduce packaging materials that end up in landfills by improving recycling in the Volunteer State…

The Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy costs for households and businesses, create manufacturing jobs for American workers and deliver a clean, secure, and healthy future for families. (Vitalli Vodolazskyi/AdobeStock)

Tennessee Rural Electric Co-ops to Benefit from Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act has made a historic investment of $370 billion dollars to fight climate change over the next decade. Among its benefits…

Around 58% of waterways were rated poor for conditions related to chemical stressors such as phosphorus, nitrogen, salinity and acidification, according to the latest assessment of the nation's rivers and streams by the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Experts to Gather in TN at First National Stream-Restoration Conference

Water experts will gather next week in Nashville to talk about the state of stream restoration, at the first national stream restoration conference…

Manufacturing, processing and mining waste often are dumped on the sites that end up being listed for Superfund cleanup. (Flickr)

EPA Green-Lights Cleanup of TN Superfund Site

Tennessee soon will receive federal funding to clean up a 260-acre toxic-waste site in Shelby County. The Environmental Protection Agency recently …

Last weekend's outbreak of powerful tornadoes tore through parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee, killing more than 100 people and leaving wreckage over hundreds of miles. (Joshua Jans/Wikimedia Commons)

Why Southern U.S. is Prone to December Tornadoes

THE CONVERSATION COLLABORATION KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The tornadoes that ripped through multiple states, killing more than 100 people, were created by a …

There are an estimated 50 billion pieces of litter on roadways nationwide, according to Keep America Beautiful. (Adobe Stock)

TN to Embark on Litter Pollution Study

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Plastic bottles and cans line many of the state's roadways and rivers, and now the state is conducting a large research study to …

Flying Asian carp can jump out of the water and cause boating accidents. (Adobe Stock)

Asian Carp Barriers to be Erected on Tennessee, Cumberland Rivers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the state continues its battle against invasive Asian carp, environmentalists say plans to erect new barriers to stop the carp …

National forests are a massive sink for carbon dioxide that help stave off the effects of global warming. (Adobe Stock)

Two Decades of Roadless Rule Helped Fight Climate Change

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Roadless Rule became law 20 years ago today. The bedrock conservation policy halted commercial logging and the building of …

Countries are projected to collectively invest an estimated $1.1 trillion per year over the next five years into low-carbon energy strategies.(Adobe Stock)

COVID Relief Could Help Mitigate Climate Change, Reboot Economy

By David L. McCollum for The Conversation. Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan/Tennessee News Service reporting for the Conversation-Public News …

Civilian Conservation Corps members at a camp near Esco, Tenn. (Lewis Hine, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons)

Reviving a Depression-Era Program Could Put Young People to Work

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nationwide, the youth unemployment rate during the coronavirus pandemic is the highest it has been since the Great Depression…

Asian carp are filter feeders, meaning they consume the base of the aquatic food chain, starving out and outcompeting native fish species. (Adobe Stock)

Congress OKs $25 Million to Fight Asian Carp

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee will receive federal funding to fight Asian carp as part of a $25 million budget appropriation recently passed by …

The Tennessee, Cumberland and Mississippi rivers are the three longest waterways running through Tennessee. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Smaller TN Waterways Lose Protection Under New EPA Rule

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a new rule, saying it clarifies which types of waterways are protected …

Supreme Court, court of appeals and district court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Adobe Stock)

Senate Confirmations Alter Federal Judiciary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Over the past few years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed 185 of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, the majority of whom …

Research has shown pesticide exposure can cause birth defects, infertility and cancer. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Critics Cite Repeated EPA Approval of Pesticides as Unnecessary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Environmental groups and public health experts are questioning the Environmental Protection Agency's frequent use of "emergency …

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided millions of dollars to help protect many of Tennessee�s most iconic natural areas, such as Cades Cove. (Adobe Stock)

Future of TN's Natural Parks Up to Land and Water Conservation Fund

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Congress is considering a bill that would secure permanent and full federal funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund …

A new analysis of U.S. air-pollution and FBI crime data finds a correlation between exposure to air pollution and an increase in aggressive behavior. (Adobe Stock)

Study Links Air-Pollution Exposure to Violent Crime

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Researchers have found a correlation between exposure to air pollution and aggressive behavior or violent crime. The …

Legislation pending in Congress would fund much-needed repairs to national park infrastructure around the country, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Most Americans Support Funding National Park Repairs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eight in 10 registered voters support cleaning up and repairing our aging national parks, in the latest poll by The Pew …

A raccoon gnaws on a red plastic cup. Tennesseans have submitted hundreds of photos of trash across the state as part of a litter awareness campaign. (Eddie Johnson/Tenn. Wildlife Federation)

Tennesseans Snap Photos of Trash for Litter Awareness Campaign

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new campaign aims to raise awareness of Tennessee's trash problem. Hundreds of people have sent photos of litter in …

Americans throw away an estimated 25 billion foam cups every year. (Adobe Stock)

TN Biotech Company Honored for Compostable Products

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A biotechnology company that makes compostable food-service ware and a nine-year-old who organizes river cleanups were among …

Nashville mother Zozan Noman (right) testified at an EPA hearing in Washington. She opposes rolling back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule. (Moms Clean Air Force)

TN Mom to EPA: Enforce Limits on Air Pollution; Kids' Health at Stake

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Nashville mother of two young girls is weighing in on an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to weaken rules that …

Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has tapped revenues from offshore oil and gas development to preserve public lands, including in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (National Parks Service)

Land and Water Conservation Fund Gets Congress' Bipartisan Support

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate last week passed a measure by a vote of 92-8 to reauthorize the Land …

Some are questioning the Environmental Protection Agency's plans to relax pollution standards for coal plants. Ten years ago, a leak at Tennessee's Kingston Fossil Plant left 30 people dead and poisoned more than 250. (Brian Stansberry/Wikipedia)

Group Worries about Future Coal-Ash Protections

KENSINGTON, Tenn. - Not long after the 10-year anniversary of the largest coal-ash spill in U.S. history, parents across Tennessee are among those …

The National Park Service has furloughed nearly 16,000 workers and suspended most maintenance and visitor services, but parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and trails remain open to the public. (Friends of the Smokies)

Shutdown: Cleanliness, Safety Concerns for National Parks

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Visitors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and others across the country have seen trash, overflowing toilets and …

According to the Tennessee Department of Tourism, outdoor recreation is the state's second-largest industry. (Tennessee Wild Coalition)

Farm Bill Secures Wilderness Act Victory for TN

MADISONVILLE, Tenn. – A diverse coalition of small business owners, veterans, clergy, conservationists and sports enthusiasts is celebrating …

The Tennessee Wilderness Act would safeguard the headwaters of the Bald River Falls, one of the most visited waterfalls by paddlers in the southeast. (hey_its_rachel/Twenty20)

Businesses Push for Protection of TN Public Lands

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Business owners are in the nation's capital today, urging members of Congress to protect more public lands before the lame-…

Vanderbilt University has a new electric car charging station in one of its parking lots. The station is solar-powered and can handle up to 10 cars at once. (Derek Bluff/flickr)

TN Cities Push Forward with Zero-Emission Priorities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville is one of several Tennessee cities pushing ahead with more sustainable transportation - at a time when the Trump …

Kingston's coal-fired power plant was the site of a coal ash slurry spill in 2008. (Steve/Flickr)

Health Impact from TN Coal Plants Could Increase

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee has four coal-fired power plants and this week, the Environmental Protection Agency released its plan for new …

The haze of air pollution sometimes seen in Great Smoky Mountains National Park could increase if automakers are not mandated to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. (Davynin/flickr)

Easement of Fuel Standards Could Come at Cost to TN Consumers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Thursday, the EPA announced a proposed rule that would freeze fuel-efficiency standards to hold them to 2020 levels…

The Cherokee National Forest is among the areas that have received funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. (Natures Paparazzi/Flickr)

Protectors of "Home of the Brave" Fight for Public-Lands Protection

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Many veterans fought to protect their country on foreign soil, and now it's their homeland they want to protect. According to the …

From farm to table and every step in-between, the life cycle of food purchases was responsible for an estimated 16 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions in 2013. (Pixabay)

Study: Grocery Store Choices Can Impact Climate Change

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Researchers say they've tapped the most comprehensive estimate of greenhouse gas emissions created by U.S. consumer food …

Coal-ash waste includes dangerous toxins that threaten public health. (Kate Ausburn/Flickr)

Trump EPA Weakens Coal-Ash Waste Protections

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Environmental groups in Tennessee are figuring out their next move after the Trump Administration this week rolled back some …

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TN: Environment