BusinessTN

The description of Raymond Finney as one of the worst legislators in the state grossly misrepresented the man and the coal mining bill that was the central reason for your conclusion. As a subscriber, I look to BusinessTN for carefully researched articles and balanced but pro-business opinions. This time you let me down.

The article characterized The Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act as, "a bill that would ban most surface mining in Tennessee." A quick read of the short bill would have dispelled that notion. The bill prohibits, "Surface coal mining operations to alter or disturb any ridge line that is above two thousand feet (2,000') elevation above sea level." And goes on to clarify, "This subsection does not prohibit any otherwise allowable surface coal mining above two thousand feet (2,000') elevation above sea level that does not alter or disturb a ridgeline." Surface mining below 2,000 feet, where over 90% of the states coal reserves are located, is not affected.

The bill is not anti-coal, it is pro-mountain and pro-tourism. Tourism is the number one business in Tennessee. As the senator for Sevier County, Dr. Finney understands tourism. Even in the Tennessee counties with the most coal, tourism employs many more people than mining. No one will come here to see a topless Rocky Top or mountains that look like highway medians. There are plenty of mountains to our north decapitated by coal mining. That is one reason we do not have to compete with Kentucky and West Virginia for tourists. You missed the large negative effect of one small company on the state's major industry.

You said, "Finney's bill likely conflicts with federal law as the U.S. government overtook regulation of the industry long ago." The attorney general issued an opinion on exactly that question at the request of the Legislature, and found that the bill was not in conflict with federal law. (AP0067, Mar. 25, 2008)

You tied the bill to our power needs. National Coal told the Senate that they do not sell even one chunk of coal to TVA. TVA gets much of its coal from Wyoming where it costs only eight dollars a ton to extract compared to the $50 a ton to extract Tennessee Coal (figures presented to the Senate by National Coal's lobbyist). Even with the transportation costs and different energy content, Tennessee's thin seams of low quality coal are not needed to keep our lights on or our power rates low.

Wyoming has huge seams of coal on flat land. They are not about to run out, and they are happy to sell it to TVA. The only reason National Coal, a Florida corporation, wants to sell TVA Tennessee coal is that National Coal owns mineral rights in Tennessee, not in Wyoming. National Coal has never made a profit and wants to blow up our mountains in hopes of changing its financial fortunes. Tennessee's economy will not benefit by permitting radical coal mining that alters or disturbs our characteristic ridgelines. We risk killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Sen. Finney is a thoughtful man of integrity and conviction. I have attached a copy of his letter to the Senate Committee chair, asking for a vote in spite of direct threats to his political future. That kind of selfless backbone is not found in our "worst" legislators. It is found in only a very few—our best. Shame on BusinessTN.

—Dawn Coppock
Strawberry Plains