Tennessee has virtually no regulations over “clear-cutting,” a method of logging in which all the trees are removed from an area, as opposed to traditional logging, where mostly mature trees are selected and harvested individually, leaving immature trees for later harvest.

This was one of the concerns expressed Wednesday to the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance, which seeks to protect and enhance water quality. The Alliance heard a presentation on logging practices.

Daria Gere, of Knoxville, representing Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM), said her organization also has become concerned that there are virtually no regulations over “chip mills” that provide the raw material for paper and “chip board” plywood.

Tennessee has “no laws that regulate the rate or method of timber harvesting,” Gere said.

Many believe that any type of logging should leave “riparian zones” along streams, to prevent runoff and debris from getting into water, a so-called “best practice,” she said.

Although Gere said many timber companies practice conservation, Tennessee has “no mandatory best management practices,” she said.

Gere said she wanted to talk to the Watershed Alliance, because of the group’s interest in protecting and improving water quality, and because two local legislators serve on environmental committees that will be considering a bill SOCM favors later this session.

Legislation Proposed

She said SOCM and other environmental groups have proposed legislation that would involve the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) in regulating new chip mills, and also in regulating timber harvesting involving 100-acre tracts, or larger.

She noted that TDEC studies of water quality typically show sedimentation as the most widespread problem with water in East Tennessee. Sedimentation in streams is usually ascribed to agricultural practices, she said, and logging is considered part of agriculture.

“Statewide it’s a big problem,” she said.

Gere showed a video about clear-cutting and strip mills in north Alabama, and in Wayne County, Tenn. According to the video, Tennessee had 35 chip mills in 1985, but today about 150 of them are in operation.

Residents in Wayne County were interviewed for the video, and several said that the chip mill there now must obtain trees from a great distance away, because the available land nearby has been clear-cut in recent years.

Others interviewed in the video said that chip mills have put traditional sawmills out of business in Wayne County, because hardwood trees, especially white oak, that would have matured into sizes suitable for lumber if left to grow for a few years, were instead harvested as immature trees and ground up for use as paper.

Gere said that SOCM has not taken a formal position on clear-cutting.

Seek To Meet With Officials

She said that state officials have agreed to sit down with SOCM officials to try to see if common ground can be found for legislation to regulate chip mills and clear-cutting, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture has agreed to talks.

She said state Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, is on the House Environmental Subcommittee, where a vote is scheduled later this month.

Hawk, in a telephone interview on Friday, said he was aware that SOCM was promoting several bills, including this one, but he has not as yet taken a position on any of them. As of Friday, Hawk said, none were scheduled for committee votes.

State Sen. Steve, Southerland, R-1st, of Hamblen County, also contacted by telephone, said he was aware that SOCM has been presenting a logging bill, but has not yet seen it.

Southerland said SOCM has requested a meeting with him and Hawk. He noted that he is interested in logging, because Hamblen County has recently lost one furniture-related industry, costing 800 jobs, and plans have been announced for the closing of the Lazy Boy furniture factory there, as well, with more job losses.

Gere indicated that she would like to have the Alliance take a position, but no formal action was taken by the group, though several individuals present expressed support.

Several individuals signed post cards expressing support for the SOCM-backed bill, pre-addressed to legislators.

Gere spoke to the group in the conference room of the Greene County Partnership.
She said SOCM has been in existence for 31 years, and for much of that time has focused on getting more regulations for strip mining in Tennessee, with only moderate success.