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About Fracking in Tennessee:
PLEASE TAKE ACTION
The University of Tennessee Institute for Agriculture (UTIA) has proposed a research project on their Cumberland Forest to investigate the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas. The proposal includes a partnership with a gas industry company which will do the drilling and extraction of natural gas/oil. There are many problems with this proposal, including a lack of a research plan, lack of transparency, conflicts of interest, questions of the best use of public trust lands, etc. The proposal is moving forward rapidly, with apparent support from both the University Administration and the state government.
We are asking you to use the material on this site in writing to the UT Board of Trustees to ask them to consider whether this research proposal is suitable for the University, and to ask them to allow independent citizens, faculty, and students to present to them information and a perspective differing from that of the Administration. The Board of Trustees needs to act on this issue, which is within their scope of authority and responsibility, BEFORE UTIA completes the Request for Proposal process and awards a contract to an industry partner.
PLEASE SEND YOUR WRITTEN REQUESTS AND CONCERNS TO THE UT BOARD OF TRUSTEES GENERAL COUNSEL WITH CC TO AXEL RINGE (Chair, Water Quality Committee, TN Chapter Sierra Club, [email protected]). ASK MS. MIZELL TO FORWARD YOUR COMMENTS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE UT BOARD OF TRUSTEES. KEEP YOUR COMMUNICATIONS CIVIL; SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE UTIA PROPOSAL AND A NUMBER ARE NOT YET AWARE OF THE PROPOSAL’S SERIOUS PROBLEMS; WE ARE TRYING TO INFORM THEM IN A REASONABLE MANNER.
Ms. Catherine Mizell
UT Board of Trustees General Counsel and Secretary
719 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996-0170
Email: [email protected]
Ph (865) 974-3245
***The following documents present background information and a detailed timeline of UTIA’s RFP and proposal that can be used to draft your letters to Ms. Mizell:
0. Bullet Points for Board of Trustees’ Consideration
1. SELC’s Letter to SBC’s Exec. Subcommittee Regarding UT’s RFP
2. BOT Email Correspondence Timeline for UT’s RFP
3. SELC Talking Points on Role of UT Board of Trustees
4. Addendum to UT’s Request for Proposal
5. UT Student’s Letter to Board of Trustees that was DENIED
6. SELC’s 2nd Letter to UT Board of Trustees
7. Issues with College Land Grants (UT Cumberland Forest Frack Proposal)
8. Research Initiative Overview (Received from TDEC)
9. TN Parks and Greenways Foundation’s Letter to UT BOT
THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION ON THIS ISSUE!!!
