Threat of Industrial Waste in Hatchie River Causes More Protests
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HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — The possibility of industrial waste being dumped in the Hatchie River has several Haywood County residents protesting and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stepping in. “Your catfish and other fish you eat will no longer be good,” Gary Bullwinkel said, a man who lives near the river. Bullwinkel also added that this will only be the tip of the iceberg if a waste water treatment plant goes in along the Hatchie River. Officials say it’s to attract industry to the mega site. “The mega site would have a steady stream of pollution covering this area,” Bullwinkel said. Last week, after several residents protested, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife wrote to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) with concerns about the possible pollution to the Hatchie. They asked TDEC for more detailed information about how the permit would affect the many species of wildlife in the river. Bill Walker, a farmer and former commissioner of agriculture, said if TDEC issues the permit to the Brownsville Energy Authority, it’s not only wrong, but also illegal. “The Hatchie is a Class One scenic river and none of those rivers allow pollutants in the water,” Walker said. He cites the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, a law that he helped write. It says it is the policy of the general assembly to protect free-flowing rivers, like the Hatchie, from pollution. Officials from TDEC said the wastewater will receive treatment, making it safe for the environment. Both Walker and Bullwinkel disagreed. “It’s an exceptional Tennessee water and they’re not supposed to do this,” Bullwinkel said. Despite the backlash, TDEC officials said the permit could still be issued. TDEC officials also said they plan to reopen the public notice process for the permit, as it was closed last week. This will allow them to address more of the public’s concerns.
