The Tennessee Council Of Trout Unlimited

TEC Challenges Wal-Mart Construction Wal-Mart is constructing a new Superstore in Chattanooga, TN. The site Wal-Mart chose is part of an important 5 acre wetland area adjacent to the South Chickamauga Creek in the Eastgate / Brainerd Village area of Chattanooga. The state issued a construction permit and the Corps of Engineers proposed to fill 3 acres of the wetland. During construction, additional pollutants have been discharged into the already impaired South Chickamauga Creek, which violates construction permits. Furthermore, the site violated the Construction Storm Water General Permit by not utilizing adequate sediment control measures and altering waters of the state without a permit. The Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) responded to requests for assistance from local citizens to halt the destructive construction by challenging the construction permits and the site plan of the Corps of Engineers. On July 2, 2003 TEC submitted a letter to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) asking the agency for revocation of the construction permit for the Wal-Mart in Chattanooga. In the letter to TDEC Commissioner Betsy Child, Will Callaway requests that Child's agency order the cessation of construction until the developers conform to state environmental guidelines. This week the Chancery Court in Hamilton County issued an injunction against further construction, noting potential damage to the conservation areas. A hearing on the matter is set to be held in the same court on July 15, 2003.. Anyone wanting more information about local activities in opposition to wal-mart can write to: responsibleprogress@yahoo.com