We NEED your help!

Extremely important letter writing campaign to Tennessee Department of Conservation & Environment (TDEC)

We need your help NOW! Senator Yager has asked that as many people as possible send letters to TDEC Directors (see addresses below) to share concerns and opposition to this landfill project.

Important details:

  • Letters must be physical mail – no emails at this time.

  • Please keep your message cordial and polite. 

  • Stick to the facts and focus on the negative impacts this project would have on our community.

  • Please send letters to the following 4 people at the following addresses:

    • David Salyers, Commissioner

    • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
      Davy Crockett Tower, 5th Floor
      500 James Robertson Parkway
      Nashville, Tennessee 37243 

    • Lisa Hughey, Director

    • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
      Division of Solid Waste Management
      Davy Crockett Tower, 7th Floor
      500 James Robertson Parkway
      Nashville, Tennessee 37243 

    • Ronné Adkins, Deputy Commissioner

    •  Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
      Division of Solid Waste Management
      Davy Crockett Tower, 7th Floor
      500 James Robertson Parkway
      Nashville, Tennessee 37243 

    • April Grippo, Director

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Division of Water Resources
Davy Crockett Tower, 7th Floor
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

What to include in your letters:

  1. Introduce yourself and briefly say why you care. (Examples: you live near the landfill or rail line, you have children at Winfield Elementary, you fish/hike in the Big South Fork, your drinking water comes from the Big South Fork, you own land or a business in Scott or McCreary County, your children play at Bear Creek fields, or you simply love Scott County.)

  2. State that you fully support Cumberland Clear’s letter to TDEC dated August 14, 2025. Click HERE for a copy of that letter.

  3. Emphasize that the permit is not valid and stands as an example of everything NOT to do in the landfilling business.

  4. Choose a few facts below to include (don’t try to include all of them):

    • The 2010 permit is invalid because it never received approval from the Scott County Solid Waste Board. Instead, TDEC accepted a cryptic letter from the County Attorney, which should not have been accepted. 

    • The Jackson Law never expired, so the Scott County Commission should have reviewed the Roberta II application but was denied that opportunity.

    • The proposed Roberta II landfill is on 24 acres directly on top of a spring-fed pond and streams leading into the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River (McCreary County’s drinking water). Groundwater is very shallow there, in some places just 1½ feet.

    • The transfer station would sit about one football field away from Winfield Elementary. The playground would become unsafe, and the school could be forced to close.

    • Winfield and Oneida both have overlay zoning designed to protect their citizens.

    • The transfer station property contains wetlands and streams. Farmers nearby worry that their wells will be poisoned.

    • Businesses within two miles of the landfill and transfer station would be harmed, with some owners already planning to relocate.

    • Scott County has invested in adventure tourism to grow its economy. Roberta II and its transfer station would destroy these efforts.

    • A new sports complex has been built near the proposed landfill site. Air pollution and odor would put children and families at risk.

5. Closing: Thank the recipients for their time and attention. UNDER YOUR SIGNATURE, WRITE YOUR FULL MAILING ADDRESS SO THEY KNOW YOU ARE TRULY AFFECTED!