U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander today welcomed word that the U.S. Department of the Interior will review Gov. Phil Bredesen's petition to ban surface mining along some state-owned or -managed ridgetops in the Northern Cumberland Plateau.
U.S. Department of Interior Ken Salazar announced the review earlier.
"I am pleased with Secretary Salazar's prompt and favorable decision on Governor Bredesen's petition," said Alexander, R-Tenn., who supports Bredesen's effort and met with Salazar last week.
"The goal here is to protect Upper Cumberland ridgetops in which Tennessee taxpayers already own an interest," Alexander said in a news release.
"Doing so will allow more opportunities for outdoor recreation, attract job-creating tourist dollars, and still allow for mining in appropriate ways and places."
Bredesen filed the petition in October to ask land be deemed unsuitable for mining within 600 feet of the ridgelines in designated state lands upstream from the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The area is in Anderson, Campbell, Morgan and Scott counties. That would protect 67,000 acres along a 1,200-foot corridor of Upper Cumberland-area ridge tops, the state says.
Alexander's office said last week he met with Salazar and Office of Surface Mining Director Joseph Pizarchik to discuss the petition.
Alexander said the review will include studying the area involved, consulting with all landowners in the area and creating an environmental impact statement. Once those are complete, the Interior Department will make a decision on Bredesen's petition.