U.S. Department of the Interior 
Office of the Secretary 

Release Embargoed until Noon EDT, June 17, 2000 
Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416



                                   Secretary Babbitt Designates Over 61,000 Acres of Fall 
                                    Creek Falls Petition Area Unsuitable for Coal Mining
                                     Babbitt praises Vice President Gore's leadership and support

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced today that he has designated Fall Creek Falls State Park, Cane Creek, Meadow Creek, and Fall Creek
watersheds outside the Park unsuitable for surface coal mining operations. Coal mining is also prohibited in the lower stream reaches of the Piney Creek watershed
because of its proximity to the Park and the unacceptable risks posed by coal mining operations. 

"I am thankful for Vice President Gore's leadership in protecting the beauty of Fall Creek Falls," said Babbitt. The Vice President has championed the protection of
the environment and natural resources in Tennessee and through the nation."

Secretary Babbitt signed the document at a ceremonial event today at Fall Creek Falls State Park Overlook in Tennessee. By signing the document he designated
61,420 acres of land within the watershed that includes the Fall Creek Falls State Park and Natural Area of Van Buren and Bledsoe Counties in Tennessee. The
designation today brings closure to a 25-year battle between environmental groups and mining companies in the area. 

"Today's announcement strikes a healthy balance between ensuring Tennesse's continued economic growth and preserving its irreplaceable natural beauty," Vice
President Gore said. "Many Tennesseans have worked long and hard to make this day possible. Thanks to their efforts, visitors to the falls and surrounding
parklands can continue to enjoy one of our state's great treasures in all its splendor." 

Secretary Babbitt made his decision after a review of an environmental impact statement (EIS) and detailed analysis on coal mining in the Fall Creek Falls area. The
analysis was prepared by Interior's Office of Surface Mining, after being petitioned by Save Our Cumberland Mountains, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness
Planning, and 49 individual citizens, to designate the entire watershed and viewshed of the Park, about 85,588 acres, unsuitable for surface coal mining operations.
Three companies "Skyline Coal Company, Cane Tennessee, Inc., and Colten, Inc." objected to the unsuitability designation and intervened in the petition process. 

Babbitt's decision is based on the preferred alternative identified in the EIS. That alternative determined that surface coal mining operations in the Park and in
portions of the petition area outside the Park would pose an unacceptable risk to the fragile lands of the Park, and that the risks are incompatible with the Park's land
use plans and programs. Because the adverse impacts from surface coal mining operations in the Park and in portions of the petition area outside the Park could be
significant, the risk to the Park would be unacceptable.

Under the announcement today, surface coal mining operations would not be prohibited in the headwaters or upper reaches of the Piney Creek watershed as long as
the proposed operation included areas that had been adversely impacted before the 1977 passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The water
quality in the upper reaches of the Piney Creek watershed has been significantly impacted by pre-SMCRA mining operations and the remining of these unreclaimed
mine sites could have the potential to improve water quality, thus restoring the aquatic communities and stream health of the area and reconstruct Piney Creek proper
and other headwater streams.The Dry Fork watershed also would not be designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations because mining in the
watershed would not effect the fragile lands of the Park. The Dry Fork subsides underground during low flow periods prior to entering the park and reemerges north
of the park outside the petition area, and therefore, would not affect the petition area. 

"Coal mining is an important part of our lives," Babbitt said. "Our parks are the magnificent windows through which the American people rediscover and renew their
connection with the land. We don't have to sacrifice one for the other." 



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