Official: Water complaints could be 'act of terrorism'

[Lakhota]

Mt. Pleasant residents say state is attempting to silence its critics.

A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director warned a group of Maury County residents that unfounded complaints about water quality could be considered an “act of terrorism.”

“We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously,” said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC’s Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. “But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there’s no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism.”

“Can you say that again, please?” an audience member can be heard asking on the audio.

Smith went on in the recording to repeat the claim almost verbatim.

The audio was recorded May 29 by Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment, a Knoxville-based civic action group that had been working with Maury County residents to tackle water quality complaints in Mount Pleasant. Residents there have complained to the state for months, saying some children had become ill drinking the water. The meeting was organized by State Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, and attended by residents, TDEC and local officials.

TDEC said it was looking into what had been said at the meeting and that Smith would not be available for comment.

“In terms of the comments made by a member of the Water Resources Division at the meeting, we are just receiving the information and looking into this on our end,” spokeswoman Meg Lockhart said. “The department would like to fully assess what was said in the meeting. I am told that the meeting was far longer than the audio clip provided by SOCM and that Mr. Smith actually clarified his remarks. But again, we are looking into it.”

The comment shocked and outraged attendees, who saw it as an attempt to silence complaints, said Brad Wright, organizer for SOCM in Middle Tennessee.

More: Official: Water complaints could be 'act of terrorism' - Written by Brian Haas - The Tennessean

The above link contains audio to prove what was actually said. Considering all the reports of fracking-related water problems, are people really going to be labelled as "terrorists" for complaining about their water quality? Does DHS really consider that an "act of terrorism"?

 

[ScienceRocks]

Nuclear
Wind
Solar
Wave
Hydro
thermal

Agree?

 

[J.E.D]

I do

 

[Lakhota]

Nuclear
Wind
Solar
Wave
Hydro
thermal

Agree?

Agree - except for nuclear. I am indifferent to slightly negative on nuclear.

 

[regent]

How many remember the John Birch society of accusing the liberals of putting fluoride in the water to soften America's brains so the liberals could easily brainwash them into becoming communists?

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I more intrigued that the State Rep's name is Butt.

 

[ScienceRocks]

You do realize that this shit is underground already? Can it not get to the water naturally? Why not just get it all out of the ground, so it can't get into the water supplies later on.

How about launching it into space?

 

[Rct_Tsoul]

This is an intriguing idea, if you were to control the only source of clean/safe drinking water, you could then control ........................... hmm.

 

[Lakhota]

You do realize that this shit is underground already? Can it not get to the water naturally? Why not just get it all out of the ground, so it can't get into the water supplies later on.

How about launching it into space?

Are you talking about fracking fluids? Do you know what fracking is? Do you know how DEEP they frack (thousands of feet below the water table)? Do you know what kinds of chemicals and shit that frackers pump into the ground under great pressure?

Fracking of America

 

[ScienceRocks]

You do realize that this shit is underground already? Can it not get to the water naturally? Why not just get it all out of the ground, so it can't get into the water supplies later on.

How about launching it into space?

Are you talking about fracking fluids? Do you know what fracking is? Do you know how DEEP they frack (thousands of feet below the water table)? Do you know what kinds of chemicals and shit that frackers pump into the ground under great pressure?

Fracking of America

I really didn't know.

 

[asaratis]

Cost of electricity by source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It appears that Natural Gas and Hydro are on the cheaper end of the spectrum....and the cost varies depending on the country.

 

[Mr. H.]

I do

Thanks, but I'm already married.

 

[J.E.D]

You do realize that this shit is underground already? Can it not get to the water naturally? Why not just get it all out of the ground, so it can't get into the water supplies later on.

How about launching it into space?

It's the process of extracting it that does all of the damage.

 

[johnson33445]

The bullshit about roundups it what really ticked me off to be perfectly frank. He has not been within the deep insides of government at high levels whereas I have. They are not infallible nor are they particularly bright.

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

I have to agree with you there, Johnson. The deep inside machinations going on inside Pentagon - they purposely hire retired military that are dumber than rocks and do whatever they are told to do without questioning authority. The only common denominator is they are all atheists. ( job requirement these days - I hear )