Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Tammi Trotter Receives Clean Water – Stronger Communities Volunteer Award


TAMMI TROTTER AWARDED BY STATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK

Little Rock, Ark. – Nov. 1, 2008 – Tammi Trotter, leader of the Friends of the Mill and Piney Creeks environmental organization, was today given the “Clean Water – Stronger Communities Volunteer Award” of the Arkansas Watershed Advisory Group (AWAG), a part of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Hilton Little Rock Metro Center in conjunction with the 2008 AWAG conference.
Trotter helped found and organize the Friends of the Mill and Piney Creeks just months ago in an effort to curb and correct significant environmental damage on Mill Creek and the Piney Creek below it, caused at least in part according to ADEQ, by the unpermitted mining activity of B&H Resources, LLC., a company co-owned by George Bartmess of the Brockwell area.
Trotter’s leadership resulted in the issuance of an emergency order from ADEQ to B&H Resources to halt activity. ADEQ is also demanding from B&H Resources a plan for remediation of damage done.
Media throughout the state have covered the conflict and a groundswell of public support for the Friends organization has occurred.
Mill Creek and Piney Creek, both completely contained in Izard County, are two of the most beautiful streams in Arkansas. They are small streams with towering bluffs dotting their banks and are frequently visited by nature lovers, fishermen and others seeking to enjoy their beauty.
Trotter lives with her family at the mouth of Mill Creek where it flows into Piney Creek. She was alerted to the environmental damage when the gravel stream bottom near her home was suddenly inundated with several feet of silt. She decided to alert neighboring property owners, some of whom live in different counties and even in different states. Still, Trotter managed to contact those owners and in June held in a meadow near her home the first meeting of what that day became the Friends of the Mill and Piney Creeks. Nearly 40 people attended – many of whom had never before met but who shared the goal of protecting the creeks.
Working with this group, Trotter successfully alerted ADEQ staff about the damage, leading to several investigations by them and the resulting emergency order.
At Trotter’s invitation and encouragement, ADEQ Director Teresa Marks personally visited the damaged area on August 27 and spoke to a group of 75 concerned citizens at the Calico Rock Music Hall.
Trotter remains vigilant and watchful about environmentally-adverse activities along the creeks. Friends of the Mill and Piney Creeks is now a vibrant organization holding meetings and conducting activities on a regular basis.
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Congratulations Tammi and everyone with the group for this well deserved award! We are so proud of you!

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