Bill to increase tax paid on coal in TN

Tenn. shouldn’t be a ‘cheap place to mine,’ Gov. Bredesen says of effort

By Tom Humphrey (Contact)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008

NASHVILLE – Plans for expanded coal mining in East Tennessee, much of it in the Sundquist Wildlife Management Area, would be jeopardized by a proposed increase in the state’s coal severance tax, National Coal Corp. officials said Tuesday.

The tax bill’s sponsor, Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, said the state shouldn’t make it easy to strip mine, however, and he has Gov. Phil Bredesen’s support.

“I think of mining as kind of a necessary evil,” Bredesen said, pointing out that after talking to Jackson, he understands the proposed tax rate would put Tennessee on par with other coal-mining states.

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