Army Corp of Engineer officials, lawmakers, and concerned locals attended a discussion on a proposed rock quarry near the Old Hickory Dam.
Tuesday’s meeting was held to talk about possible issues and safety concerns with the quarry’s proximity to the dam.
However, Brig. Gen. Richard G. Kaiser, commanding general of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division told lawmakers and protesters that there was no real threat to the dam.
“I am neither for, nor against the quarry,” said Kaiser. “I am for the safety of Old Hickory Dam and the safety of the public affected by Old Hickory.”
Corps officials addressed several misconceptions that have been brought up in the public debate, such as improbable impacts downstream and stories of a past failure of the embankment.
U.S. Representative Jim Cooper, State Representatives Bill Beck, John Ray Clemmons, and Harold Love, Jr. along with State Senator Steve Dickerson, and Metro Council member Larry Hagar also attended.
“I’m not really sure what we’re doing here today besides the general telling us there’s nothing to worry about; just like they told us 6 years ago when we flooded downtown Nashville and downstream,” said Beck. This is the same crew that told us there was nothing to worry about at that time but there is something to worry about.”
“The Corps initial analysis showed that even in a worst case breach scenario, the resulting rise in water in Nashville would remain below flood stage and certainly would not be anywhere similar to what Nashville experienced in May 2010,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Murphy, Nashville District commander. “The science just isn’t there to support these claims.”
NewsChannel 5 reported on the quarry last year when construction began apparently before it was given final aproval.
