Proposed Bible park raises environmental concerns

Tag: filter aid

The location for the proposed Bible theme park in the Blackman community doesn't look like much of a problem on my atlas: A fingernail will cover it up. It could aggravate several environmental problems, however.

It is being compared to Opryland, but there are safeguards (OK, regulations) in place in Davidson County that may not be in place in Rutherford County. Are these potential problems adequately addressed by regulations and not dependent on the goodwill of the developer?


1. Lights along a property line can shine into neighbor's property and/or distract drivers on major thoroughfares.

2. Open burning of brush and construction debris will probably persist throughout the project.

3. Conveyance of fine crushed limestone without cover may occur without local air pollution regulation.

4. Removal of trees that have value due to their beauty and removal of trees without replacing a designated quantity isn't even addressed here.

5. There is a lack of places to recycle glass and cans generated by an entertainment venue.

Two other environmental issues are the demands on water and electricity.

Opryland constructed a water filter system so they could use water from the Cumberland River for the Delta. There has never been a shortage of water in the Cumberland as far as I know. On the other hand, the waters in Rutherford County's watershed were seriously low in the last few years.

The electric utility company that provides electricity to much of this area is warning that we can't let the balance tilt too far in the direction of environmental protection because low-income consumers are going to suffer when prices rise due to controls required to reduce adverse environmental impacts of energy production.

Now, how much water and electricity will be needed for re-creating the flood for Noah's ark, a sea for Jonah and animation of the whale, the parting of the sea for the Israelites, a continuously burning bush, and so on?

The last time the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce pushed a controversial project this hard, it was the Supercollider. Had Rutherford County been awarded that project, where farms were displaced, we would have an abandoned 27-mile tunnel where we could grow mushrooms (or store spent nuclear waste maybe.) They were on the wrong side then and may be on the wrong side this time.