NASHVILLE — Legislation unveiled in the General Assembly could prove very damaging for Tennessee's fish and water, a conservation advocacy group says.

House Bill 4185, sponsored by Joe McCord [R - Maryville] (with companion legislation in the Senate sponsored by Steve Southerland [R - Morristown]), seeks to amend the Water Quality Control Act of 1997 by lessening water quality restrictions currently in place.

While McCord and Southerland are the only legislators signing their name to the legislation, which was introduced Jan. 31, the bill has the backing of a powerful group of lobbyists: The Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Forestry Association, Tennessee Road Builders Association, and representatives of home builders and the coal mining industry.

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But the Tennessee Wildlife Federation calls the bill dangerous. In an email yesterday, TWF Executive Director Mike Butler said that the legislation "represents the single largest threat to water quality and fish that the Federation has seen in the last 15 years."

Supporters of the legislation say it is needed to provide clarity on the 1997 water quality legislation. But TWF says that the bill presents several problems.

Among other things, according to the Wildlife Federation, the bill would remove protections currently in place for human and wildlife health, as well as protections that are in place to prevent pollution from running into streams.

"Our analysis shows HB4185/SB4119 will create a scenario where streams, wetland and lakes will, over time, be impacted by sediments and toxins," Butler said. "This will damage aquatic life, including fishable waters and fish populations, in addition to placing greater pressures upon all streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes, which will adversely impact the business community as well."