Department of Environment & Conservation
Robert Martineau, Commissioner

Information about the programs dedicated to protecting and improving Tennessee's Land Resources through effective management of solid waste, hazardous materials, site cleanup and product stewardship.

• Programs
• Resource Info
• Outreach
• Regulatory Info
• Assistance
• Links

Program Areas

• Division of DOE Oversight — The DOE Oversight Division was established to implement TDEC's responsibilities under the Tennessee Oversight Agreement (TOA).  The TOA is designed to assure the citizens of Tennessee that their health, safety, and environment are being protected through existing programs and substantial new commitments by the Department of Energy.
• Division of Geology — The Division of Geology promotes the prudent development and conservation of Tennessee’s geological, energy and mineral resources by developing and maintaining data bases, maps and technical services that provide accurate geologic hazard assessments and information through publications and outreach activities.
• Division of Remediation — The mission of this Division is to discover, investigate, abate, and clean up hazardous substance sites in order to minimize unfavorable impacts on the public health and the environment.
• Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management — Information regarding solid waste processing and disposal (including landfills) is available from the Division of Solid/Hazardous Waste Management. Hazardous waste generation, recycling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal within Tennessee is also regulated by this Division.
• Division of Underground Storage Tanks — The mission of the Division of Underground Storage Tanks is to protect human health and environment by preventing future petroleum underground storage tank releases and remediating existing petroleum underground storage tank contamination.

Resource Information/Reports

• Ground Water Reporting Form — Tennessee has a requirement when a property owner or prospective purchaser (1) discovers that ground water has chemical constituents above the drinking water standards and (2) the ground water is a potable drinking water source, or that it poses an explosion or inhalation hazard, then they must report the ground water contamination to the department. Rule 1200-4-3-.07 through 1200-4-3-.12 contain the ground water classification provisions and the reporting requirements. Click here to access the Ground Water Reporting Form.
• Tennessee Environment and Conservation Videos
• Egyptian Lacquer Manufacturing Company Cleanup Information

Outreach

• Environmental Stewardship Awards — Annual awards recognizing the many voluntary efforts throughout the state that improve environmental and conservation stewardship.
• Public Participation Opportunities — A list of current public notices of permitting decisions, public hearings, and rule-making activities available on-line.
• Board Meetings — The public is invited to attend the meetings of our regulatory boards.
  • Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Board
  • Municipal Solid Waste Advisory Council
  • Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Board
  • Solid Waste Disposal Control Board
• Annual Solid/Hazardous Waste Conference and Exhibition
• Governor's Land and Water Forum
• Recycling Program — Provides a recycling program for state employees, coordination of recycling events, and database maintenance and referral for materials exchange, used oil, antifreeze, and battery collection sites and transporters.
• Household Hazardous Waste Program — Provides household hazardous waste collection and proper disposal through weekend county events by a contractor.
• Agricultural Pesticide Waste Collection Program — Provides information on environmentally sound disposal of waste/restricted use pesticides.
• Solid Waste Plan Approval Program — Promotes sound integrated solid waste management practices with regard to collection, disposal, recycling, education, and reduction
• Tire Management Program — Includes the routine shredding of scrap tires for disposal, the abatement of unpermitted disposal sites, and assistance to reuse markets.

Regulatory Information

• Regulations — courtesy of the Secretary of State's Office
• TDEC's Self Disclosure Policy — TDEC Policy Encouraging Self-Policing and Voluntary Correction

Summary of Permits:

• Hazardous Waste Generator Notification/EPA ID Number: Generating more than 100 kg of hazardous waste or 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste in any month of the calendar year requires notification/generating, transporting, treating, storing or disposing of hazardous waste requires an EPA ID number.
• Hazardous Waste Permits: Treating, storing or disposing of hazardous wastes
• Special Waste Approval: Disposing of special waste
• Permit-By-Rule for Non-hazardous Solid Waste: Operating solid waste processing, collection and/or recycling facilities
• Landfill Permit: Operating a solid waste landfill to take household, industrial, land clearing, landscaping, and/or construction and demolition wastes
• Notification For Used Oil: Every used oil collection center; transporter; transfer facility; marketing, processing, refining and off-specification burner site must file a notification with the state DCERP Registration: Owners or operators of drycleaning facilities conducting or intending to conduct drycleaning operations, during the year, must register
• Underground Storage Tank Notification: Installing an underground storage tank and/or having an existing underground storage tank on-site
• General Radioactive Material License: Possessing generally licensed devices (by-product, source and special nuclear material)
• Specific Radioactive Material License: Receiving, possessing, using, transferring, owning or acquiring radioactive materials
• Registration of X-ray Producing Equipment: Owning or possessing any radiation machine - register radiation sources within 10 days after acquisition
• Radioactive Waste License for Delivery:
  Shipping licensable quantities of radioactive material to a disposal/processing facility within the state
• Lead-Based Paint Program - procedures and requirements for accreditation of training programs, certification of professionals, and work practice standards for conducting lead-based paint abatement activities.

Assistance

• Office of Environmental Assistance — The Office of Environmental Assistance program provides information and non-regulatory support to businesses, schools, local governments, industries, organizations and individuals in order to prevent and reduce environmental impacts.
• Small Business Environmental Assistance Program — Provides regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through workshops and onsite visits.
• Solid Waste Grant Program — Provides grants for recycling efforts, material recovery facilities, clean-up of waste tires, updating solid waste plans, household hazardous waste programs, solid waste education programs, and the promotion of end-use markets.
• Voluntary Cleanup Oversight and Assistance Program (VOAP) — Offers people the opportunity to work proactively with state government to address necessary cleanup of a property to return it to productive use.