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Environmental Permits Handbook

Prudent Site Checks

Following is an environmental checklist provided in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, which assists industry in identifying the types of environmental permits and/or clearances that may be involved in locating or relocating industrial development projects in Tennessee. This information is provided only as a guideline to direct you to appropriate contacts and resources. This document does not constitute any assurance by the state of Tennessee that all applicable environmental/cultural regulatory requirements are included in this list.

Central office contacts are given; however, in many instances, information may also be obtained by calling the Environmental Field Office in your area (just dial 1-888-891-TDEC).

Environmental Considerations Contacts or Resources:
Air Quality
Air quality attainment status Division of Air Pollution Control
Jackie Waynick (615) 532-0570
Background monitoring data Jackie Waynick (615) 532-0570
In Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Shelby counties,
Contact the Local Air Pollution Control Agency
Proximity to PSD Class I areas David Carson (615) 532-0585
Air Easements Near Airports
(Airport Clearance Maps)
TN Dept. of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics
Tom Burgess (615) 741-3208
Archaeological Sites Division of Archaeology
Nick Fielder (615) 741-1588
Cemeteries/Gravesites (Marked/Unmarked)
Questions Regarding Access
Director of Archaeology
Nick Fielder (615) 741-1588
Local Authorities
CERCLA (Superfund) Sites,
known or suspected
Division of Superfund
Frank Grubbs (615) 532-0900
Dams, Impoundments or Retention Ponds
federal, state-regulated or unregulated
Division of Water Supply
Lyle Bentley (615) 532-0154
Division Water Pollution Control
Dan Eager (615)-532-0708
Easements and Rights of Way
Public Roads, Private Access Ways, and Railroads Local Registrar of Deeds
Field Views, Tax Maps
Utilities Local Utilities, Oil/Gas Pipeline, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Telecommunication Utilities, Tax Maps
Geologic Characteristics
Geologic Hazards, etc Division of Geology
Ron Zurawski (615) 532-1500
Geotechnical Consulting Firms
Soils, Existing Soil Studies, County Soil Surveys SDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Darwin Newton (615) 736-5476
County NRCS offices, Geotechnical Consultants
Ground Water
Availability Division of Water Supply
C. Luke Ewing, Water Well Program
(615) 532-0191
Location of Community Wellhead Protection Areas Division of Water Supply
Tom Moss, GWP Section
(615) 532-0191
Aquifer Characteristics Division of Water Supply
Tom Moss (615) 532-0170
Well Driller Licensing Requirements Division of Water Supply
C. Luke Ewing, Water Well Program
(615) 532-0191
Health/Environmental Risks
of Hazardous Air or Water Releases
Consulting Firms
Historic Sites Tennessee Historical Commission
Joe Garrison (615) 532-1559
Mining Activities
Surface Mining Division of Water Pollution Control
Don Owen (423) 594-5527
Local Records
Subsurface Mining Local Registrar of Deeds
Landfills
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Division of Solid/Hazardous Waste Management
Glen Pugh (615) 532-0818
Hazardous Waste Landfills Garey Mabry (615) 532-0780
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Coordination
Possible Activities Project Work Using Federal Funds
Significant Work Affecting Federally Controlled Properties Work Requiring Federally Issued Permits
1-888-891-TDEC (8332)
Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Tennessee Department of Labor
(615) 741-2793
Oil and Gas Activities Division of Water Pollution Control
Mike Burton (615) 532-0166
Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks Division of Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks
(615) 532-0945
RCRA (hazardous waste) Activities and Sites Division of Solid/Hazardous Waste Management
Garey Mabry (615) 532-0780
Sensitive Waters
Recreational Use, Posted Waters and Fish Consumption Advisories Division of Water Pollution Control
Greg Denton (615) 532-0699
Highly protected trout/fish hatchery waters, scenic rivers Division of Water Pollution Control
Greg Denton (615)532-0699

TN Wildlife Resources Agency
Dan Sherry (615) 781-6572

U.S. Fish/Wildlife Service
Lee Barclay (615) 528-6481

Proximity to Water Supply Intakes Division of Water Supply
Bill Hench (615) 532-0165
Proximity to Wastewater Outfalls Division of Water Pollution Control
Saya Qualls 615-532-0652
Sensitive Receptors
Hospitals, Schools, Churches, Quiet Zones, etc. Local Governments
Noise Restrictions Local Governments
Odor Sources Local Governments
Vibrations and Blasting Local Governments
Sensitive Wildlife Areas TN Wildlife Resources Agency
Dan Sherry (615) 781-6572

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Lee Barclay (615) 528-6481

Stream Flows and Flooding
Flood Elevations and Flow Rates U.S. Corps of Engineers
Larry Sharpe, Memphis (901) 544-3968
David Hendrix, Nashville (615) 736-5948

Tennessee Valley Authority
Steve Allen (423) 632-6851

U.S. Geological Survey
Donna Flohr (615) 736-5424

100 Year Floodplain Maps ECD Division of Local Planning
Don Waller, (615) 741-2211

ECD Regional Offices
Local Planning Commissions

Floodplain Alterations U.S. Corps of Engineers
Larry Sharpe, Memphis (901) 544-3968
David Hendrix, Nashville (615) 736-5948

Tennessee Valley Authority
Steve Allen (423) 632-6851

Division of Water Pollution Control
Dan Eagar (615) 532-0708

Local Planning Commissions

Reservoir and Stream Easements Tennessee Valley Authority

U.S. Corps of Engineers
Larry Watson, Memphis (901) 544-3471
William James, Nashville (615) 736-5181

Tax Maps

Threatened and Endangered Species Division of Natural Heritage
Reggie Reeves (615) 532-0431
Subsurface Sewage Disposal Requirements Division of Ground Water Protection
Kent Taylor (615) 532-0761
Waste Management/Reduction
Hazardous Waste Division of Community Assistance
Linda Sadler (615) 532-0779
Solid Waste Division of Community Assistance
Karen Grubbs (615) 532-0463

UT Center for Industrial Services
George Smelcer (615) 532-8657

Underground Storage Tanks (Petroleum) Division of Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks
Stan Boyd (615) 532-0945
Public Water Supply
Availability of Public Water Supply Local Utility

Division of Water Supply
Bill Hench (615) 532-0165

Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Availability of Sewer Service and Capacity Local Government

Division of Water Pollution Control
Saya Qualls (615) 532-0652

Legal and Enforcement Issues Division of Water Pollution Control
Chris Moran (615) 532-0672
Pretreatment

Local Government

Division of Water Pollution Control
Phil Simmons (615) 532-0358

Stream Conditions/Assimilative Capacity

Division of Water Pollution Control
Saya Qualls, P.E.
Chief Engineer
Division of Water Pollution Control
(615) 532-0652

Wetlands
Permits Division of Water Pollution Control
Dan Eagar (615) 532-0708

U.S. Corps of Engineers
Larry Watson, Memphis (901) 544-3471
William James, Nashville (615) 736-5181

National Wetland Inventory Maps Division of Water Pollution Control
Dan Eagar (615) 532-0708

U.S. Corps of Engineers
Larry Watson, Memphis (901) 544-3471
William James, Nashville (615) 736-5181

TN Wildlife Resources Agency
Tracy Jackson (615) 781-6535

Zoning Local Governments

ECD Division of Local Planning
Don Waller (615) 741-2211

Permitting Home

What Environmental Permits Do I Need?

Prudent Site Checks

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Standard Operating Procedures