The 2010 draft construction stormwater permit is out for public review.  TCWN is working with other environmental groups to thorough review the draft permit, but her is a quick breakdown of the major changes:

• Sites covered under the current CGP automatically get coverage under the new CGP,
• Buffers are now required on all streams,
• Coverage under the permit may be delayed until other required permits (ARAP, wastewater, etc.) are issued,
• Quality assurance of the erosion prevention and sediment controls structures must be done by a licensed engineer or landscape architect,
• EPSCs must be consistent with the state’s EPSC handbook,
• Physical and chemical treatment must be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s protocol,
• All inspections require documentation,
• EPA’s construction stormwater effluent limitation guidelines were added.

Go to TDEC’s public participation page to check out the permit.

TCWN in conjunction with Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM), the TN Chapter of the Sierra Club, and TN Environmental Council (TEC) created and submitted a questionnaire on a range of environmental issues to gubernatorial candidates Mike McWherter and Bill Haslam.  Their responses are in and can be checked out here.

TDEC finalized and issued the permit for stormwater discharges from certain small municipal separate storm sewer systems (Phase II MS4s).  Earlier this year TCWN worked with several other groups to review and submit comments on the draft version of this permit.  A few of these comments were incorporated into the final permit, but overall the permit was not significantly altered.  Click here to see the final permit, response to comments and other information about municipal stormwater.

Mercury has contaminated Beech Creek in Wayne County making the fish in the stream dangerous to eat and recreation in the water a threat to human health.  Beech Creek is a direct tributary to the Tennessee River as it enters the state from Alabama.  TDEC is still investigating the cause and will be updating the public.  Click here to read the full story in the Tennessean.

According to TDEC a Weakley County hog farmer intentionally pumped out his waste lagoon into Little Cypress Creek causing a fish kill and turning the rural creek an odd red color.  This blatant destruction of the stream eliminated all dissolved oxygen, creating a situation in which nothing can live in the creek for now.  TDEC is taking the appropriate measures and warning residents to avoid contact with the water.  It’s unfortunate one farmer’s irresponsible actions have such lasting repercussions.  Read the full story.