TDEC is requesting data on water quality conditions of specific watersheds throughout the state in preparation for next year’s federally mandated analysis - often referred to as the 303(d) list.  Data is due to TDEC no later than February 28.  Read the complete public notice.

Applicable watersheds include:  North and South Fork Holston, Little Tennessee (Tellico), Lower Clinch, Tennessee (Chickamauga), Tennessee Western Valley (Beech), Tennessee Western Valley (KY Lake), Upper and Lower Duck, Buffalo, Wolf and Clarks.  Check out TDEC’s watershed management website for specific watershed information.

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.

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.

Last week TDEC finalized the changes to the general Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits (ARAPs).  These ARAPs are for smaller, less impacing projects proposing to physically impact waters of the state and do not require mitigation.  As is typical, TCWN submitted comments when the draft permits were put on public notice.  We had some minor success in response to our comments.  The overall problem with these general permits is their use on smaller aspects of large projects.  For example, using a general permit for multiple small road crossing in a project impacting thousands of feet of stream covering several acres.  The result can be hundreds of feet of stream lost without any mitigation.

Well, TDEC agreed “with the intent of not using the general permits in incremental means to allow larger alterations.”  Additional language will be put in the general ARAP for road crossings so the permit is not used in such a way.  A small step, but a very important one to prevent unmitigated, permanent loss of our important water resources.  Click here to see TDEC’s response to all comments.