The second half of the 106th Legislative Session is off and running! There are some really good bills, some not-so-good bills and some downright stinkers - mostly left over from last year. The following is a list of the bills we like!
 
Many thanks to Senator Marrero, Senator Berke, Representative Stewart, and Representative Swafford for proactive and protective legislation!!
 
Watch Senate and House Committee Meetings live at: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/schedule/.
 
These Bills:

• Clarify existing laws or processes.
• Protect our beautiful rivers and streams.
• Require justification for polluting our rivers and streams.

 
SB2828 (Berke)/HB3664 (Stewart) - Requires permit applications, notices of violations, proposed abatements, director’s and commissioner’s orders, and all other enforcement actions and outcomes related to coal surface mining be posted on the department's web site.
 
SB2600 (Marrero)/HB3678 (Stewart) - Enacts the "Water Before Coal Act" which prohibits issuance of coal surface mining permit unless commissioner of TDEC finds such mining would not diminish water resources in the state.
 
SB 2550 (Burks)/HB 2829 (Swafford) - Requires 60 days advance written notice to members of general assembly before a coal ash disposal permit is issued for a facility in their district. SB2550 unanimously passed Senate 3/18/10!
 
SB 2588 (Marrero)/HB 3672 (Stewart) - Requires water quality testing on land adjacent to coal surface mining sites to assess potential water degradation. The failure to conduct water quality testing in accordance with this section shall create a presumption of significant water quality degradation on property adjacent to the permitted site.
 
SB 2591 (Marrero)/HB 3663(Stewart) - Requires applicant for coal surface mining permit to demonstrate best management practices have been followed in mine site preparation for a minimum of five years prior to the date of application.
 
SB 2593 (Marrero)/HB 3668(Stewart) - Requires TDEC deny permits for surface coal mining if the mining will violate water quality standards because proven soil compaction technology will not preserve the stability of slopes within the permit area.
 
SB 2594 (Marrero)/HB 3667(Stewart) - Expands criteria for approval of a surface coal mining permit to include the cumulative impact on areas contiguous to the permitted area that are either currently being mined or to be mined within five years of the proposed date for granting the permit.
 
SB 2596 (Marrero)/HB 3674 (Stewart) - Requires the TDEC Commissioner to cause inspections to be made of all coal surface mining operations having retention/sediment ponds to ensure adequate size for runoff during periods of heavy rain.
 
SB 2601 (Marrero)/HB 3679 (Stewart) - Prohibits issuing a permit for surface coal mining that would impact a stream with fishing as a designated use unless the commissioner makes a finding that such activity would not cause a diminution of the stream as a fishing resource in the state.
 
SB 2799 (Burks)/HB 2828 (Swafford) - Requires no permits for the disposal of coal combustion wastes be issued prior to the conformity date for the Solid Waste Disposal Act adopted by the EPA. Mandates that coal combustion wastes shall only be disposed of in Class I landfills and not be used for agriculture, engineered as a feedstock, or in waste water treatments.