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The Tennessee Water Quality Control Board (WQCB) has oversight of the state's water quality rules and regulations.  In accordance with the Water Quality Control Act, the Board has several responsibilities, including:

• establishing water quality standards,
• promulgating, modifying, and repealing rules relating to water quality,
• hearing and decide appeals and contested cases under the Water Pollution Control Divison's purview, and
• making a variety of decisions regarding the application of the state's water quality rules.

The WQCB meets monthly to fulfill these responsibilities.  The Board is comprised of ten members:  seven appointed by the Governor for four-year terms and three ex officio.  Members reprsent a variety of interests, activities, and groups affected by the actions of TDEC's Water Pollution Control Division. Click here to learn more about Board members.
 
TCWN and the WQCB
TCWN attends each monthly Board meeting, and since June 2008 we have followed up each meeting with a letter to all Board members.  The content of presentations, cases, and all the other information on which the Board must deliberate and decide is complex.  We believe following up with the Board members provides them an opportunity to become more aware with how their decisions impact Tennessee's water quality.  Initially our concerns dealt with the lack of conversation among members prior to voting on very important decisions.  Often orders were presented to the Board with little to no background information, and the Board would simply approve the orders.  Now that has all changed.
 
Each month the Board engages in thorough discussions before voting.  They frequently request more information from TDEC and voice concerns about whether orders contain appropriate fines or punishments when a permit holder violates the laws.  Board members have even voted against orders when they determine they aren't good enough.  Board members also requested final agendas and pertinent documents be made available to them no later than Friday before each month's meeting.  This is not routine.  TCWN is encouraged by the commitment apparent in the Board's actions in the past year.  They are putting water quality at theforefront and working to protect our natural resources. 
 
Attached below is a year's worth of TCWN's correspondence with the WQCB.