Industrial Dischargers
The Clean Water Act requires permits for various types of activities, including discharges of effluent from industrial dischargers. Permits exist for good reasons. Many industrial activities require water, but may lead to pollution in adjacent water bodies.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, discharges from industrial facilities may contain pollutants at levels that could affect the quality of receiving waters or interfere with public water treatment. In Tennessee, 4.5 million pounds (lbs) of toxics were released into waters in 2015.
Unfortunately, 2015 Toxic Release Inventory Factsheet notes that Tennessee ranks 8 out of 56 states/territories nationwide based on total releases per square mile.
TCWN litigation enforces permit conditions and makes sure that permits protect local waterbodies. Our work strives to reduce toxic releases into Tennessee communities.