Department of Environment and Conservation Permits
Prudent Site Checks
Permit Links
Following is an environmental checklist provided in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, which assists industry in identifying the types of environmental permits and/or clearances that may be involved in locating or relocating industrial development projects in Tennessee. This information is provided only as a guideline to direct you to appropriate contacts and resources. This document does not constitute any assurance by the state of Tennessee that all applicable environmental/cultural regulatory requirements are included in this list.
Central office contacts are given; however, in many instances, information may also be obtained by calling the Environmental Field Office in your area (just dial 1-888-891-TDEC).
Work in or Near Water
Environmental Considerations |
Contacts or Resources |
| Air Quality | |
| Air quality attainment status | Division of Air Pollution Control Jackie Waynick (615) 532-0570 |
| Background monitoring data | Jackie Waynick (615) 532-0570 In Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Shelby counties, Contact the Local Air Pollution Control Agency |
| Proximity to PSD Class I areas | Haidar Alrawi (615) 532-0578 |
| Air Easements Near Airports (Airport Clearance Maps) |
TN Dept. of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics Tom Burgess (615) 741-3208 |
| Archaeological Sites | Division of Archaeology Mike Moore (615) 741-1588 |
| Cemeteries/Gravesites (Marked/Unmarked) Questions Regarding Access |
Director of Archaeology Mike Moore (615) 741-1588 Local Authorities |
| CERCLA (Superfund) Sites, known or suspected |
Division of Superfund Frank Grubbs (615) 532-0900 |
| Dams, Impoundments or Retention Ponds federal, state-regulated or unregulated |
Division of Water Supply Lyle Bentley (615) 532-0154 Division Water Pollution Control Dan Eager (615)-532-0708 |
| Easements and Rights of Way | |
| Public Roads, Private Access Ways, and Railroads | Local Registrar of Deeds Field Views, Tax Maps |
| Utilities | Local Utilities, Oil/Gas Pipeline, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Telecommunication Utilities, Tax Maps |
Environmental Considerations |
Contacts or Resources |
| Geologic Characteristics | |
| Geologic Hazards, etc | Division of Geology Ron Zurawski (615) 532-1500 Geotechnical Consulting Firms |
| Soils, Existing Soil Studies, County Soil Surveys | SDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Darwin Newton (615) 736-5476 County NRCS offices, Geotechnical Consultants |
| Ground Water | |
| Availability | Division of Water Supply C. Luke Ewing, Water Well Program (615) 532-0191 |
| Location of Community Wellhead Protection Areas | Division of Water Supply Tom Moss, GWP Section (615) 532-0191 |
| Aquifer Characteristics | Division of Water Supply Tom Moss (615) 532-0170 |
| Well Driller Licensing Requirements | Division of Water Supply C. Luke Ewing, Water Well Program (615) 532-0191 |
| Health/Environmental Risks of Hazardous Air or Water Releases |
Consulting Firms |
| Historic Sites | Tennessee Historical Commission Joe Garrison (615) 532-1559 |
| Mining Activities | |
| Surface Mining | Division of Water Pollution Control Don Owen (423) 594-5527 Local Records |
| Subsurface Mining | Local Registrar of Deeds |
Environmental Considerations |
Contacts or Resources |
| Landfills | |
| Municipal Solid Waste Landfills | Division of Solid/Hazardous Waste Management Glen Pugh (615) 532-0818 |
| Hazardous Waste Landfills | Garey Mabry (615) 532-0780 |
| National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) Coordination Possible Activities Project Work Using Federal Funds Significant Work Affecting Federally Controlled Properties Work Requiring Federally Issued Permits |
1-888-891-TDEC (8332) |
| Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) | Tennessee Department of Labor (615) 741-2793 |
| Oil and Gas Activities | Division of Water Pollution Control Mike Burton (615) 532-0166 |
| Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks | Division of Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks (615) 532-0945 |
| RCRA (hazardous waste) Activities and Sites | Division of Solid/Hazardous Waste Management Garey Mabry (615) 532-0780 |
| Sensitive Waters | |
| Recreational Use, Posted Waters and Fish Consumption Advisories | Division of Water Pollution Control Greg Denton (615) 532-0699 |
| Highly protected trout/fish hatchery waters, scenic rivers | Division of Water Pollution Control Greg Denton (615)532-0699 TN Wildlife Resources Agency Dan Sherry (615) 781-6572 U.S. Fish/Wildlife Service Lee Barclay (615) 528-6481 |
| Proximity to Water Supply Intakes | Division of Water Supply Bill Hench (615) 532-0165 |
| Proximity to Wastewater Outfalls | Division of Water Pollution Control Saya Qualls 615-532-0652 |
Environmental Considerations |
Contacts or Resources |
| Sensitive Receptors | |
| Hospitals, Schools, Churches, Quiet Zones, etc. | Local Governments |
| Noise Restrictions | Local Governments |
| Odor Sources | Local Governments |
| Vibrations and Blasting | Local Governments |
| Sensitive Wildlife Areas | TN Wildlife Resources Agency Dan Sherry (615) 781-6572 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lee Barclay (615) 528-6481 |
| Stream Flows and Flooding | |
| Flood Elevations and Flow Rates | U.S. Corps of Engineers Larry Sharpe, Memphis (901) 544-3968 David Hendrix, Nashville (615) 736-5948 Tennessee Valley Authority Steve Allen (423) 632-6851 U.S. Geological Survey Donna Flohr (615) 736-5424 |
| 100 Year Floodplain Maps | ECD Division of Local Planning Don Waller, (615) 741-2211 ECD Regional Offices Local Planning Commissions |
| Floodplain Alterations | U.S. Corps of Engineers Larry Sharpe, Memphis (901) 544-3968 David Hendrix, Nashville (615) 736-5948 Tennessee Valley Authority Steve Allen (423) 632-6851 Division of Water Pollution Control Dan Eagar (615) 532-0708 Local Planning Commissions |
| Reservoir and Stream Easements | Tennessee Valley Authority U.S. Corps of Engineers Larry Watson, Memphis (901) 544-3471 William James, Nashville (615) 736-5181 Tax Maps |
| Threatened and Endangered Species | Division of Natural Heritage Reggie Reeves (615) 532-0431 |
| Subsurface Sewage Disposal Requirements | Division of Ground Water Protection Kent Taylor (615) 532-0761 |
Environmental Considerations |
Contacts or Resources |
| Waste Management/Reduction | |
| Hazardous Waste | Division of Community Assistance Linda Sadler (615) 532-0779 |
| Solid Waste | Division of Community Assistance Karen Grubbs (615) 532-0463 Don Stone (615) 532-4924 |
| Underground Storage Tanks (Petroleum) | Division of Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks Stan Boyd (615) 532-0945 |
| Public Water Supply | |
| Availability of Public Water Supply | Local Utility Division of Water Supply Bill Hench (615) 532-0165 |
| Wastewater Treatment Facilities | |
| Availability of Sewer Service and Capacity | Local Government Division of Water Pollution Control Saya Qualls (615) 532-0652 |
| Legal and Enforcement Issues | Division of Water Pollution Control Chris Moran (615) 532-0672 |
| Pretreatment | Local Government Division of Water Pollution Control Phil Simmons (615) 532-0358 |
| Stream Conditions/Assimilative Capacity | Division of Water Pollution Control Saya Qualls, P.E. Chief Engineer Division of Water Pollution Control (615) 532-0652 |
Environmental Considerations |
Contacts or Resources |
| Wetlands | |
| Permits | Division of Water Pollution Control Dan Eagar (615) 532-0708 U.S. Corps of Engineers Larry Watson, Memphis (901) 544-3471 William James, Nashville (615) 736-5181 |
| National Wetland Inventory Maps | Division of Water Pollution Control Dan Eagar (615) 532-0708 U.S. Corps of Engineers Larry Watson, Memphis (901) 544-3471 William James, Nashville (615) 736-5181 TN Wildlife Resources Agency Tracy Jackson (615) 781-6535 |
| Zoning | Local Governments ECD Division of Local Planning Don Waller (615) 741-2211 |
Governor Bill Haslam
Follow Us On
Featured Sites
Fleming Training CenterOutreach Initiatives
Tennessee State Parks
TVA Kingston Update
TN Environmental Conference