Regulations and Environmental Permitting in the State of Tennessee

Regulation

The State of Tennessee regulates several aspects of business. The state maintains a library of codes, required licenses, and regulations dealing with licensing of certain jobs, as well as protection of the public welfare in business practices, standard weights and measures, and pollution control. These regulations ensure that a standard level of skills and business practices is maintained for the safety of the general public. Regulated business areas and agencies are as follows:

Business Area

Agency
  • Alcoholic beverages
 Alcoholic Beverage Commission
  • Food production, agricultural chemicals, livestock, inspection and/or permitting
 Tennessee Department of Agriculture
  • Building construction
 Tennessee Department of Labor and

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
  • Tennessee regulatory boards
 Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
  • Child care
 Tennessee Department of Human Services
  • Environmental regulations
 Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
  • Firearms
 Tennessee Department of Revenue and

Tennessee Department of the Treasury
  • Food service
 Tennessee Department of Health
  • Insurance
 Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
  • Stocks and bonds
 Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
  • Transportation
 Tennessee Department of Safety

Each of the agencies listed above may be found at the State of Tennessee web site entitled "Doing Business in Tennessee" at http://www.state.tn.us/dobuis.html. Click on the Business Regulations button for specific information.

Environmental Permits

As noted above, environmental implementation and enforcement for work performed in the State of Tennessee falls under the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Permits are required to perform various types of environmental work within the State of Tennessee in the following areas.

  1. Air pollution
  2. Drinking water
  3. Oil and gas wells
  4. Underground storage tanks
  5. Solid waste
  6. Superfund
  7. Water pollution
  8. Water wells
  9. Hazardous waste
  10. Radiological equipment and materials
  11. Subsurface disposal

These permits provide for protection, preservation, and improvement of the state’s air, land, and water. A close working relationship must be developed with the staff to ensure the completion of the application in a timely manner. Applicants are required to submit an application with the proper fee and other required information to the appropriate division. Once a license is granted, the licensee may initiate the activities approved by the license, and facilities may be inspected as determined by the division granting the license.

TDEC provides more specific details on the permits required on its website at http://www.state.tn.us/environment/permits/handbook/intro.htm#permsum

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Article provided by
Mr. John Cox and
Mr. Richard Parker
Performance Development Corporation
(423) 482-9004