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Department of Environment and Conservation Permits

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» Work that Occurs in or Near Water
» Projects for Public Water Supply
» Projects involving Water Use
» Projects that produce a Discharge To Ground or Surface Water
» Projects that could impact Air Quality
» Projects dealing with Radioactive Materials
» Projects dealing with Solid/Hazardous Waste
» Projects impacting Natural Resources
» Projects impacting Land Resources


Work in or Near Water

If you will You may need this permit/license
Divert, obstruct or change the natural flow or bed of any waters of the state (e.g. debris removal, bank stabilization or culverting) WPC Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP)
Construct within navigable waters WPC Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP)
Dredge or place fill into waters of the state and/or wetlands WPC Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP)
Clear, grade, or excavate an area of 1 or more acres WPC Construction Stormwater General Permit
Perform a dye trace study in streams or groundwater systems of the state DWS Dye Trace Registration

Water Use

If you will You may need this permit/license
Transfer water out of one major river basin and into another Inter-Basin Transfer Permit
Withdraw ground water in excess of 50,000 gallons per day DWS notification
Divert surface water WPC Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP)
Construct a barrier across a stream, channel, or watercourse that will create a reservoir WPC Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP)

DWS Certificate of Dam Approval and Safety
Construct, modify, or repair any dam or controlling works for storage of 30 or more acre-feet of water, waste, or mine tailings DWS Certificate of Dam Approval and Safety
Operate a public water system or bottle and sell spring water DWS Plans Review and Approval for Public Water Systems

DCA Water/Wastewater Operator Certification

DWS Wellhead Protection Program Approval

WPC General NPDES Permit for Discharge of Filter Backwash and Sedimentation Basin Washwater from Water Treatment Plants
Drill a drinking water well and/or install well pumps or filtration devices. DWS Well Driller or Installer License

Discharge to Ground or Surface Water

If you will You may need this permit/license
Discharge wastewater to a publicly owned treatment facility Coordinate w/WPC Pretreatment program and municipality
Discharge wastewater to surface water WPC NPDES Permit

WPC Non-Stormwater General Permits


for discharges of Hydrostatic Test Water

for Discharges of Stormwater Runoff and Process Wastewater Associated with Ready Mixed Concrete Facilities

for Discharge of Filter Backwash and Sedimentation Basin Washwater from Water Treatment Plants
Construct a subsurface sewage disposal system GWP Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Installer Permit
Discharge wastewater into a subsurface system GWP Septic System Construction Permit [Local program permits in eight counties : Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby and Williamson]
Discharge stormwater runoff from an industrial or commercial facility WPC NPDES General Permit for Industrial Stormwater (TMSP)
Discharge commercial or industrial wastewater into a subsurface system DWS Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit
Collect or treat wastewater that does not discharge to any surface or subsurface waters WPC State Operation Permit
Remove and/or dispose of domestic septage from septic tanks, holding tanks, portable toilets, etc. GWP Septic Tank Pumping Contractor

GWP Domestic Septage Disposal Site Permit
Operate a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) WPC Class II CAFO General Permit

WPC NPDES Discharge Permit (for Class I operations)
Discharge hydrostatic test water to the waters of Tennessee WPC General NPDES Permit for Discharges of Hydrostatic Test Water
Operate a ready mix concrete facility with discharges of washwater, stormwater, or a no-discharge recycle system WPC NPDES Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Runoff and Process Waste Water Associated with Ready Mix Concrete Facilities
Discharge groundwater associated with remediation of contaminated groundwater at an underground storage tank (UST) WPC General NPDES Permit for Discharges of Treated Groundwater Associated with Underground Storage Tank Remediation
Discharge filter backwash and sedimentation basin washwater from water treatment plants to the waters of Tennessee General NPDES Permit for Discharges of Filter Backwash and Sedimentation Basin Washwater from Water Treatment Plants
Clear, grade, or excavate an area of 1 or more acres WPC Construction Stormwater General Permit

Air

If you will You may need this permit/license
Construct a new or modify an existing source of air pollution, e.g. paint booths, printing, degreasing APC Construction Permit

APC Operating Permit
Emit more than 100 tons/year of air pollutant or 10-tons/year hazardous air pollutant, or 25 tons/years combination to the air APC Title V Operating Permit
Remove regulated asbestos containing material (RACM) during facility renovation or demolition APC Notification of Asbestos Demolition or Renovation
Operate a gasoline pumping facility in Sumner, Wilson, Rutherford or Williamson counties APC Gasoline Dispensing Facility Permit
Contact the Division of Air Pollution Control
Install and operate an above ground petroleum storage tank with volume greater than 40,000 gallons APC Construction Permit

APC Operating Permit

Waste

If you will You may need this permit/license
Generate more than 100 kg of hazardous waste or more than 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste in any calendar month SWM Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity/EPA identification number
Treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste SWM Hazardous Waste Permit

APC Construction Permit

APC Operating Permit
Transport hazardous waste SWM Hazardous Waste Transporter Permit
Design, construct and/or operate a solid waste landfill to take household, industrial, land clearing, landscaping, and/or construction and demolition waste. SWM Landfill Permit
Collect, transport, process, and/or refine used oil SWM Notification for Used Oil Management
Dispose of special wastes such as sludge, metal finishing residual, incinerator ash, process filters, medical wastes, paint chips, or sandblast grind media SWM Special Waste Approval
Operate a solid waste processing, collections, and/or recycling facility including convenience center, tire storage, or coal ash fill disposal SWM Permit-by-Rule for Non-hazardous Solid Waste

 


Land dispose of domestic septage from septic tanks or other sewage treatment or disposal facilities GWP Domestic Septage Disposal Site Permit
Install or permanently close an underground storage tank UST Notification

General NPDES Permit for Discharges of Treated Ground Water Associated with UST Remediation
Own or operate a drycleaning facilities or instate wholesale distribution facilities (IWDF). drycleaning solvents and supplies.
DSF Drycleaner Environmental Response Program Registration (DCERP)

Radioactive Material

If you will You may need this permit/license
Operate a X-ray machine or other radioactive devices DRH X-ray Registration

DRH Specific Radioactive Materials License
Transport radioactive wastes DRH License for Delivery Permit
Manufacture radiation sources, dispose of and/or process radioactive waste material or use nuclear medicine applications DRH Specific Radioactive Materials License

Land Resources

If you will You may need this permit/license
Own or operate a shale, barite, phosphate or clay surface mine WPC Surface Mining Permit

WPC NPDES Permit
Own or operate a coal mine WPC NPDES Permit
Own or operate a sand, limestone, gravel, dimension stone, chert or marble quarry WPC NPDES Permit

WPC Surface Mining Permit (if located in Shelby County)

APC Construction Permit (if processed on site)

APC Operating Permit (if processed on site)
Drill, deepen or reopen an oil and gas well TDG Oil and Gas Well Permit
Drill any hole in excess of one hundred (100) feet for the specific purpose of exploring for minerals, excluding oil and gas TDG Mineral Test Hole Permit
Do significant work affecting federally controlled properties (i.e. work in which federal funds are used, work requiring federally issued permits such as USA COE Section 10 and Section 404 permits or TVA Section 26a permits) NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Coordinate with Policy Office

Section 106 Review and Compliance
Clear, grade, or excavate an area of 1 or more acres WPC Construction Stormwater General Permit

Natural Resources

If you will You may need this permit/license
Purchase ginseng collected in Tennessee with the intent to resell DNH Ginseng Dealer Permit
Sell or export Tennessee listed endangered plant species
DNH Endangered Plant Dealer License
Take rare plant species from Department lands for scientific, educational, or propagative purposes
DNH Endangered Plant Scientific Collection Permit
Conduct archeological work on state-owned or state-managed lands TDA State Archeological Permit
Collect biological or geological materials, or air or water samples, or install research equipment on State Park land TSP Scientific Research and Collecting Permit