(a) The commissioner is authorized to issue stop-work orders for rock harvesting operations in accordance with this section.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 69-3-146
Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
Commissioner: means the commissioner of environment and conservation or the commissioner's duly authorized representative and, in the event of the commissioner's absence or a vacancy in the office of commissioner, the deputy commissioner. See Tennessee Code 69-3-103
Department: means the department of environment and conservation. See Tennessee Code 69-3-103
Pollution: means such alteration of the physical, chemical, biological, bacteriological, or radiological properties of the waters of this state, including, but not limited to, changes in temperature, taste, color, turbidity, or odor of the waters that will:(A) Result or will likely result in harm, potential harm or detriment to the public health, safety, or welfare. See Tennessee Code 69-3-103
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Waters: means any and all water, public or private, on or beneath the surface of the ground, that are contained within, flow through, or border upon Tennessee or any portion thereof, except those bodies of water confined to and retained within the limits of private property in single ownership that do not combine or effect a junction with natural surface or underground waters. See Tennessee Code 69-3-103
written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) When rock harvesting activities have polluted waters of the state as a result of an operator’s knowing violation of permit conditions, or an operator has failed or refused to obtain permit coverage as required in § 69-3-145, the commissioner may issue a stop-work order to the operator. The stop-work order shall specify those parts of the rock harvesting activities on site that are contributing to the pollution or require ceasing work until permit coverage is obtained. The stop-work order shall remain in effect until the department determines that the operator has obtained permit coverage and/or has taken all necessary measures to comply with the permit so that further pollution associated with the rock harvesting operations will not occur.(c) A written request for a hearing before the board of water quality, oil and gas on the stop-work order shall be filed by the operator with the commissioner within thirty (30) days of the receipt of notice. If the operator files the request and also makes a specific request for an informal meeting with the commissioner to show cause why the stop-work order should not have been issued, the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee shall meet with the operator within three (3) working days after the hearing request is filed. Any modification or revocation of the stop-work order shall be in writing. If the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee upholds the stop-work order, it shall remain in effect until resolution of the appeal or until the operator comes into compliance. If no request for a hearing is made within thirty (30) days of the receipt of notice, the stop-work order shall be final and shall not be subject to review. In such case, the operator shall stabilize the site within sixty (60) days of the receipt of notice.(d) Failure of an operator to comply with a stop-work order issued pursuant to this section shall subject the operator to another violation of this part in addition to any other violations the operator has committed that is subject to the penalties prescribed in § 69-3-115. The commissioner may also institute proceedings for the confiscation and forfeiture of equipment used in any rock harvesting operation to which a stop-work order has been issued. Such proceedings may be instituted in the chancery court of Davidson County, or in the chancery court of the county in which all or part of the rock harvesting operation is located.
