Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0400 - Environment and Conservation
Subtitle 0400-30 - Division of Air Pollution Control
Chapter 0400-30-17 - Conflict of interest
Section 0400-30-17-.02 - PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST

Current through September 24, 2024

(1) The Board shall at its first meeting in a calendar year or after receiving a new member determine that it has at least a majority of members who represent the public interest and who do not derive any significant portion of their income from persons subject to permits or enforcement orders under this rule division, 0400-30 or rule division 1200-03.

(2) Definitions

(a) "Represent the public interest" means not owning a controlling interest in, having 5% or more of his or her capital invested in, serve as attorney for, act as a consultant for, serve as officer or director of, or hold any other official or contractual relationship with, either a person subject to permits or enforcement orders under this rule division, 0400-30 or rule division 1200-03, or a trade or business association of which such a person is a member.

(b) "Significant portion of income" means 10% or more of gross personal income for a calendar year, including retirement benefits, consultant fees, and stock dividends, except that it shall mean 50% or more of gross personal income for a calendar year if the recipient is over 60 years of age and receiving such a portion pursuant to retirement, pension, or similar arrangement. The term "significant portion of income" also means any one or more of the following situations:
1. When the Technical Secretary or the Board Member receives more than $5,000 annually in investment income from a source. Said investment is limited to those that arise from the purchase of shares of stock in the source that were purchased on the open market and generally available to any person at that price.

2. When the Technical Secretary or Board Member receives more than $100 annually due to a private investment made in a source. Said private investment is one where the purchase of stock or interest in a partnership was made directly with the source and such opportunity was not generally available to the public as a whole.

3. When the Technical Secretary or Board Member receives a salary in any amount from a source for services rendered.

4. When the Technical Secretary or Board Member sells or is about to sell property or equipment to a source. For the purposes of this part, equipment does not include consumer goods that are offered to the public at the same price offered to the source.

5. When the Technical Secretary or Board Member buys or is about to buy property or equipment from a source. For the purposes of this part, equipment does not include consumer goods that can be purchased by the public at the same price the source offered to the Technical Secretary or Board Member.

6. When the Technical Secretary or Board Member has taken out a loan from a source in any amount unless:
(i) The loan is from a financial institution whose deposits are insured by an entity of the federal government, or such loan is made in accordance with existing law and is made in the ordinary course of business. A loan is made in the ordinary course of business if the lender is in the business of making loans, and the loan bears the usual and customary interest rate of the lender for the category of loan involved is made on a basis which assures repayment, is evidenced by a written instrument, and is subject to a due date or amortization schedule;

(ii) The loan is secured by a recorded security interest in collateral, bears the usual and customary interest rate of the lender for the category of loan involved, is made on a basis which assures repayment, is evidenced by a written instrument, and is subject to a due date or amortization schedule.

For purpose of this subparagraph, income derived from mutual-fund payments, or from other diversified investments as to which the recipient does not know the identity of the primary sources of income, shall be considered part of the recipient's gross personal income but shall not be treated as income derived from persons subject to permits or enforcement orders under this rule division, 0400-30 or rule division 1200-03.

(c) "Persons subject to permits or enforcement orders under this rule division, 0400-30 or rule division 1200-03" or a "source," as used in this chapter, includes any individual, corporation, partnership, or association who holds, is an applicant for, or is subject to any permit, or who is or may become subject to any enforcement order under this rule division, 0400-30 or rule division 1200-03, except that it does not include:
1. An individual who is or may become subject to an enforcement order by reason of his or her ownership or operation of a motor vehicle,

2. Any department or agency of a state, local, or regional government; or

3. Any individual who is involved in the program of an institute of higher learning whose duties do not include the institute's compliance with this rule division, 0400-30 or rule division 1200-03.

(3) Upon the request of the Technical Secretary, members of the Board shall provide the necessary information needed to determine compliance with paragraph (1) of this rule.

(4) In the event that the Board cannot make a finding that at least a majority of the Board as constituted by appointment of its members meets the requirements required by the Clean Air Act, as amended, at § 128 ( 42 USC § 7428), then the Technical Secretary shall notify the Governor of the Board's failure to make a determination that at least a majority of its membership meets § 128 requirements. The Technical Secretary shall also advise and make recommendations regarding corrective action necessary to allow the Board to be qualified under § 128 including substitutionary appointments of a member or members. The Board shall not act to hear contested cases until it has determined that it can do so consistent with § 128.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-201-101 et seq. and 4-5-201 et seq.

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