Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0400 - Environment and Conservation
Subtitle 0400-40 - Water Resources (WPC)
Chapter 0400-40-07 - Aquatic Resource Alteration
Section 0400-40-07-.01 - GENERAL

(1) These rules are promulgated to prevent the future pollution of state waters and to plan for the future use of such waters so that the water resources of Tennessee might be used and enjoyed to the fullest extent consistent with the maintenance of unpolluted waters, T.C.A. § 69-3-102(b). Persons who wish to conduct an activity that may impact a stream or wetland shall consider avoidance and minimization of such impacts. If impacts to a stream or wetland will result in an appreciable permanent loss of resource values, mitigation as set forth in paragraph (7) of Rule 0400-40-07-.04 must be provided to ensure no overall net loss of resource values.

(2) Section 401 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act or Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1341, provides that an applicant for a federal license or permit for a discharge into the waters of the United States must provide the federal licensing or permitting agency a certification from the state in which the discharge originates or will originate, and that any such discharge will comply with the applicable provisions of §§ 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of that Act.

(3) Additionally, the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act of 1977, T.C.A. § 69-3-108(b)(1), provides that it is unlawful for any person, except in accordance with the conditions of a valid permit, to carry out any activity which results in the alteration of the physical, chemical, radiological, biological, or bacteriological properties of any waters of the state, including wetlands. These activities include, but are not limited to: the discharge of dredge or fill material, dredging, stream channel modifications, water withdrawals, wetlands alterations including drainage, and other construction activities which result in the alteration of the waters of the state. State permits for these activities are Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits, which also serve as § 401 certifications where required. Alterations of wet weather conveyances are governed by, and must be conducted in compliance with, T.C.A. § 69-3-108(q).

(4) This Chapter prescribes the procedures applicable to Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits, in addition to the general requirements and procedures of Chapter 0400-40-01 of the rules of the Board of Water Quality, Oil and Gas and the Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act of 1977. Permits issued pursuant to this chapter do not authorize activities that require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, a state operating permit, or an underground injection control permit.