(a) The commissioner is authorized to issue stop work orders for coal surface mining operations in accordance with subsections (b) and (c).
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 69-3-139

  • 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.
  • Board: means the board of water quality, oil and gas, created in §. See Tennessee Code 69-3-103
  • 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
  • Stop work order: means an order issued by the commissioner of environment and conservation requiring the operator to immediately cease part or all silvicultural activities. See Tennessee Code 69-3-103
  • 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 certain coal surface mining activities have polluted waters of the state as a result of an operator’s failure or refusal to comply with permit conditions, the commissioner may issue a stop work order to the operator. The stop work order shall specify those parts of the coal surface mining activities on site that are contributing to the pollution that must stop. The stop work order shall remain in effect until the department determines that the operator has installed or repaired all necessary measures to comply with the permit so that further pollution associated with the surface mining activities will not occur.
(c) A written request for a hearing before the board of water quality, gas, and oil on the stop work order must be filed by the operator to the commissioner within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice. If the operator files that 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, then the commissioner or, at the commissioner’s option, the deputy or assistant commissioner, 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 hearing is made within thirty (30) days of the receipt of notice, the stop work order becomes final and not subject to review.
(d) Failure of an operator to comply with a stop work order issued pursuant to this section shall subject the operator to the penalties in § 69-3-115.
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