Environmental Division
Suite 900, James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0334
Phone: 615.741.3655
Fax: 615.741.1098
The Environmental Division will provide leadership in the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the natural, social, historic, and visual environment while actively involving the public, resource agencies, and other interested parties in planning, developing and maintaining Tennessee’s transportation system.
In pursuit of that mission, TDOT and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) signed a new pact on December 18, 2007, designed to establish a coordinated planning and development process for transportation projects. The goal of the Tennessee Environmental Streamlining Agreement is to ensure that the state’s vital transportation improvements can be implemented without unnecessary delays, while protecting and enhancing the quality of Tennessee’s environment. TDOT is also working with several other resource and regulatory agencies to implement similar agreements by summer 2008.
The TDOT Environmental Division is comprised of six (6) offices:
The Social and Cultural Resources is responsible for the protection of ecological resources (streams, wetlands, and protected species), historical and archaeological resources, analysis of air quality and noise impacts and for the avoidance of hazardous materials sites associated with transportation projects. A professional staff performs scientific and technical analyses, writes reports and legal documents, coordinates technical issues with stakeholders, and oversees the avoidance, mitigation, minimization and remediation of impacts from early planning through construction. The office also monitors mitigation during and after construction and provides contract management oversight for the division.
The Environmental Planning Office is responsible for the preparation of the environmental documents required for federal and state funded transportation projects. This office is responsible for collecting and compiling information on 22 social, economic and environmental areas for all transportation projects, including purpose and need; the natural, cultural, social and economic environment; land use; farm land; energy; conservation; hazardous waste; visual concerns and construction impacts. It is also involved in public meetings and the Context Sensitive Solution process (CSS). Biofuel Stations (including those offering Fuelman)(PDF)
The Natural Resources Office is responsible, on a statewide basis, for assessing, preparing and acquiring all environmental permits for transportation projects. Environmental permits for impacts to wetlands, streams and rivers must be obtained from various federal and/or state regulatory agencies, including primarily the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This office is also responsible for the statewide oversight and application for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water permits from TDEC, for all transportation projects that will disturb more than one acre of land during construction.
The Beautification Office is responsible for the administration of a group of activities, including statutory regulated services, as well as public-involved volunteer services, such as Outdoor Advertising Control, Vegetation Control, Junkyard Control, Litter Grant and Adopt-A-Highway. In addition, the Office oversees the Scenic Highways Program.
The Environmental Policy Office is responsible for the identification and analysis of a broad range of environmental policy issues related to transportation, including but not limited to land use, air quality and energy. The Office is tasked with the review and development of legislation, regulations, administrative policies and public education and outreach efforts. The Office also provides technical support to senior TDOT staff, other TDOT Divisions, local governments and metropolitan planning organizations regarding environmental policy issues.
The Environmental Compliance Office has the responsibility of ensuring that the department's facilities comply with current environmental regulations. In addition, the office responds to the department's needs for investigating and, when necessary, remediation of past disposal and spill sites by providing technical expertise and oversight. It provides these services through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), the Comprehensive Environmental Recovery and Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Act.
Click here for information on the Statewide Stormwater Management Plan
