A controversial bill to claw back state regulations over thousands of acres of Tennessee wetlands has advanced with no debate in a House committee, keeping the proposal alive even after it was shelved in the state senate. (See earlier post.)
The bill would give developers and landowners a break from needing state permission to build on or fill in wetlands that have no obvious surface connection to a river, lake or stream. Current law gives the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, or TDEC, the power to approve or deny plans to disturb a wetland.
See also Tennessee House Committee to Debate Wetlands Bill Shelved by Senate.
Both by Anita Wadhwani – Tennessee Lookout
Photo: John Partipilo – Tennessee Lookout