Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is a Cabinet-level agency within the government of the U.S. state
of Tennessee
, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation
.
The Department of Conservation was first created in 1937 by the State Government Reorganization Act of 1937. All areas used for state parks, monuments, and recreation were brought under a Division of Parks within the Department later that year. For a short while in the late 1950s and early 1960s the Department existed as the Department of Conservation and Commerce, but it was soon split, with the Department of Conservation regaining its name. The modern TDEC was created in 1991, with programs in the Department of Health and Environment shifted into the new department.
TDEC is legally responsible for the protection of Tennessee's air, water
, and soil quality. As of 2006, the Department had at least fourteen divisions: the Division of Air Pollution
Control, the Division of Archaeology
, the Division of Geology
, the Division of Ground Water Protection, the Division of Internal Audit, the Division of Natural Heritage, the Division of Radiological Health, the Division of Remediation, the Division of Solid and Hazardous
Waste Management
, the Division of Underground Storage Tank
s, the Division of Water Pollution
Control, the Division of Water Supply
, the Recreation
al Services Division, and the Department of Energy
Oversight Division. The Department also manages Tennessee's state parks and the Tennessee Historical Commission
. According to the Tennessee State Library and Archives
governor papers, the Department once had a Hotel & Restaurant Division, which today exists in the Department of Tourist Development
.
The first commissioner of TDEC was J.W. Luna
, who served under Governor Ned Ray McWherter. Don Dills and Milton H. Hamilton Jr. were commissioners during the administration of Governor Don Sundquist
. Jim Fyke held the position under Governor Phil Bredesen
. The current commissioner is Robert J. Martineau, Jr., who was appointed in 2011 by Governor Bill Haslam
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation
Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation
The Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation is the head of the Department of Environment and Conservation of the U.S. state of Tennessee, which is responsible for environmental protection, conservation of natural resources, and management of state parks...
.
The Department of Conservation was first created in 1937 by the State Government Reorganization Act of 1937. All areas used for state parks, monuments, and recreation were brought under a Division of Parks within the Department later that year. For a short while in the late 1950s and early 1960s the Department existed as the Department of Conservation and Commerce, but it was soon split, with the Department of Conservation regaining its name. The modern TDEC was created in 1991, with programs in the Department of Health and Environment shifted into the new department.
TDEC is legally responsible for the protection of Tennessee's air, water
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
, and soil quality. As of 2006, the Department had at least fourteen divisions: the Division of Air Pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
Control, the Division of Archaeology
Tennessee Division of Archaeology
The Tennessee Division of Archaeology is a division of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation responsible for managing prehistoric archaeological sites on lands owned by the U.S...
, the Division of Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, the Division of Ground Water Protection, the Division of Internal Audit, the Division of Natural Heritage, the Division of Radiological Health, the Division of Remediation, the Division of Solid and Hazardous
Hazardous waste
A hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. According to the U.S. environmental laws hazardous wastes fall into two major categories: characteristic wastes and listed wastes.Characteristic hazardous wastes are materials that are known...
Waste Management
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
, the Division of Underground Storage Tank
Underground storage tank
An Underground Storage Tank , in United States environmental law, is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground.-Tank types:...
s, the Division of Water Pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
Control, the Division of Water Supply
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
, the Recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
al Services Division, and the Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
Oversight Division. The Department also manages Tennessee's state parks and the Tennessee Historical Commission
Tennessee Historical Commission
The Tennessee Historical Commission is a Tennessee state government agency, a division of the Department of Environment and Conservation, that has missions related to the state's history and historic preservation....
. According to the Tennessee State Library and Archives
Tennessee State Library and Archives
The Tennessee State Library and Archives , established in 1854, currently operates as a unit of the Tennessee Department of State. According to the Tennessee Blue Book, the Library and Archives "collects and preserves books and records of historical, documentary and reference value, and encourages...
governor papers, the Department once had a Hotel & Restaurant Division, which today exists in the Department of Tourist Development
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is a Cabinet-level agency within the Tennessee state government, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development, who is currently Susan Whitaker. The Department is responsible for attracting the tourism to Tennessee and marketing to...
.
The first commissioner of TDEC was J.W. Luna
J.W. Luna
Jones Wilson Luna, known as J.W. Luna, is an American lawyer who served successively under Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Personnel, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment, and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of...
, who served under Governor Ned Ray McWherter. Don Dills and Milton H. Hamilton Jr. were commissioners during the administration of Governor Don Sundquist
Don Sundquist
Donald Kenneth Sundquist is a former governor and congressman from Tennessee. A Republican, he served as the 47th Governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003...
. Jim Fyke held the position under Governor Phil Bredesen
Phil Bredesen
Philip Norman "Phil" Bredesen Jr. was the 48th Governor of Tennessee, serving from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected Governor in 2002, and was re-elected in 2006. He previously served as the fourth mayor of Nashville and Davidson County from 1991 to...
. The current commissioner is Robert J. Martineau, Jr., who was appointed in 2011 by Governor Bill Haslam
Bill Haslam
William Edward "Bill" Haslam is the 49th and current Governor of Tennessee. A member of the Republican Party, Haslam was elected to office in 2010...
.