Tenn. Code Ann. § 69-3-107 (2026)

In addition to any power, duty, or responsibility given to the commissioner under this part, the commissioner has the power, duty, and responsibility to:

• (1) Exercise general supervision and control over the quality of all state waters, administer and enforce all laws relating to pollution of such waters, and administer and enforce this part, and all standards, policies, rules, and regulations promulgated under this part;

• (2) Administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and production of necessary data for all purposes of this part;

• (3) Bring suit in the name of the department for any violation of this part, seeking any remedy provided in this part, and any other statutory or common law remedy available for the control, prevention, and abatement of pollution;

• (4) Proceed against, as provided in this part, any owner or operator of any boat, located or operated on the waters of the state, that discharges or causes to be discharged any sewage, other wastes, or other substances into such waters in violation of this part or any rules or regulations promulgated under this part;

• (5) Make inspections and investigations, carry on research, or take such other action as may be necessary to carry out this part;

• (6) Enter or authorize the commissioner's agents to enter at all reasonable times upon any property other than dwelling places for the purpose of conducting investigations and studies or enforcing any of this part;

• (7) Advise, consult, cooperate, contract, and make other binding agreements with the various agencies of the federal government and with state and local administrative and governmental agencies, colleges and universities, or with any other persons;
  • (A) In furtherance of this part, the commissioner may require any state or local agency to investigate and report on any matters involved in water quality control; provided, that the burden, including costs, of such reports shall bear a reasonable relationship to the need for the reports and the benefits to be obtained from the reports; and
  • (B) The department has the authority, subject to approval by the governor, to enter into agreements with other states and the United States relative to prevention and control of pollution in interstate waters. This authority is not deemed to extend to the modification of any agreement with the state concluded by direct legislative act, but unless otherwise expressly provided, the department shall be the agency for the administration and enforcement of any such legislative agreement;

• (8) Apply for, accept, administer, and utilize loans and grants from the federal government, state government, and from any other sources, public or private, for prevention, abatement, and control of pollution of the waters of the state. The department is the water quality control agency for the state for the purpose of any federal water pollution control act;

• (9) Prepare, publish, and issue such printed pamphlets and bulletins as the department deems necessary for the dissemination of information to the public concerning its activities;

• (10) Require the submission of such plans, specifications, technical reports, and other information as deemed necessary to carry out this part or to carry out the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this part;

• (11) Be the administrative agent for the board and panel to carry out this part;

• (12) Make an annual report to the governor and the general assembly on the status of water quality, including a description of the plan, regulations in effect, and other pertinent information, together with any recommendations the commissioner may care to make;

• (13) Delegate to the director of the division with responsibility for water quality control any of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the commissioner under this part, except the commissioner's powers, duties and responsibility as chair of the board;

• (14) Issue permits and variances pursuant to § 69-3-108;

• (15) Inspect waters of the state where good cause is shown that the public health is threatened by pollutants in the waters, and, upon verification by the commissioner, post or cause to be posted such signs as required to give notice to the public of the potential or actual dangers of specific uses of such waters or restrictions of uses of such waters;

• (16) Assess civil penalties in accordance with § 69-3-115;

• (17) Apply this part against any person who discharges into a publicly owned treatment works who is causing a violation of this part, or who is in violation of applicable pretreatment standards;

• (18) Impose such restrictions, including an immediate cessation of connections and line extensions, upon the expansion of any sewerage or wastewater system as are necessary to mitigate or prevent violations of this part;

• (19) Prepare a written report on stream bank erosion in Tennessee to be delivered to each member of the general assembly by January 15, 2000. Such report shall contain the following:
  • (A) An examination of the causes of stream bank erosion;
  • (B) The effectiveness of existing and new methods of bank protection;
  • (C) An assessment of stream bank erosion in Tennessee; and
  • (D) Any other matter the commissioner deems relevant to stream bank erosion that may be of concern to the general assembly;

• (20) Conduct, or cause to be conducted, demonstration projects, to the extent of available funds, of methods of bank stabilization and debris removal in streams in western Middle Tennessee to be done as soon as is practicable and a report shall be made to the general assembly after the performance of the chosen techniques has been observed through at least a full year;

• (21) Conduct, or cause to be conducted, a study or project comparing different techniques for stream bank stabilization and debris removal in streams in western Middle Tennessee to be done as soon as possible, either in conjunction with the project mentioned in subdivision (20), or separately;

• (22) Develop a program of public education regarding simple, practical and affordable techniques for cleaning debris from streams and for stabilizing stream banks, including field examples of activities permissible without permits and activities that may be accomplished if permits are obtained;

• (23) Produce a video by not later than January 1, 1999, that shows the above examples, explains the requirements of the law and rules for these activities, including the process of applying for a permit, and tells who to call for further assistance, which shall be distributed at no cost to public libraries and agricultural extension services;

• (24) Perform a thorough and ongoing study of, and prepare recommendations regarding options for, the protection of watersheds and the control of sources of pollution, in order to assure the future quality of potable drinking water supplies throughout the state. The department is authorized to use information and studies from state, federal, and local governments and other sources of reliable scientific data. Initial findings and recommendations shall be presented to the governor and the general assembly no later than February 1, 2007, and annually thereafter; and

• (25) Develop and submit to the board for comment proposed guidance that provides:
  • (A) Instructions, examples and definitions based upon scientifically based principles for consistently and accurately making hydrologic determinations; and
  • (B) Minimum qualifications for staff who are responsible for making or reviewing wet weather conveyance determinations.

Acts 1971, ch. 164, § 6; 1977, ch. 366, § 1; 1979, ch. 422, § 19; 1982, ch. 917, §1; T.C.A., § 70-329; Acts 1984, ch. 804, § 5; 1988, ch. 688, §§ 5, 9; 1998, ch. 659, §§ 1, 2; 2006, ch. 513, §1; 2009 , ch. 464, § 4.