Plain English Breakdown
The bill's impact on existing landfills beyond permit renewals and expansions is not fully specified.
Environmental Protection Act
This bill changes the time limit for setting boundaries of scenic river areas and designates parts of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River as a Class II scenic river.
What This Bill Does
- Changes the time limit for setting boundaries of scenic river areas from two years to twenty-seven months.
- Designates all of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Scott County as a Class II scenic river.
- Prohibits new landfills within counties where two rivers join and form a Class II river that flows through a national park, but allows existing landfills to renew or expand permits.
Who It Names or Affects
- People who live near the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River
- Businesses planning to build new landfills in certain Tennessee counties
Terms To Know
- Class II scenic river
- A type of protected waterway that has special natural beauty and recreational value.
- National River and Recreation Area
- An area managed by the National Park Service for its natural, cultural, or recreational significance.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify what happens if a new landfill is proposed after this law takes effect.
- It's unclear how existing landfills will be affected beyond permit renewals and expansions.