Environmental Programs

The District’s Environmental Program is primarily made of 3 areas of interest.  Air quality, watershed protection/water resources and solid waste management.  Though the main focus of the Environmental Department is based in one of these three areas, staff respond to a variety of environmentally related issues facing local governments.

Air Quality

The Development District coordinates the efforts of the Ozone Action Partnership for Northeast Tennessee.  The goal of the Ozone Action Partnership (OAP) is to educate local governments, businesses and industries and the general public about the importance of reducing ozone levels in our Region.  The OAP works to inform citizens about the negative impacts of high ozone levels from and economic as well as public health standpoint.  The OAP is been responsible for initiating the first Ozone Action Day program in the State of Tennessee.  The Ozone Action Day Program alerts the general public on days when ozone is forecasted to be at or near levels of concern to sensitive individuals. 

Forecasts are determined by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and forwarded to the OAP.  Alerts are distributed to the public through local radio and television media outlets.  The public can also receive a daily air quality forecast from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Visit the EPA’s website at enviroflash.info and click on the on-line subscription link at the bottom of the page. 

The EPA and State of Tennessee monitor ozone and other air pollutant levels in our Region and across the country to determine compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards.  Areas are determined to be “attainment” (in compliance) or “non-attainment” (non-compliance).  According to the EPA, every county in our Development District is in “attainment”, with the 2008 ozone standard.  However, the EPA and the Obama Administration are considering lowering the standard.  A final decision on the new standard will be made in late 2010 or early 2011. 

Solid Waste Management

The Development  District has been providing solid waste technical assistance to local governments since the Tennessee Solid Waste Act was passed in 1991.  Through an annual grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the District has assisted communities with grant writing, project administration, educational programs, planning and facilities permitting all dealing with solid waste, recycling and waste reduction.

 Since 1991, cities and counties have received over $8.5 million in grant funds and technical assistance.  Grants fund a variety of projects and capital improvements throughout our Region.  These include: 

Recycling equipment

Used oil collection/recycling containers

Used oil heaters

Convenience Center construction

Waste reduction projects

Educational programs

Waste tire collection and recycling

During the 2010-2011 fiscal year, counties in the District will receive over $175,000 from the State to collect and recycle waste tires.  Approximately 3,300 tons of tires are collected and recycled from the 8 counties in the First Tennessee Development District.

 Staff also work with each county and Regional Solid Waste Planning Board to complete an Annual Solid Waste Progress Report which is submitted to the State in March each year.  These Reports identify the amount of solid waste and recyclables generated in each county, each year.  In 2009, the following statistics are compiled for the entire District: 

            District-wide Solid Waste Disposed in Landfills  =  511,125.86 tons

            District-wide Residential Recycling =  56,777.19 tons

 The Solid Waste Management Act requires each region/county in the State to divert or recycle 25% of the total waste generated in the region/county.  According to data collected and submitted to the State, four counties in our District achieved or exceeded the 25% waste reduction goal.

Water Resources

First Tennessee Development District has a long history of involvement in water quality projects which included watershed protection and stormwater management.  The District participates in several watershed alliances/partnerships throughout the area.  These included the Boone Watershed Partnership, Beaver Creek Watershed Alliance and Sinking Creek Watershed.  Over the last several years, we have successfully obtained grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to develop watershed implementation plans and conduct water quality monitoring projects.  We have received over $200,000 since 1997 to implement these projects, primarily in the Boone Watershed.  In August 2010, we completed a watershed implementation plan for Cash Hollow Creek in Washington County. 

 The First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) has also worked with communities and counties in our District to identify stormwater related issues.  FTDD received a $60,000 grant from the from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation through the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  This project is designed around green storm water infrastructure technology.  Previous solutions to stormwater management was to divert storm water off "our" property.  Green infrastructure technology identifies the problem and then works toward a solution where it initially became a problem.  Due to fluctuation in topography, soil structure, etc., each storm water issue has a unique solution tailored to the specific problem.  Green infrastructure technology is not just for existing problems.  During the planning phase for new construction sites, green infrastructure technology is being added to the final product as a way to control storm water before it becomes an issue. 

 If you are interested in additional information about the District’s Environmental Management Program or any of the specific areas of work, please feel free to contact the Director of Environmental Programs at ccraig@ftdd.org.