Consultant warns TDEC flagged Hamblen County; public meeting set May 8 on MS4 requirements

Jason Mann, a regional stormwater engineer, told the Public Services Committee that Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) audited Hamblen County’s MS4 program and found the county’s regulatory mechanism deficient. Mann said the agency issued a pre‑letter in February asking the county to bring its ordinance or resolution into compliance with current MS4 permit requirements and recommended adding a land‑disturbance or stormwater permitting step in plan reviews.

"They issued you a letter in February that said, get your regulatory mechanism up to snuff," Mann said, summarizing TDEC's finding and the county’s current status. Mann offered a draft resolution modeled on state association templates that would be calibrated to limit impacts on smaller local developments while meeting TDEC requirements.

Mann proposed a public comment session on May 8 in the library community room (3:00 or 4:00 p.m.) to present maps, draft language and options for the county to consider. He told commissioners TDEC has not yet issued a notice of violation and that the timeline allows a few months for revisions if the county acts promptly; Mann emphasized tailoring the resolution to avoid overburdening small projects while improving water‑quality protections.

Commissioners asked whether the changes would let the county compel builders to make later repairs; Mann said retrospective enforcement is difficult and that the primary benefit is stronger front‑end plan review to avoid future problems. No action was taken; Mann offered to return with a draft and convene the May 8 public meeting.