House panel advances bill to bar new landfills across Scott County to protect Big South Fork

The Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee advanced House Bill 2202 on March 18, voting 5–4 to send the bill to the full committee after extended testimony and questioning about a proposed landfill in Scott County and protections for the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Sponsor Representative Keesling said the bill would add the Big South Fork segment to the state's scenic-river statute and prohibit new landfills within the county, while preserving renewals and expansions for landfills already operating under valid permits.

Dennis Jeffers, mayor of Huntsville, told the committee he represented local opposition and asked members to support the bill, saying the river and tourism economy could not withstand a landfill nearby: "I humbly ask for your support for 22 0 2," Jeffers said. Knox Horner of Transrail Waste Services, which holds the original solid-waste permit for the parcel, told lawmakers his company has invested "seven figures" in engineering and believes it has a right to build; "we started a recertification process on the permit because we have a valid solid waste permit for a landfill in Scott County," Horner said during testimony.

Committee members pressed both sides on technical and legal points. TDEC deputy general counsel Stephanie Derman told the panel the facility currently has an active permit but that recertification and a new ARAP (aquatic-resource alteration permit) are required before construction; she warned that ARAP rule changes regarding practicable alternatives might affect the application. TDEC advisor Jeremy Hooper said permits are designed to keep waste on-site and include groundwater monitoring and buffer requirements: "Our permits are designed to prevent pollution," he said.

Debate highlighted competing concerns: supporters of HB2202 argued the bill is a narrowly drawn conservation measure to protect a federally recognized recreation area and the county’s tourism economy, citing testimony that the Big South Fork area draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Opponents said changing the rules after a private party holds a permit and a contractual interest in the land could create takings liability and invite lawsuits. Representative Todd and others expressed constitutional concerns, saying the measure risks compensable property takings if it effectively strips the permit-holder of its economic expectations.

The committee vote advanced HB2202 to the full committee with the measure recorded as 5 ayes and 4 nays. Members asked TDEC to continue reviewing permit recertification, ARAP timing and whether the property would meet current engineering and environmental requirements if reexamined. The bill’s proponents said the measure is site-specific and intended to preserve the Big South Fork’s long-term value for local communities.

Next steps: HB2202 will be considered by the full committee; TDEC recertification and ARAP outcomes will inform regulatory feasibility and potential legal challenges.