Pushing Back on Exemptions to Aquatic Protections

The Federation’s conservation policy team regularly tracks proposals and rule changes by local, state, and national groups. These changes would otherwise go unchallenged and have negative impacts on our wildlife and great outdoors for years to come.

In October 2018, the Federation provided official comments to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on proposed revisions to Tennessee water rules. The revisions would have allowed public road builders to no longer comply with the same standards as other contractors when submitting projects for environmental review and approval. This change could have needlessly damaged hundreds of miles of streams and rivers downstream of bridge and road crossing projects.

The Federation’s comments proved influential in removing a proposed exemption for public road builders, protected untold species across the state.

Photo credit: Deb Campbell