Powers and Duties of Board — Notification of Vacancy — Termination Due to Vacancy — Conflict of Interest Policy
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The board has the power and duty to:
Promulgate rules and regulations to effect the intent and purpose of this part, pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. Such rules and regulations may include, but are not necessarily limited to, those defining: ambient air quality standards; emission standards; general policies or plans; a system of permits; and a schedule of fees for review of plans and specifications, issuance or renewal of permits or inspection of air contaminant sources. Emission standards for stationary sources adopted by the board shall include regulations based on the weight of materials entering the process causing the emission as an optional alternative to regulations previously adopted;
Promulgate rules that authorize the technical secretary to issue permits that contain all provisions applicable to sources that are necessary under the federal Clean Air Act, compiled in 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., and the effective regulations pursuant to such act, and that are necessary under this chapter and the effective rules of the board. The issuance of a permit by the technical secretary under the rules authorized by this subsection (a) shall not repeal by implication any rules of the board. The board shall monitor regulations under the Clean Air Act that are proposed by the United States environmental protection agency. If the environmental protection agency promulgates a rule that would roll back federal requirements under the Clean Air Act, the board shall initiate rulemaking on that subject and determine whether Tennessee should have a more restrictive rule than the federal rule on that subject;
Hold hearings and issue such orders and determinations as may be necessary to effect the intent and purpose of this part;
Establish, modify, or amend, without hearing, policies, practices, rules or regulations with respect to procedural aspects of board activities; and
Cause legal proceedings to be instituted in a court of competent jurisdiction, to compel compliance with any order issued by the board, requirement of this part, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this part.
The department has the power and duty to:
Develop and recommend to the board plans for a comprehensive air pollution control program for the state, to review such plans from time to time and recommend to the board such changes as may be deemed appropriate;
Require that any person furnish the department information required by it in discharge of its duties under this part, if the department has reason to believe such person is, or may be about to, causing or contributing to air pollution; provided, that no such person shall be required to disclose any secret formulae, processes or methods used in any manufacturing operation carried on by such person or under such person's direction. The composition of air contaminants shall not be considered secret unless so declared by the department, and the department shall have the power to issue protection orders to prevent public dissemination;
Enter at all reasonable times in or upon any private or public property except private residences for the purpose of inspecting and investigating any condition which the department shall have reasonable cause to believe to be an air contaminant source;
Provide such technical, scientific and other services as may be required for carrying out this part. The basic personnel for such purposes shall be those employed by the department; however, the department, may, by agreement, secure these or other services from any other agency, and within budgetary limitations may arrange compensation for such services;
Receive, budget, receipt for and administer such moneys as are duly appropriated or granted for the purpose of this part; provided, that all such moneys shall be deposited with the state treasurer;
Represent the state in matters pertaining to plans, procedures or negotiations for interstate compacts relative to air pollution or in matters pertaining to air quality control regions;
Collect and disseminate information relative to air pollution; encourage voluntary cooperation of affected persons or groups in preserving and restoring a reasonable degree of air purity; advise, consult and cooperate with other agencies, persons or groups in matters pertaining to air pollution; and encourage authorized air pollution agencies of political subdivisions to handle air pollution problems within their respective jurisdictions to the greatest extent possible and to provide technical assistance to political subdivisions requesting same; and
Cause to be instituted in a court of competent jurisdiction legal proceedings to compel compliance with any order issued by the board.
In exercising their powers and duties relative to major energy projects, as defined in § 13-18-102, the board and the departments shall participate in the joint review process and expedited review process provided for by the Major Energy Project Act of 1981, compiled in title 13, chapter 18.
If the board incurs a vacancy, it shall notify the appointing authority in writing within ninety (90) days after the vacancy occurs. All vacancies on the board, other than ex officio members, shall be filled by the appointing authority within ninety (90) days of receiving written notice of the vacancy and sufficient information is provided for the appointing authority to make an informed decision in regard to filling such vacancy. If sufficient information has been provided and the board has more than one (1) vacancy that is more than one hundred eighty (180) days in duration, the board shall report to the government operations committees of the house of representatives and the senate as to why such vacancies have not been filled.
If more than one half (½) of the positions on the board are vacant for more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, the board shall terminate; provided, that the board shall wind up its affairs pursuant to § 4-29-112. If the board is terminated pursuant to subdivision (d)(1) it shall be reviewed by the evaluation committees pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act before ceasing all its activities. Nothing in subdivision (d)(1) shall prohibit the general assembly from continuing, restructuring, or re-establishing the board.
The board shall adopt and implement rules and regulations to create a conflict of interest policy for board members. The policy shall mandate annual written disclosures of financial interests, other possible conflicts of interest, and an acknowledgement by board members that they have read and understand all aspects of the policy. The policy shall also require persons who are to be appointed to the board to acknowledge, as a condition of appointment, that they are not in conflict with the conditions of the policy.