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SB 2172

Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, extends from two years to 27 months the amount of time that the commissioner has to designate the boundaries of a scenic river area following the addition of a river segment to the state scenic rivers system. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13 and Title 68, Chapter 211.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ken Yager

Tennessee extends the deadline for designating scenic river boundaries from 24 to 27 months, giving environmental regulators additional time for boundary mapping after river segment additions.

Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
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Bill Summary · SB 2172

Legislative bill overview

SB 2172 extends the timeline for Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner to designate scenic river area boundaries from 24 months to 27 months after a new river segment is added to the state scenic rivers system. The bill amends two sections of Tennessee Code Annotated related to environmental conservation and scenic river management.

Why is this important

Scenic river designations carry regulatory implications for land use, development, and environmental protections along affected waterways. The three-month extension affects the pace at which environmental protections or restrictions take effect once a river is formally added to the system, potentially delaying or facilitating stakeholder planning depending on one's perspective.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden vs. efficiency: The extension suggests the current 24-month deadline may be insufficient for thorough boundary designation work, but critics may argue it enables bureaucratic delay in implementing environmental protections
  • Stakeholder impact timing: Landowners and developers along newly designated scenic rivers face delayed clarity on land-use restrictions, while environmental advocates may view the delay as reducing protection speed
  • Precedent for timeline creep: A 12.5% extension to an existing deadline could establish a pattern for further extensions in environmental regulatory processes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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