Tennessee § 69-3-140 - Collection of water samples — Report.

§ 69-3-140. Collection of water samples — Report.

In collecting water samples drawn to test the water quality of the Pigeon River at the time the river enters Tennessee from Haywood County, North Carolina, the department shall draw samples from the river within one quarter (¼) mile of the border separating Tennessee and North Carolina in the center of the river. The samples shall be drawn at a time when any power plant that emits discharges into the Pigeon River and that is located within one (1) mile of the state border is running at least one (1) generator. The samples shall be drawn in addition to collecting samples at any other location the department deems appropriate to test the water quality of the river. The results of water samples drawn pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) shall be reported independently of any other water samples drawn to test the quality of the Pigeon River and shall be incorporated by the department in any analysis of the river's water quality. The samples shall at a minimum be analyzed for apparent and true color in accordance with United States environmental protection agency methods and evaluated against Tennessee water quality standards approved by the United States environmental protection agency. The department is authorized to obtain a generation schedule from the power plant in order to facilitate timing the drawing of samples and may contract with local rafting entities for transportation services related to the taking of samples pursuant to subsection (a). Acts 2008, ch. 767, § 1.