On May 15, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed SB 3187, eliminating duplicate state- and local-level review of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction permits by giving municipalities authority to approve. A pilot program is currently ongoing until the law takes effect July 1, 2013. To gain authority to run its own construction permitting program, a municipality must establish requirements that exceed those of the state. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation estimates that this streamlined process could save construction owners and operators up to $7500 in state fees. Read more.