Tennessee can now manage its own hazardous waste rules, not the US environmental regulators

The US environmental regulators have given Tennessee final approval to manage its own hazardous waste program. This means the state can now enforce its own rules for handling dangerous waste, rather than relying on federal oversight.

States often adopt federal environmental rules, but getting full authorization to run their own programs is a significant step. It means Tennessee's specific changes to how it manages hazardous waste are now legally binding and enforced by the state. This shifts the day-to-day regulatory burden and enforcement power from federal agencies to state officials.