Amends TCA Title 59, Chapter 8.

This bill exempts a formerly operating open pit mine or quarry that agrees to receive fill or borrow material from state highway construction projects all local regulations that limit the operator's ability to fill the pit and reclaim and restore the site if: (1) The fill work complies with the requirements of the Tennessee Water Pollution Control Act; and (2) In all other ways satisfies this state's rules applicable to the fill activity. This bill specifies that local governments may require surety that affected streets and roads will be restored to their original condition. ON MARCH 22, 2021, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 836, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 clarifies that this bill applies to a former surface mining operation that is not currently permitted or otherwise regulated under present law concerning mining operations, a former borrow excavation, or a former quarrying operation; adds examples of local regulations that will not apply to such operations or excavations that agree to accept fill or borrow material from state highway construction projects, and deletes this bill's authorization for local governments to require surety that affected streets and roads will be restored to their original condition.