2023 Tennessee Code › Title 59 - MINES AND MINING (§§ 59-1-101 — 59-13-144) › Chapter 8 - STRIP AND OPEN PIT MINES (§§ 59-8-101 — 59-8-421) › Part 1 - PRIMACY AND RECLAMATION ACT OF TENNESSEE (§§ 59-8-101 — 59-8-133) › Section 59-8-119 - Civil action to compel compliance

(a)
Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), any person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected may commence a civil action to compel compliance with this part:
(1)
Against the state or any other governmental instrumentality or agency, which is alleged to be in violation of this part, or any rule promulgated under this part, or order or permit issued pursuant to this part, or against any other person who is alleged to be in violation of this part, or any rule promulgated under this part, or order or permit issued pursuant to this part; or
(2)
Against the commissioner when the commissioner is alleged to have failed to perform any act or duty under this part that is not discretionary with the commissioner.
(b)
No action may be commenced under subdivision (a)(1):
(1)
Until sixty (60) days after the plaintiff has provided written notice of the violation to the secretary, the commissioner, and any alleged violator; or
(2)
If the commissioner or the state has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action in a court of this state or the United States to require compliance with this part, or any rule promulgated under this part, or order or permit issued pursuant to this part, but in any such action any person may intervene as a matter of right.
(c)
No action may be commenced under subdivision (a)(2) until sixty (60) days after the plaintiff has provided written notice of the violation to the commissioner, in the manner that the commissioner requires by rule, except that an action may be brought immediately after notice of the violation is provided to the commissioner, if the violation or order complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the health or safety of the plaintiff or would immediately affect a legal interest of the plaintiff.
(d)
(1)
Any action brought under this section respecting a violation of this part or the rules promulgated thereunder may be brought only in the chancery court of the county in which the greater part of the surface coal mining and reclamation operation complained of is located.
(2)
The commissioner, if not a party, may intervene in any civil action brought under this section as a matter of right.
(e)
The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought under subsection (a), may award costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney fees and expert witness fees, to any party, whenever the court determines the award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance with the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure.
(f)
Nothing in this section restricts any right that any person, or class of persons, may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of this part and the rules issued pursuant to it, or to seek any other relief, including relief against the commissioner.
(g)
Any person who incurs a personal injury or property damage due to an operator's violation of any rule, order, or permit issued pursuant to this part may bring an action for damages against the operator including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees, in the chancery court of the county in which the surface coal mining and reclamation operation complained of is located. Nothing in this subsection (g) affects the rights established by, or limits imposed under, the Workers' Compensation Law, compiled in title 50, chapter 6.
Repealed and reenacted by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 548, s 3, eff. 5/26/2021.
Added by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 839, s 1, eff. eight (8) months immediately following the receipt of notification from the secretary of the interior that this state has been approved to exercise primacy over the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations within its territorial boundaries.