Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.01
The purpose of these regulations is to provide for the implementation of The Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act which requires persons to obtain written permission from a landowner or manager before knowingly removing or destroying state-listed endangered plant species and requires nursery farmers to be licensed in order to sell state-listed endangered species.
These Rules are organized, numbered, and referenced according to the following outline form:
"Act" means "The Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985," T.C.A. Section 70-8-301 et seq.
"Acquire," "Acquired", or "Acquisition" means to obtain, to have obtained, or the act of obtaining, by donation, or by exchange of money or other valuable consideration (specifically including barter or exchange), or to take as defined in these regulations.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Conservation.
"Conserve" or "Conservation" means to use, or the use of, all methods and procedures for the purpose of increasing the number of individuals of each resident species of plant up to levels adequate to assure their survival in their ecosystems; such methods and procedures also include all activities associated with scientific resource conservation such as research census, law enforcement, habitat protection, acquisition and maintenance, propagation, and transplantation into unoccupied parts of historic range.
"Department" means the Department of Environment and Conservation.
"Endangered species" means any species or subspecies of plant whose continued existence as a viable component of the state's flora is determined by the Commissioner to be in jeopardy, including but not limited to all species of plants determined to be "endangered species" pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
"Endangered Species Act" means the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205 (87 Stat. 884), 16 USC 1531 et seq., as subsequently amended.
"Habitat" means the place where a plant species grows, thus implying a particular set of environmental conditions conducive to its survival.
"Landowner" means the person having legal deed to a parcel of land, or a lessee, or any other person entitled to possession, or a manager in the case of publicly owned land.
"Nursery Farmer" means any person engaged in the practice of growing or propagating stock for sale.
"Nursery stock" means all trees, shrubs, or other perennial plants, or parts of such trees, shrubs, or other perennial plants grown or kept for, or capable of, propagation, distribution, or sale on a commercial basis.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other private entity, or any officer, agent, department, or instrumentality of the federal government, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any foreign government.
"Plant" means any member of the plant kingdom, including seeds, roots, cuttings, and other parts of the plant. .
"Population" means individuals of a given plant species that are capable of interbreeding with one another via natural mechanisms, or are growing in close proximity, yet self-pollinating or reproducing strictly by vegetative means.
"Rare species" means any species of plant defined as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in Tennessee or pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
"Sell" or "Sold" means to dispose of, transfer or convey, or to attempt to dispose of, transfer or convey by exchange of money or other valuable consideration, specifically including barter or exchange.
"Special Concern Species" means any species or subspecies of plant which is uncommon in Tennessee, or has unique or highly specific habitat requirements or scientific value and therefore requires careful monitoring of its status.
"Take" or "Taking" means to knowingly uproot, dig, remove, damage, destroy, possess, collect, or otherwise disturb for any purpose.
"Threatened Species" means any species or subspecies of plant which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, to become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range in Tennessee, including but not limited to all species of plants determined to be a "threatened species" pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.01
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201 et seq., 70-8-301, 70-8-305 and Chapter 242, Public Acts of 1985.