‘STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 97243-0495 DAVID W. SALYERS, P.E. BILL LEE June 6, 2019 ‘The Honorable Justin P. Wilson Comptroller of the Treasury Tennessee State Capitol Nashville, TN 37243-9034 Re: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Environmental Show of the South Dear Comptroller Wilson, Tam writing in response to concerns raised regarding the Environmental Show of the South, an annual conference hosted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC”). The primary function of the conference is to provide high quality technical and legal education for environmental professionals and department stakeholders, which it has successfully accomplished for many years. So that it can continue to perform this important function, [ am committed to ensuring the conference is conducted in a manner that in no way diminishes the public’s confidence in the department or the work of its many outstanding professionals. To that end, the department's senior leadership team has reviewed the conference and developed a corrective action plan to address concerns surrounding the event, which includes the following measures: © The department intends to change several elements of the conference itself, including: © Department employees will not be permitted to be involved in organizing or soliciting sponsorships in connection with any golf tournament going forward. © No rafile prizes for conference attendees will be offered. © A “pub craw!” will not be included as a social event for conference attendees, and any social events organized by the department as part of the conference will be reviewed to ensure they do not have the potential to erode the publie’s confidence in the integrity or objectivity of our employees’ work. ©. The current tiered conference registration fee structure will be revised to include reduced rates for representatives of environmental non-profit organizations, local governments, and academic institutions. Additionally, the department will continue to extend free admission to certain attendees upon request, such as high school students, members of the media, and citizens with environmental concerns. * TDEC’s Office of General Counsel will continue to review the past practice of a department employee acting in his personal capacity to organize the golf tournament, inorder to evaluate compliance with TDEC’s code of ethics and other applicable laws, rules, and policies. * There will be no use of any bank account outside the state system of accounts in connection with any event-related activity. ‘© A task force will be convened to more generally review conference participation by the department and its staff to ensure compliance with TDEC’s code of ethics, which includes various statutes, policies, and Executive Order No. 2. © TDEC’s Division of Internal Audit is already working, and will continue to work with, the Office of the Comptroller regarding this corrective action plan and the hosting of the event generally. Your feedback on this event and the department’s proposed corrective action plan is greatly appreciated. Our goal is to maintain the important and critical educational benefits of the conference, while eliminating any perceived ethical violations or actions that adversely affect the confidence of the public in the integrity of the government. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of my staff should you have any questions or concerns. Respectfully, Davids W Halgere npn ft David W. Salyers, P.E. Commissioner, Department of Environment and Conservation ce: Governor Bill Lee Butch Eley, Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Governor Lang Wiseman, Deputy & Chief Counsel, Office of the Governor