Staff presented the semiannual groundwater monitoring summary and recent TDEC communications, saying sampling is beginning the first week in December and that one spring (Purdy/Southwest Spring) has been moved to quarterly monitoring after detected impacts. Staff noted a vendor change: Weaver Consultants will conduct sampling and Egan & Associates will handle reporting and assessment monitoring.

Commissioners pressed on sampling‑well placement and groundwater‑flow interpretation. One commissioner expressed concern that the configuration of MW‑01A, MW‑02 and MW‑03 and the map’s flow arrows did not clearly show downgradient movement; staff and consultants explained groundwater generally follows topographic gradient but agreed there are data gaps. Staff said more redevelopment of wells, additional sampling and a different set of technical reviewers would be used next cycle to reduce uncertainty.

The commission and staff discussed jurisdictional‑water designations. Consultants summarized that portions of the on‑site feature have been classified variably in prior reports as perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral; the federal Army Corps’ approach to disconnected (disjointed) features was cited as changing determinations in the 2022–2024 window. Commissioners directed staff and consultant representatives (Stoddard and Dr. Bartel were named) to conduct an on‑site walk of the subject area and report back at the December meeting with clarified sample locations and any supplemental data necessary for permitting discussions.

No regulatory action or permit decisions were made at the meeting; staff will provide supplemental data, deliver the full TDEC inspection and monitoring materials in the December package, and the commission expects a site visit and a written report in December.