Tennessee Code Title 4. State Government § 4-6-136

(a) The commissioner of correction, with the approval of the commissioner of general services, is hereby authorized to make such disposition by way of sale of slate and other waste products of the coal mines owned and operated by the state as the commissioner of correction may deem fit and proper.

(b) To this end, the commissioner of correction is authorized to enter into contracts for the sale thereof for a period of time not in excess of ten (10) years, such contracts to be upon such terms as may be mutually agreeable to the commissioner of correction, the commissioner of general services and the contracting party.

(c) “Other waste products” as used in subsection (a) includes coal dust.