Tennessee Code Title 59. Mines and Mining § 59-8-209

(a) Each operator shall submit for the commissioner's approval and carry out after such approval a plan for preparation of the soil and subsequent revegetation of the affected area. Such plan shall take into consideration the approved after-use of the area affected and shall be designed to achieve quick and permanent soil stabilization by the planting of trees or shrubs or grasses or legumes or any prescribed combination thereof. The operator's obligation under the provisions of this part shall not be deemed discharged until the operator has provided revegetation which conforms to the revegetation standards established by the commissioner.

(b) After the initial planting of the vegetative cover in accordance with the approved plan, the commissioner shall issue to the operator and the operator's surety a release of the surety bond for each acre of the affected area with respect to which the approved reclamation plan has been carried out, less the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) which shall be in force and effect until satisfactory revegetation survival has been accomplished, the revegetation plan previously approved by the commissioner has been carried out, the commissioner has determined that further efforts toward revegetation are impractical, or until it has been forfeited by the operator.