Tennessee Code Title 69. Waters, Waterways, Drains and Levees § 69-3-126

(a) The local administrative officer may assess the liability of any polluter or violator for damages to the pretreatment agency resulting from any person's or industrial user's pollution or violation, failure, or neglect in complying with any permits or orders issued pursuant to the pretreatment program or § 69-3-123, § 69-3-124, or § 69-3-125.

(b) If an appeal from such assessment is not made to the local hearing authority by the polluter or violator within thirty (30) days of notification of such assessment, the polluter or violator shall be deemed to have consented to the assessment, and it shall become final.

(c) Damages may include any expenses incurred in investigating and enforcing the pretreatment program or §§ 69-3-123 -- 69-3-129, in removing, correcting, and terminating any pollution, and also compensation for any actual damages caused by the pollution or violation.

(d) Whenever any assessment has become final because of a person's failure to appeal within the time provided, the local administrative officer may apply to the appropriate court for a judgment, and seek execution on such judgment. The court, in such proceedings, shall treat the failure to appeal such assessment as a confession of judgment in the amount of the assessment.