A Cleveland business owner is defending himself after neighbors raised concerns about suspected illegal burning on his property. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has received numerous complaints about the property since 2021, including a burning complaint in May 2021 and a violation for dumping construction waste later that year. The owner, Michael McCartt, has shown receipts dating back to 2020 showing instances of burning on the property. He maintains that he is operating within the law and that state officials have not been blocked from accessing his land.