[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10422-10423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4558]
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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Environmental Impact Statement: Use of Lands Acquired for the
Columbia Dam Component of the Duck River Project
AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in cooperation with
the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency, will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on alternative uses of lands
acquired as part of the Columbia Dam component of the Duck River
Project. The project cannot be completed as a dam and reservoir due to
the presence of endangered species. The EIS will consider the
environmental impacts of a range of alternative uses of TVA-owned
project lands, including the protection of resident endangered species
and potential development of a recreational waterway between Iron
Bridge Road boat ramp to Carpenter's Bridge (River Mile 137 to River
Mile 165). With this notice, TVA is inviting comments on the scope of
the EIS.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 22, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dale V. Wilhelm, NEPA Liaison,
Tennessee Valley Authority, WT 8C, 400 West Summit Hill Drive,
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jack L. Davis, Manager, Water Resource Projects, Tennessee Valley
Authority, WT 10C, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee
37902-1499, phone 615/632-4678.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TVA and local entities began a cooperative
effort in 1964 to advance economic growth and provide an adequate and
dependable water supply in the Duck River watershed (in Maury,
Marshall, Bedford, and Coffee Counties, middle Tennessee). While the
state-chartered Tennessee Duck River Development Agency worked to
develop a water supply system to connect the five largest cities in the
watershed, TVA was requested to investigate water resource development.
In 1965, TVA concluded that multipurpose reservoir development on the
Duck River mainstem offered the best potential for meeting the area's
needs. The construction of dams on the river would control flooding,
create water supply sources, and provide opportunities for water-based
recreation. Eventually, two dam sites were identified: a downstream dam
proposed to be built at Duck River Mile 136.7, near Columbia, and an
upstream dam to be built at River Mile 248.6, near Normandy. After
further study, these two dam and reservoir projects were presented in a
1968 planning report as components of a combined Duck River Project.
Following the enactment of NEPA, TVA issued a draft EIS on the
project in June 1971. A public hearing on the proposed project was held
in August 1971 and a final EIS on the Duck River Project (TVA-OHES-EIS-
72-5) was issued in April 1972. This EIS was supplemented in June 1974
to correct identified deficiencies. Construction of the 3,230-acre
Normandy Dam and Reservoir component was completed in 1976 and is
currently in operation.
Construction of the 12,600-acre Columbia Dam and Reservoir
component of the project began in 1973. Completion of this component
was slowed and, in 1983, halted because consultation with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service indicated that the reservoir could jeopardize the
continued existence of two endangered species. These two species, the
birdwing pearly mussel and the Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel, had
been listed as endangered in 1975 under provisions of the 1973
Endangered Species Act (ESA). Subsequent fieldwork and ESA listings
have indicated that two additional endangered mussel species (tan
riffleshell and pale lilliput pearly mussel) and an endangered plant
(leafy prairie clover) also occur in the project area. Other species
known to occur in the area have been proposed for endangered status or
are identified [[Page 10423]] candidates for possible ESA listing.
Under the ESA, the presence of several endangered species in the
project reach of the Duck River will prevent TVA from being able to
complete this component of the project as a dam and reservoir.
The purpose of this Notice is to solicit comments on the scope of
the EIS. TVA anticipates the range of alternatives will include no
action (retaining project lands in their current condition and use) and
one or more options using some project lands for protective corridor
and recreational development along the river accompanied by the
disposal of other land tracts. Potentially important issues likely to
be discussed in the EIS include:
1. Impacts on terrestrial and aquatic life, including endangered and
threatened species;
2. Impacts on recreation and other land uses;
3. Impacts on water quality and quantity;
4. Impacts on public water supplies;
5. Impacts on floodplains, wetlands, and prime farm land;
6. Impacts on archaeological and historical resources;
7. Socioeconomic and cultural effects.
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive, nor is it intended
to be a predetermination of impacts. As preparation of the EIS
proceeds, other issues may be revealed which will warrant detailed
analysis.
The Tennessee Duck River Development Agency has agreed to
participate in this EIS as a cooperating agency. Other agencies, such
as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, also may become cooperating agencies.
TVA invites interested persons and agencies to comment on the scope
of this EIS. TVA also requests comments on environmental issues which
should not be viewed as important and which should not be discussed in
detail in the EIS. A public meeting will be held in the Duck River area
on April 18, 1995 at 7:00 CDT at the Culleoka School, Culleoka,
Tennessee to receive oral comments about the scope of this EIS. Details
about this meeting will be announced later in area newspapers. Comments
received at the meeting will be accorded the same weight as written
comments.
After the scoping process and the initial environmental analysis
are completed, TVA will prepare a draft EIS on this proposed action. A
Notice of Availability of this draft will be published in the Federal
Register and area newspapers. Public comments on the draft EIS will be
solicited. Those persons who choose not to comment on the scope of the
EIS but wish to receive a copy of the draft for their review and
comment should send their names and addresses to Dale V. Wilhelm at the
address presented above. TVA anticipates releasing a final EIS on this
project in August 1996.
Dated: February 17, 1995.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Senior Vice President, Resource Group.
[FR Doc. 95-4558 Filed 2-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-01-M
