[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7623-7624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2883]
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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Environmental Impact Statement; Water Supply Development for the
Catoosa Utility District and Upper Cumberland Plateau Region of East
Tennessee
AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and
TVA's implementing procedures. TVA in conjunction with RUS has decided
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on alternatives for
water supply development for the Catoosa Utility District and the upper
Cumberland Plateau region of East Tennessee. The EIS will consider the
potential environmental impacts of alternatives to meet the water
supply needs of the district and region over a 30-year planning
horizon. Alternatives to be considered will range from the construction
of a water supply dam and impoundment on Clear Creek or other water
course to the installation of a water pipeline from Watts Bar, Center
Hill, or Dale Hollow Reservoirs. The objective of the action is to
satisfy the water supply needs in the project area. With this notice,
RUS and TVA are inviting comments on the scope of the EIS analysis.
DATES: Comments on the scope of the EIS must be received on or before
March 10, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dale V. Wilhelm, NEPA Liaison,
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 8B,
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack L. Davis, Manager, Water Resource
Projects, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive,
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902, phone (615) 632-7183.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the dry time of the year, water
supplies are stressed in the Catoosa Water Supply District and other
areas of the upper Cumberland Plateau region in East Tennessee.
Projected growth for the region indicates a worsening of the situation.
Presently, the Catoosa Utility District purchases potable water from
the City of Crossville in Crossville, Tennessee, which must first meet
the needs of its own customers, especially during drought conditions.
In 1992, the Catoosa Utility District requested aid from RUS to develop
a reliable and [[Page 7624]] adequate water supply for its district by
constructing a water supply dam and 100 acre impoundment on Clear
Creek. Clear Creek is a tributary to the Obed River which, along with
part of Clear Creek, was designated a wild and scenic river in 1976 by
Public Law 94-486. Engineering and preliminary environmental studies
were performed for two alternative dam sites on Clear Creek at
approximately river miles 33 and 40.
Based on information gathered during the initial environmental
review of the Catoosa proposal, RUS and TVA propose to evaluate
alternatives to meet the increasing water supply needs of the upper
Cumberland Plateau region rather than limiting the scope of the action
to the Catoosa proposal. The agencies decided to prepare an EIS for
this action in order to obtain public input on the proposal.
RUS has received funding to address the Catoosa Utility District
water supply needs. RUS requested that TVA participate in the
preparation of the EIS because of TVA's expertise and experience in
regional water supply development and because TVA must approve
obstructions or dams along the Tennessee River and its tributaries
under Section 26a of the TVA Act.
The first step in the preparation of the EIS will be the
determination of the scope of the EIS. It is anticipated that the scope
will include construction of a dam on Clear Creek as originally
proposed by the Catoosa Utility District, alternative dam sites, and
other potential water supply sources including in-stream flows and
pipeline sources. Different design concepts will also be addressed.
Potentially significant issues for discussion in the EIS include:
1. Effects on stream discharge, water quality, and availability;
2. Impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecology, including threatened
and endangered species;
3. Impacts on floodplains, wetlands, recreation, and existing land
use; and
4. Socioeconomic and cultural effects associated with completion of
the project and alternatives to it.
This list is not intended to be all inclusive, nor is it intended
to be a predetermination of impacts. As scoping and preparation of the
EIS proceeds, other issues may be revealed which will necessitate
further analyses.
RUS and TVA invite interested persons and agencies to comment on
the above suggested scope of the EIS. The agencies also request
comments on environmental issues which should not be viewed as
significant and which should not be discussed in detail in the EIS.
A public meeting will be held in the project area to receive oral
and written comments. Details about this meeting will be announced
later in area newspapers and direct mailings. Comments received at this
meeting will be accorded the same weight as written comments. The
United States Army Corps of Engineers will participate in this EIS
process as a cooperating agency. The National Park Service may also
become a cooperating agency.
After the scoping process and the initial environmental analysis
are completed, RUS and TVA will issue a Draft EIS. A Notice of
Availability of the Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register
and area newspapers, and public comments will again be solicited. Those
persons who choose not to comment on the scope of the document at this
time but desire a copy of the Draft EIS should send their names and
addresses to Dale V. Wilhelm at the address listed above. RUS and TVA
anticipate releasing a final EIS in about 20 months.
Dated: January 24, 1995.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Senior Vice President, Resource Group, Tennessee Valley Authority.
[FR Doc. 95-2883 Filed 2-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-01-M
