[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44944-44947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22471]
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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Red Hills Power Project
AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.
ACTION: Issuance of record of decision.
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SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 to 1508) and
TVA's procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.
TVA has decided to adopt the preferred alternative identified in its
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Proposed Purchase of
Electricity Generated by the Red Hills Power Project (RHPP). The Final
EIS was made available to the public on July 3, 1998. A notice of
Availability of the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register on
July 10, 1998. Under the preferred alternative, TVA would commit to
purchase all of the electricity generated by the Red Hills Power
Project in Choctaw County, Mississippi. This would result in the
construction and operation of a 440-megawatt (MW) lignite-fueled
generation facility by Choctaw Generation Limited
[[Page 44945]]
Partnership and an adjacent surface lignite mine by Mississippi Lignite
Mining Company. TVA would also construct a transmission line connecting
the generation facility to the TVA power distribution system; this
transmission line would be constructed within Corridor A (the preferred
alternative corridor).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles P. Nicholson, NEPA Specialist,
Environmental Management, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit
Hill Drive, WT 8C, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499; telephone (423)
632-3582 or e-mail cpnicholson@tva.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 1995, TVA issued its ``Energy
Vision 2020 Integrated Resource Plan and Final EIS.'' This document
projected demands for electricity in the TVA power service area through
the year 2020 and evaluated different ways of meeting these projected
increases. Under the load forecast adopted by TVA, the demand for
electricity was projected to exceed TVA's 1996 generating capacity of
28,000 MW by 6,250 MW in 2005. TVA plans to meet this demand through a
combination of supply-side options, customer service options, and
environmental control options. One of the supply-side options is
purchasing power from independent power producers. An independent power
producer, Tractebel Power, Inc., parent company of Choctaw Generation
Limited Partnership, and Phillips Coal Company, parent company (along
with The North American Coal Company) of Mississippi Lignite Mining
Company, joint venture partners in the RHPP, submitted a proposal to
TVA for the sale of the total electric power output from the RHPP.
TVA provided public notice of its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement on its proposed purchase of power from
the RHPP on October 16, 1996. A public meeting on the proposal was held
on November 15, 1996. TVA released its draft EIS on February 13, 1998,
and held a public meeting to receive comments on the document on March
12, 1998. Comments were received from two federal and four state
agencies, two corporations, one university institute, seven
representatives of local governments or development corporations, and
seven individuals. After considering all comments, TVA revised the EIS
appropriately. The Final EIS was distributed to commenting agencies and
the public on July 2, 1998.
Alternatives Considered
Alternative methods of meeting TVA's future electrical generation
capacity requirements were evaluated in ``Energy Vision 2020.'' One of
the selected methods was the purchase of power from independent power
producers such as Tractebel. Tiering from ``Energy Vision 2020,'' the
RHPP Final EIS evaluates a No Action Alternative and an Action
Alternative.
Under the No Action Alternative, TVA would not purchase the
electricity generated by the RHPP. TVA would also not construct a
transmission line connecting the generation facility to the TVA power
distribution system. The environmental impacts associated with TVA's
purchase of this electrical power would not occur, and TVA would
consider other options for meeting its future electrical demands. This
would not necessarily preclude eventual development of the generation
facility and/or mine, with the electricity sold to another purchaser.
Under the Action Alternative, TVA would commit to purchasing the
electricity generated by the RHPP and would construct a transmission
line connecting the generation facility to the TVA power distribution
system. The generation facility would be built near the town of
Ackerman, Choctaw County, Mississippi. It would use two circulating
fluidized bed boilers with limestone injection, feeding a single steam
turbine with a net output of 440 MW of electricity. The facility would
consume about 3 million tons per year of lignite from the adjacent
lignite mine. To control sulfur emissions, the lignite would be burned
with about 235,000 tons per year of limestone from existing quarries in
central Mississippi. Other air emissions would be controlled by use of
the circulating fluidized bed boilers, combustion controls, and a
fabric filter baghouse. The facility would also be capable of cofiring
up to 245,000 tons per year of wood waste. Both limestone and wood
waste would be transported to the facility by truck. The generation
facility would produce about 677,000 tons per year of ash, which would
be trucked from the facility to an adjacent ash management unit.
The generation facility would use a wet mechanical draft cooling
tower system. With the anticipated maximum reuse of cooling water, a
continuous source of about 6.33 million gallons per day of blowdown
makeup water would be required. This would be supplied by three nearby
wells pumping water from the Massive Sands of the Tuscaloosa Aquifer
System at depths of about 3,000 feet. Blowdown from the cooling tower
would be processed for removal of silica and other dissolved solids and
recycled to the cooling system. Reject water from the silica removal
process would be used to wet the ash to control dust. There would be no
discharges of wastewater from generation facility systems.
The lignite mine would be located between the generation facility
and the Natchez Trace Parkway. Mine development would begin in late
1998, and consist of construction of access roads, mine support
facilities, a lignite handling facility, temporary stream diversions, a
stormwater runoff control pond, and sedimentation control ponds.
Overburden removal would begin in 1999 and actual lignite mining
operations would begin in 2000, concurrent with the completion of the
generation facility.
Mining would begin near the generation facility, progress towards
the northwest, and disturb about 110 acres per year. Over the 30-year
life of the mine, about 4,700 acres would be disturbed, 1,400 acres by
mine development activities and 3,300 by lignite removal operations.
Lignite would be mined from six seams. Overburden would be removed by a
combination of electric or diesel-powered shovels, trucks, dozers, and
a dragline. Lignite would be loaded by front-end loaders and hydraulic
backhoes, and transported from the mine pit to the lignite handling
facility by high capacity dump trucks. The lignite would be crushed at
the lignite handling facility and transported by conveyor to the
generation facility.
Reclamation would be concurrent with mining. Following removal of
the final lignite seam, the mine pit would be filled with overburden
spoil from the adjacent active mine pit. Spoil would be regraded to
approximate the original contours and drainage patterns. A topsoil
substitute consisting of selected, oxidized overburden materials would
then be spread over the graded mine spoil. Soil amendments would be
added as necessary. A cover crop would be planted or mulch spread over
the area being reclaimed. The plant species used in establishing the
permanent vegetative cover would vary with the postmining land use,
which would be dependent on premining land use and surface landowner
preferences. Most of the mined areas would likely be reclaimed as
commercial forest planted with loblolly pine.
Two potential routes for the transmission line connecting the
generation facility to the TVA power distribution system were
evaluated, Corridor A and Corridor B. Corridor A
[[Page 44946]]
is 10.3 miles long. About 5.4 miles of Corridor A would parallel an
existing transmission line; the remainder would be on new right-of-way.
Corridor B is 10.9 miles long and all on new right-of-way. The cleared
right-of-way for each corridor would vary from 100 to 175 ft wide. The
transmission line would be a double-circuit, 161-kV line using steel
double pole structures with horizontal cross arms. TVA would also
expand the switchyard facilities at its Sturgis substation to
accommodate the new line.
Choctaw County and the state of Mississippi plan to develop the Red
Hills EcoPlex industrial park near the generation facility. Targeted
industries would use steam and other generation facility byproducts.
Initial EcoPlex development would occupy about 500 acres and, when
fully occupied, about 1,000 acres would be developed. The Final EIS
describes cumulative impacts of EcoPlex development and operation,
which are not TVA actions.
Decision
TVA has decided to purchase the electricity generated by the RHPP,
and to construct the associated transmission line within Corridor A.
Purchasing power from the RHPP will help TVA meet the demand for
electricity in its service area and maintain reliable service to its
customers. TVA's actions were identified as both the Action Alternative
and the Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS.
Environmentally Preferable Alternative
Because the No Action Alternative would make the construction and
operation of the generation facility, lignite mine, and transmission
line less likely, it could be characterized as the environmentally
preferable alternative. It would not, however, accomplish TVA's goal of
securing additional electrical generation capacity, and would not
provide the significant local socioeconomic benefits forecast under the
Action Alternative. TVA would have to choose another source of
electrical generation capacity. Other potential sources, described in
``Energy Vision 2020,'' would result in their own impacts which would
likely be equal to or less than those resulting from the Action
Alternative. However, none of these other generation alternatives would
produce the local socioeconomic benefits that would result from the
RHPP.
Environmental Consequences and Commitments
TVA, Choctaw Generation Limited Partnership, and Mississippi
Lignite Mining Company have adopted many mitigation measures to avoid
or minimize environmental harm. TVA has adopted the following
mitigation measures pertaining to its construction and operation of the
transmission line:
All construction and maintenance activities will utilize
applicable Best Management Practices. Construction activities will also
adhere to the Right-of-Way Clearing Specifications and Environmental
Quality Protection Specifications for Transmission Line Construction
listed in Appendix B-2 of the Final EIS. These list requirements for
protecting sensitive areas, water and air quality, reducing noise, and
disposing of wastes.
Wetlands will be avoided to the extent practicable.
Identified wetlands, streams, and drainage ways will not be modified so
as to alter their natural hydrological patterns during transmission
line clearing, construction, and maintenance. Hydric soils will not be
disturbed or modified in any way that would alter their hydrological
properties.
Initial right-of-way clearing within forested wetlands
will be accomplished using accepted silvicultural practices for timber/
vegetation harvesting within wetlands.
Within streams, riparian zones, and wetlands, trees will
be above ground level and stumps will not be uprooted or removed.
Transmission line maintenance using mechanical means in
areas surrounding or adjacent to identified wetlands will only be
conducted during seasonal dry periods, usually late summer or early
fall, and will be accomplished without the use of heavy equipment.
Potential impacts to the two historic properties will be
minimized by maintaining existing trees between the churches and the
transmission line, and by placing transmission line poles in locations
where they will not be visible from the properties.
Any herbicide applications would be by licensed personnel
and use EPA-registered herbicides.
Many mitigation measures are required as conditions of permits
issued by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These include the following:
Air emissions will comply with limits set in the PSD
permit to be issued by MDEQ.
During all construction activities and mine operations,
open burning will only be conducted in accordance with applicable
regulations and Mississippi Forestry Commission guidelines. Fugitive
dust will also be controlled as necessary.
Best Management Practices for silt control will be
utilized during all construction activities and during mine operations.
These practices include use of filter fabric fences, hay bale dikes,
sedimentation ponds and revegetation.
Discharges to surface waters will comply with limits set
in NPDES permits to be issued by MDEQ. Stormwater will be managed in
accordance with Storm Water Pollution Prevention plans and accidental
spills will be managed in accordance with Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasure plans.
Well operations will comply with MDEQ water supply permit
limitations. Alternative water supplies will be provided to residents
whose supplies are disrupted by project operations.
Streams impacted by mining will be restored to their
premining locations and approximate drainage patterns. Streambanks will
be revegetated and approximate premining drainage patterns will be
restored.
Special handling techniques will be used for unoxidized
mine overburden containing acid-or toxic-forming materials. Anoxic
limestone drains or other techniques will be used to neutralize acidic
seeps if they appear following mine reclamation.
Liquid fuels, oils, and other chemicals will be stored in
curbed or diked areas. Pollution Prevention Plans will be implemented.
The generation facility and mine will register with EPA as
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators or Small Quantity
Generators. Hazardous wastes will be managed in accordance with
applicable RCRA regulations.
The ash management facility will be built and operated in
accordance with conditions of the MDEQ Special/Industrial Solid Waste
Permit.
Wetlands eliminated by mining activities will be mitigated
to a minimum mitigation ratio of 2:1 in compliance with U.S. Corps of
Engineers permit requirements. Wetland mitigation for the generation
facility will consist of creation of 8.8 acres of wetlands and purchase
and preservation of 19 acres of forested wetlands, which also meets
Corps requirements. All wetland mitigation for mining activities will
occur on the mine site or elsewhere in affected watersheds. Only native
plant species will be used in creating or restoring wetlands. All
wetland mitigation projects will include multi-year monitoring plans
and success determination criteria.
[[Page 44947]]
Backfilling and grading of mined areas will be
contemporaneous with mining.
Mined areas will be reclaimed to have a soil productivity
at least as high as existed before mining.
Native plant species, in combination with approved
introduced species, will be used in establishing permanent vegetative
cover during mine reclamation. The survival of permanent plantings will
be monitored for at least five years and additional plantings made as
necessary to meet reclamation requirements.
Hardwood trees will be planted in buffer strips at least
50 feet wide on each side of reclaimed streams. Mast and fruit-bearing
trees and shrubs will be planted in clumps throughout the reclaimed
mine area.
Except for the populations of swamp hickory and pin oak,
the populations of state-listed plants within the mine area will be
either avoided or transplanted to protected areas.
The cactus community and spring-head seepage area located
near the northwest corner of the mine will either be avoided or
mitigated by transplantation or other means.
Mining impacts to historic and archaeological resources
will be mitigated in accordance with the June, 1998 Memorandum of
Understanding among the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company, MDEQ,
Mississippi State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation. No mining will occur within 100 feet
of the Tullos Cemetery.
Road closure and relocation plans will be approved by the
Choctaw County Board of Supervisors. All public roads will be rebuilt
to meet or exceed existing standards in their original locations or
more suitable, approved locations. Access by surface landowners to
lands not being mined will be maintained throughout mine operations.
Following are additional mitigation measures which Choctaw
Generation Limited Partnership and Mississippi Lignite Mining Company
have committed to carrying out, as described in an agreement with TVA:
No mining construction activities, such as construction of
sedimentation ponds, will occur within 500 feet of National Park
Service lands, and no lignite removal will occur within 2,000 feet of
the Natchez Trace Parkway centerline or within 1,000 feet of the
property line around the Little Mountain Overlook.
Tree buffers will be maintained or planted around the edge
of the generation facility site.
Lighting techniques designed to reduce impacts to the
darkness of the night sky will be used by the generation facility and
mine. Replacement ``dark sky'' lighting equipment will be provided by
the generation facility for existing commercial facilities at the
entrance to the Jeff Busby developed area.
Choctaw Generation Limited Partnership and Mississippi
Lignite Mining Company will instruct their vendors that the vendors'
trucks are not to use the Natchez Trace Parkway when delivering
materials and supplies to the RHPP. Employees will be discouraged from
commuting on the Parkway.
Project facilities and operations will be designed to
minimize noise levels. Mississippi Lignite Mining Company and the
National Park Service will cooperatively monitor noise at Little
Mountain Overlook using the L90 noise metric.
Generation facility and mine employees will receive fire
and safety training. Mine employees will receive emergency medical
training. Emergency services will be coordinated with local providers.
Dated: August 10, 1998.
William J. Museler,
Executive Vice President, Transmission/Power Supply Group.
[FR Doc. 98-22471 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P
