[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12023]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 18, 1994]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

 

1996 Olympic Whitewater Slalom Venue Ocoee River, Polk County, 
Tennessee, Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee National Forest

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Issuance of the record of decision.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 5.4.9 of TVA's implementing 
procedures, 45 FR 54,111-15 (1980), that as a cooperating agency, TVA 
has decided to adopt the environmentally preferred alternative 
identified in the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Cherokee National Forest's final environmental impact 
statement (EIS), ``1996 Olympic Whitewater Slalom Venue, Ocoee River, 
Polk County, Tennessee, Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee National 
Forest.'' The final EIS was made available to the public on April 1, 
1994. TVA has decided to: (1) Release water from Ocoee No. 3 Dam into 
the main Ocoee River channel for required pre-Olympic training and pre-
Olympic competitive events during the summer of 1995 and for pre-
Olympic and Olympic competition in the summer of 1996, and (2) provide 
Section 26a approval of proposed facilities. Water releases will be 
limited to testing the design of the competitive channel and for 
training and competitive events associated with the Olympics.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale V. Wilhelm, Manager, National 
Environmental Policy Act Department, Environmental Management, 
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 8C, 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499, telephone (615) 632-6693. Copies of 
the final EIS may be obtained by writing to Keith Sandifer, Cherokee 
National Forest, Planning Staff Officer, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 
2010, Cleveland, Tennessee 37320-2010, or by calling (615) 476-9700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 1992, TVA and the state of 
Tennessee were invited by the Forest Service to participate as 
cooperating agencies in an EIS on the development of the Upper Ocoee 
River as the site for the 1996 Summer Olympic Whitewater Slalom Venue. 
The proposal included hosting both pre-Olympic and Olympic canoe and 
kayak events in the summers of 1995 and 1996. The proposed site is 
located within the Cherokee National Forest, Ocoee Ranger District, 
Polk County, Tennessee, about 28 miles east of Cleveland, Tennessee, 
along U.S. Highway 64. Development of the site will include 
construction of a permanent 400- to 600-meter-long slalom course and 
both permanent and temporary facilities needed to support the event. 
The course will be located in the Ocoee River between TVA's Ocoee No. 2 
and No. 3 Dams near river mile 26.3, about 1.1 river miles upstream 
from TVA's Ocoee No. 3 Powerhouse.
    Construction of the course and associated facilities will begin in 
1994 and conclude with post-Olympic removal of temporary facilities. 
Most permanent facilities will be in place for pre-Olympic competitive 
events in the summer of 1995. The Olympic competition is scheduled to 
occur over a three-day period from July 26 through July 28, 1996.
    TVA agreed to participate in the EIS because it controls water 
flows within the Ocoee River and its approval is needed under Section 
26a of the TVA Act for construction of water-use facilities included in 
the proposal. TVA Section 26a approval includes rockfill to create the 
competitive channel, abutments for a temporary bridge at the lower end 
and a permanent bridge at the upper end of the venue, and other 
facilities and structures to be located in the 100-year floodplain.
    TVA's actions are limited to those described above. Any post-
Olympic applications for commercial uses of the site requiring water 
releases will have to be further evaluated by TVA.
    Based on the comments received during the scoping process, four 
alternatives were developed and evaluated in the draft EIS. A Notice of 
Availability was published in the Federal Register on December 10, 1993 
(59 FR 64946), and copies of the draft EIS were sent to over 300 
individuals, organizations, and agencies.
    The public was invited to submit written comments on the draft EIS 
or attend one of two meetings which were held in Ducktown and 
Cleveland, Tennessee. Thirty individuals, groups, and organizations 
responded. No new information or issues were raised in the process.

Alternatives Considered

    The following four alternatives were considered by the Forest 
Service and cooperating agencies and were evaluated in the final EIS. 
These alternatives with the exception of the No Action alternative meet 
the requirements set by the International Olympics Committee and the 
Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. What would vary under 
alternates 1, 2, and 3 is the extent to which the proposed facilities 
are temporary or permanent in nature. All permanent facilities will be 
owned and maintained by the Forest Service.
    Alternative 1: All facilities and structures would be removed after 
the Olympics. The site will be restored to pre-existing conditions.
    Alternative 2: A mix of temporary and permanent facilities and 
structures would be constructed. Temporary structures consist of fabric 
or tent-like structures to protect, contain, and screen certain 
functions required only for the Olympic events and bleachers to provide 
for spectator seating. Permanent facilities include the competitive 
channel, an upper pedestrian/light vehicle bridge to the left bank, 
utilities, a small parking area adjacent to Highway 64, and a day-use 
building.
    Alternative 3: A mix of temporary and permanent facilities would be 
constructed, similar to Alternative 2, but with additional permanent 
facilities to provide for increased post-Olympic recreational 
opportunity in the upper Ocoee area. Permanent structures and 
facilities include upper and lower bridges to the left bank, utilities 
for future whitewater activities, a small parking area adjacent to U.S. 
Highway 64 where an existing pull off occurs, and an expanded day-use 
building with a septic and water supply system. Permanent terraces 
would be constructed adjacent to the competitive channel.
    Alternative 4: No action. The Olympic event would not be held on 
the Ocoee River. No development would occur and conditions would not be 
changed.
    TVA concurs with the determination of the Forest Service and the 
state of Tennessee that alternative 3 is the environmentally preferred 
alternative. This determination is based in part on the deteriorating 
nature of the site due to increasing recreational use. The proposed 
improvements will remedy many of the existing problems (e.g., trash and 
unsanitary conditions) and better enable the area to handle the 
recreational demands being placed upon it. TVA is issuing this separate 
Record of Decision to document its decision relative to water release 
for Olympic events and construction of proposed facilities requiring 
26a approval. This decision is made regarding the Olympic events and 
associated activities only and in no way infers a commitment of future 
releases.
    A tentative water release schedule for Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 of 
up to 147 eight-hour days has been set for required pre-Olympic 
training and competitive events during the summer of 1995 and for pre-
Olympic and Olympic competition in the summer of 1996. The schedule is 
based on operations of the whitewater canoe and kayak pre-events and 
competitive events at the Barcelona, Spain, Olympics in 1992. In 
meeting the proposed water release schedule, TVA operations at Blue 
Ridge Lake and Ocoee No. 2 and Ocoee No. 3 powerhouses will be 
carefully coordinated to ensure that sufficient water is available at 
the scheduled times, and to avoid flow conditions adverse to 
recreational whitewater activities associated with Ocoee No. 2; 
however, because of the limited storage capability of the Ocoee No. 
Lake, TVA cannot control high flows from the local drainage area 
between Blue Ridge Dam and Ocoee No. 3 Dam during heavy rainfall 
events. If drought conditions occur during this period, TVA will use 
water from Blue Ridge to supply the competitive channel. Use of water 
stored in Blue Ridge lake could potentially lower the lake level; 
however, this effect would be negligible, unless drought conditions are 
experienced in 1995-1996.

Basis for Decision

    Alternative 3 is chosen because it would produce the most 
recreation and economic development benefits without significantly 
reducing water quality. Economic development benefits include an 
estimated additional $70 million added to the regional economy with a 
$4 million increase in local sales and over 200 additional jobs. 
Implementation of alternative 3 is also expected to increase recreation 
opportunities and the quality of the recreation experience, increase 
national recognition of the recreational resources of the southeast 
provide river terraces and other physical improvements to the site, 
prevent water quality degradation, and increase efforts to protect the 
area.

Environmental Consequences and Commitments

    The principal effect of water release decision is to provide 
increased flows from Ocoee No. 3 Dam for pre-Olympic and Olympic 
events. Operational studies by TVA showed that for maximum 147 eight-
hour day release schedule about 48 million kWh of hydroelectric energy 
would be lost. In addition, some energy would be shifted from peak 
periods to off-peak periods at Blue Ridge, Ocoee No. 2 and No. 3 
powerhouses. The amount would depend on the hours during the day 
releases are actually scheduled. These changes in the operation of 
these hydroelectric plants would potentially increase TVA's power costs 
by about $1.5 million.
    Because of the nature of the proposal, there is no practicable 
alternative to siting in the 100-year floodplain. TVA will condition 
its 26a approval on the right to review and approve final design of 
instream structures associated with the Olympics. As part of the 26a 
approval, TVA will require best management practices to control erosion 
and sedimentation, as necessary, to prevent adverse aquatic impacts.


    Dated: May 11, 1994.
Ralph H. Brooks,
Acting Senior Vice President, Resource Group, Tennessee Valley 
Authority.
[FR Doc. 94-12023 Filed 5-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-01-M