[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 188 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24096]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 29, 1994]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

 

Patton Island Bridge and Approaches Crossing the Tennessee River 
and Connecting the Cities of Florence and Muscle Shoals, Colbert and 
Lauderdale Counties, AL

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Issuance of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act and Section 5.4.9 of TVA's implementing 
procedures, 45 FR 54, 111-115 (1980), that TVA has decided to adopt the 
``build'' alternative identified in the ``Final Environmental Impact 
Statement and Section 4(f) Determination'' prepared by the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and 
Alabama Highway Department in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and TVA, dated August 6, 1991. TVA has 
decided to: (1) Provide a permanent easement over 63.7 acres of TVA 
land for construction, operation, and maintenance of a new highway and 
bridge approaches on the Muscle Shoals Reservation, Patton Island 
(Tract XPR-82PT), and Pickwick Reservoir (Tract XPR-81PT), and (2) 
provide Section 26a approval of the bridge over the Tennessee River at 
Tennessee River Mile 258.0.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: From 1987 to 1991, TVA cooperated with the 
Alabama Highway Department in evaluating bridge routings, navigational 
impacts, impacts on TVA's Rockpile National Recreation Trail, and other 
environmental impact analyses necessary to support the EIS. TVA has now 
received a request for a permanent easement which would allow the 
Department to build the project. The proposed bridge and multi-lane 
highway project would connect Muscle Shoals with Florence and 
eventually with the proposed Memphis to Atlanta Interstate Highway. 
Upon receipt of the permanent easement and 26a permit, construction 
work would likely begin on the project.

Alternatives Considered

    The following alternative corridors were considered by the Alabama 
Highway Department and cooperating agencies and were evaluated in the 
final EIS.

1. Corridor East of Wilson Dam
2. Corridor from Wilson Dam Road Near TVA to Wilson Dam Road near the 
Corps of Engineers Lock System
3. Seven Mile Island Corridor
4. O'Neal Corridor
5. Patton Island Corridor

    Based upon comparison of the corridors, the Patton Island and 
O'Neal Corridors were chosen for detailed review, and the Patton Island 
Corridor was chosen as the preferred routing.
    The following Alternatives for the Patton Island Corridor were 
evaluated in the EIS:
    1A. Build along a corridor designated ``Alternative A.'' South of 
the Tennessee River on the Muscle Shoals Reservation, this route is to 
the east of Pond Creek.
    1B. Build along a corridor designated ``Alternative B.'' South of 
the Tennessee River on the Muscle Shoals Reservation, this route is 
along Pond Creek.
    2. The No Action Alternative, in which the bridge, approaches, and 
highway project would not be built.
    The EIS discussed but did not consider in detail two other 
alternatives for the Patton Island Corridor: alternate modes of 
transportation and postponing the action. Alternate transportation 
systems such as mass transit do not currently exist in the area, and 
postponing the action would increase the impacts associated with 
building the project when action is taken.
    TVA concurs with the determination that the Patton Island corridor 
offers the most benefits, and that the Alternative A route is the 
appropriate build alternative across TVA lands south of the Tennessee 
River. The Alternative B route north of the river in the city of 
Florence is the appropriate build alternative.

BASIS FOR DECISION: Alternative A across TVA lands is chosen because it 
would minimize the need to relocate several miles of Pond Creek, allow 
improved transportation and economic growth, and enhance safety. The 
major recreational impact would be the relocation of 800 feet of the 
Rockpile National Recreation Trail. Alternative A would require 29 
acres of upland habitat out of the 1,200 acres on Muscle Shoals 
Reservation.
    The O'Neal corridor across TVA land would result in greater upland 
habitat loss, more impacts on potential archaeological sites, greater 
impacts on TVA recreational facilities, and would require 75 acres of 
upland habitat.
    Alternative B would require the relocation of several miles of Pond 
Creek on the Muscle Shoals Reservation and has not been chosen as the 
preferred alternative across TVA land. However, north of TVA land in 
Florence, Alternative B was found to be more practical given the 
topography of the Florence area, and the fact that it would create less 
traffic congestion on Florence Boulevard. Also, Alternative A north of 
the river would require a retaining wall at the Cherry Hills Housing 
Project playground, which representatives of the project have said is 
not desirable. The No Action alternative is not desirable because it 
would result in increasing traffic congestion as the area grows.

Environmental Consequences and Commitments

    Implementation of the proposed project is not expected to have 
substantial land use impacts and would not result in substantial loss 
of prime farmland. It would not disrupt neighborhoods or communities, 
but would change travel patterns in the area and relocate part of a low 
income housing project. Many of the displaced residences are low 
income; however, there would be financial assistance available to those 
who would be required to relocate.
    The proposed project would generate 350-375 full-time construction 
jobs, resulting in some need for temporary housing for workers brought 
in from outside the area, and increased job opportunities for area 
residents. By improving the transportation network in the area, local 
businesses would be able to serve regional markets rather than just 
local ones.
    Environmental analysis on the proposed project suggests that there 
would not be substantial air emissions, noise, or water quality impacts 
on the proposed project. Two endangered mussels inhabiting the 
Tennessee River in the vicinity of the bridge would be relocated to a 
suitable area prior to placement of bridge piers. As part of its 
approval, TVA would require best management practices to control 
erosion and sedimentation to prevent adverse aquatic impacts. These 
conditions include:
    1. Removal of vegetation will be minimized.
    2. All disturbed areas will be stabilized as soon as possible. In 
slow germination conditions and on steep slopes, erosion control 
netting will be utilized to facilitate revegetation.
    3. Both temporary (fast germinating) and permanent ground cover 
will be established.
    4. Native woody vegetation, to include trees, will be used (versus 
riprap) wherever practicable as permanent stabilization.
    5. Silt fences will be used around material stockpile areas.
    6. Any riprap needed (e.g., at immediate streambank/water 
interface) will be applied in such a manner as to avoid stream 
sedimentation or disturbance.
    7. Cement and other pollutants will not be spilled into streams.
    8. Equipment will be kept off of streambanks to the degree 
practicable.
    Soils within the corridor could contain some toxic materials; 
however, no environmental impacts are expected to result from the 
minute amounts of existing toxics.
    Although construction of the bridge would occur within the 
floodplain of the Tennessee River, it would not constrict or impede the 
flow of the Tennessee River and no unacceptable increases in flood 
elevations are expected. One archaeological site could possibly be 
impacted by bridge piers. Data recovery will take place at this site if 
it is necessary to disturb it.

    Dated: September 20, 1994.
Ralph H. Brooks,
Acting Senior Vice President, Resource Group, Tennessee Valley 
Authority.
[FR Doc. 94-24096 Filed 9-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-01-M