[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