[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 46 (Thursday, March 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13002-13003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5770]



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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Environmental Impact Statement: Water Supply Development for the 
Duck River Region, South Central Tennessee

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will cooperate with the 
Tennessee Duck River Development Agency (TDRDA) to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on water supply development and 
alternatives for the Columbia Dam component of the Duck River project. 
Located on the Duck River in south central Tennessee, the Columbia Dam 
cannot be completed as originally planned due to the presence of 
endangered species. This EIS will consider a range of alternatives to 
provide an adequate and reliable water supply for the Columbia area, 
including Bedford, Marshall, Maury, and southern Williamson counties. 
Alternatives to be considered will include construction of a water 
supply dam and impoundment on Fountain Creek; installation of one or 
more water pipelines from existing reservoirs or streams; use of 
groundwater wells; and other alternatives identified during the scoping 
process. With this notice, TVA and TDRDA invite comments on the scope 
of this EIS. This notice is provided in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and TVA's implementing procedures.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS must be received at the 
address below on or before June 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dale V. Wilhelm, NEPA Liaison, 
Tennessee Valley Authority, WT 8C, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jack L. Davis, Manager, Water Resource Projects, Tennessee Valley 
Authority, WT 10C, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 
37902-1499, phone (615) 632-7183.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TVA and local officials in the upper Duck 
River watershed area, south central Tennessee, began a cooperative 
effort in 1964 to advance economic growth and provide an adequate and 
dependable water supply for the region. As the TDRDA, a State agency, 
worked to develop a water supply system to connect the five largest 
cities in the watershed, TVA was requested to investigate water 
resource development. In 1965, TVA concluded that multipurpose 
reservoir development on the mainstem of the Duck River offered the 
best potential for meeting the area's water supply needs. The 
construction of dams on the river would control flooding, create water 
supply sources, and provide opportunities for water-based recreation. 
After further study, TVA proposed construction of two dams: one at Duck 
River Mile (DRM) 136.7, near Columbia, and an upstream dam at DRM 248.6 
near Normandy. The proposed dams and reservoirs were presented in a 
1968 planning report as components of the Duck River Project.
    Following the enactment of NEPA, TVA issued a draft EIS on the Duck 
River Project in June 1971. A public hearing was held in August 1971 
and a final EIS (TVA-OHES-EIS-72-5) was issued in April 1972. The final 
EIS was [[Page 13003]] supplemented in June 1974 to correct identified 
deficiencies.
    Construction of the 3,230-acre Normandy Dam and Reservoir was 
completed in 1976 and is currently in operation. Construction of the 
12,600-acre Columbia Dam and Reservoir began in 1973. Construction was 
slowed in the mid-to-late 70s and eventually halted in 1983 because 
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that the 
reservoir could jeopardize the continued existence of two endangered 
species. These two species, the birdwing pearly mussel and the 
Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel, had been listed as endangered in 
1975 under provisions of the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA). 
Subsequent fieldwork and ESA listings indicated that two additional 
endangered Mussel species (tan riffleshell and pale lilliput pearly 
mussel) and an endangered plant (leafy prairie clover) also occurred in 
the Columbia Dam area. Other species known to occur in the area were 
proposed for endangered status or were identified as candidates for 
possible ESA listing. The presence of those endangered species in the 
project area is the basis for TVA not being able to complete Columbia 
Project as originally planned.
    During the dry times of the year, water supplies and water quality 
are stressed in the Duck River watershed area of middle Tennessee. 
During periods of drought, instream water quality is primarily 
sustained by minimum flows from Normandy Dam. Projected growth for the 
region indicates a worsening of the situation. TVA and TDRDA will 
evaluate alternatives to meet the water supply needs of the area. 
Analysis of water supply needs will include domestic, industrial, and 
agricultural uses; water quality; flood protection; and recreation 
uses. For planning purposes, projected benefits and costs will be 
evaluated for a 30 to 50 year period, depending on the alternative 
under consideration. Conservation effects on water use will also be 
considered.
    In addition to assisting TDRDA In the analysis of water supply 
needs and alternative water supplies, TVA may be involved in several 
other ways depending on the outcome of the analysis. This could include 
making available some of the property acquired for the Columbia 
Reservoir for a smaller reservoir, approving any new dam structure 
under Section 26a of the TVA Act, and/or providing design assistance. 
TDRDA would be responsible for financing any water supply project that 
may be pursued as a result of the analysis.
    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 possible construction of a surface impoundment on Fountain 
Creek (TVA already owns most of the land) and other potential water 
supply sources including in-stream flows, pumped storage, and pipeline 
sources. Different design concepts will also be addressed. Potentially 
important 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 
uses; and
    4. Socioeconomic, historic, archaeological, 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.
    TVA and TDRDA invite comments on the above issues. The agencies 
also request comments on environmental issues which should not be 
viewed as important and which should not be discussed in detail in the 
EIS.
    A public meeting will be held on May 2, 1995, at 7 p.m. CDT at 
Culleoka School, Culleoka, Tennessee, in Maury County to receive oral 
comments about the scope of this EIS. Details about this meeting will 
be announced in area newspapers. Comments received at this meeting will 
be accorded the same weight as written comments.
    The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District) will 
participate in this EIS process as a cooperating agency. The U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service may also become a cooperating agency.
    After the scoping process and the initial environmental analysis 
are completed, TVA and TDRDA will prepare a draft EIS. A Notice of 
Availability of the draft EIS, soliciting public comments, will be 
published in the Federal Register and area newspapers. Those persons 
who choose not to comment on the scope of the document at this time but 
wish to receive a copy of the draft for their review and comment should 
send their names and addresses to Dale V. Wilhelm at the address listed 
above. TVA anticipates releasing a final EIS on this project in about 
24 months.

    Dated: March 3, 1995.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Senior Vice President, Resource Group, Tennessee Valley Authority.
[FR Doc 95-5770 Filed 3-8-95; 8:45 am]
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