[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 30266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14004]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Environmental Impact Statement: Water Supply Development for the 
Catoosa Utility District and Upper Cumberland Plateau Region of East 
Tennessee

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent clarification.

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SUMMARY: This notice clarifies the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) 
Notice of Intent (NOI) that was published on February 8, 1995, at 60 FR 
7623-7624. In that notice, TVA announced that it and the Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) would be cooperating in the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), on a water supply development proposal 
for the Catoosa Utility District (CUD) and Upper Cumberland Plateau 
Region of East Tennessee. One clarification is that the NOI issued by 
TVA was published on behalf of RUS, the lead agency. Also in today's 
notice, the agencies clarify their roles in the preparation of the EIS 
and its focus.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dale V. Wilhelm, NEPA Liaison, 
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Drive, WT 8B, Knoxville, 
Tennessee 37902, phone (615) 632-7182.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jack L. Davis, Manager, Water Resource Projects, Tennessee Valley 
Authority, 400 West Summit Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902, phone 
(615) 632-7183 or Tom Mayberry, USDA, Rural Economic and Community 
Development, 3322 West End Ave., Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37203, phone 
(615) 783-1345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS has been asked by the CUD to provide 
financial assistance for a proposed water supply dam and impoundment on 
Clear Creek, a tributary of the Obed River. The CUD is considering the 
construction of a 100-acre water supply impoundment, a 1.5 million 
gallons per day treatment plant, and transmission lines that feed into 
existing water distribution systems. Subsequent to this request, RUS 
decided to prepare an EIS on the proposed action. Pursuant to RUS's 
status as lead agency for this action, RUS requested TVA participate in 
the preparation of the EIS as a cooperating agency. TVA's status as a 
cooperating agency is defined by two factors: TVA's regulatory status 
in reviewing and approving impoundment structures in the Tennessee 
River and its tributaries under Section 26a of the TVA Act; and TVA's 
specialized expertise in evaluating community and regional water supply 
needs, developing appropriate responses to defined needs, and the 
design and construction of dams and impoundments. RUS, as consistent 
with its lead agency status, shall supervise the preparation of the 
EIS.
    The primary focus of the EIS will be to analyze design and 
engineering alternatives for achieving the goal of providing a reliable 
source of water to people utilizing CUD's services. A secondary focus 
of the EIS, as required by NEPA, is to consider and evaluate reasonable 
alternative water supply scenarios which, in this case, includes those 
supply options from a more regional perspective. The necessity to 
evaluate a more regional water supply perspective is prompted by 
numerous communities on the Upper Cumberland Plateau Region of eastern 
Tennessee who have expressed an interest to RUS for consideration of 
future financial assistance in developing reliable water sources for 
their citizens. This EIS will assist RUS in determining the economic 
feasibilities and environmental impacts of a range of water supply 
options. Alternatives that may be considered for both the primary and 
secondary forces of the EIS include: Construction of a water 
impoundment structure on Clear Creek or other water courses; 
installation of a water pipeline from Watts Bar, Center Hill, or Dale 
Hollow Reservoirs; and regional water supply options.
    TVA and RUS, also, issued a notice on March 27, 1995, at 60 FR 
15810, that announced an extension of the public scoping period until 
June 5, 1995. The agencies will continue to accept written comments on 
the scope of the EIS through that date. In addition, the comments 
provided at the April 4, 1995, public scoping meeting will continue to 
be considered.

    Dated: June 1, 1995.
Adam M. Golodner,
Acting Administrator Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14004 Filed 6-7-95; 8:45 am]
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