[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 102 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28856-28857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13534]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Stabilization of Unfinished Dam Structure of The Columbia Dam and 
Reservoir Project

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

ACTION: Issuance of record of decision.

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SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on 
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR 1500 to 1508) and TVA's 
implementing procedures. TVA has decided to implement the dam site 
stabilization Option 2 identified in its Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS), Use Of Lands Acquired For The Columbia Dam Component 
Of The Duck River Project. The Final EIS was made available to the 
public in April 1999. A Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on April 16, 1999.
    The Final EIS also analyzed various uses of the property acquired 
for the Columbia Project. TVA has not yet made a final decision on the 
use of these properties, but expects to decide this soon. When the land 
use decision is made, another Record of Decision will be issued. 
Although the dam structure is located on project property, stabilizing 
the existing dam structure will have no effect on the land use 
decision. TVA has determined that the two actions are independent of 
each other.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda B. Oxendine, Senior NEPA 
Specialist, Environmental Management, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 
West Summit Hill Drive, WT 8C, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499; 
telephone (423) 632-3440 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1968, TVA proposed the Duck River Project 
that involved the construction of two dams and reservoirs on the Duck 
River in middle Tennessee, south of Nashville. As proposed, one dam was 
to be built at River Mile 248 near Normandy and the other at River Mile 
136 near Columbia. Congress began appropriating money for the Duck 
River Project in December 1969. Construction of Normandy Dam and 
Reservoir began in June 1972 and was completed in 1976. Construction of 
the Columbia Dam and Reservoir was begun in August 1973 but was halted 
in 1983 because of the potential to jeopardize the continued existence 
of several endangered mussel species within the Duck River.
    In 1995, after efforts to transplant endangered mussels to other 
stream reaches failed, TVA decided the Columbia Dam Project could not 
be completed. Accordingly, TVA proposed to address future use of the 
lands acquired for the project and what should be done about the 
unfinished dam structure.
    The Columbia Project lands are located in the Duck River watershed 
between the city of Columbia (on the west) and U.S. Route 431, 
Lewisburg-Franklin Pike (on the east), in Maury County, Tennessee. The 
reach of the Duck River included in this study extends from 
approximately River Mile 130, in Columbia, upstream to River Mile 165, 
at Carpenters Bridge, 3 kilometers (2 air miles) west of U.S. Route 
431.
    When construction of Columbia Dam was halted in 1983, the Columbia 
Project was about 45 percent complete. The concrete portion of the dam 
was about 90 percent complete and the earth-filled section was about 60 
percent complete. The river had been diverted through a 600-meter 
(2000-foot) long constructed channel located along the east side of the 
work site (the diversion channel) and a dike had been built to keep 
normal stream flow out of the construction site. Approximately 46 
percent of the land required for the reservoir (5200 of 11,140 hectares 
[12,800 of 27,500 acres]) had been acquired, and approximately half of 
the 72 kilometers (45 miles) of roads affected by the reservoir had 
been relocated.
    On February 25, 1995, TVA issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an 
EIS on alternatives for use of lands acquired for the Columbia Project. 
The Tennessee Duck River Development Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to cooperate 
in the preparation of this EIS. A public scoping meeting was held at 
Culleoka School near the Project site on April 18, 1995. The Notice of 
Availability of the Draft EIS was published on January 6, 1997. The 
public and interested agencies were invited to submit written comments 
on the draft or to attend a public meeting on January 27, 1997 at 
Columbia Senior High School.
    TVA received a total of 2,890 separate sets of comments which 
included input from over 4,600 individuals, three federal agencies, 
four state agencies, six identified county and local governmental 
agencies, and over 20 other organizations. The comments indicated that 
most people and agencies want the Columbia Project lands to be 
available for a variety of public uses and little or none of this land 
used for industrial, commercial, or residential development. Only 43 
comments were received about the existing dam structure and what should 
be done about it. Comments were mixed, but most supported 
implementation of Option 2, stabilization of the dam with a lower 
profile. The Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was published on 
April 16, 1999.

[[Page 28857]]

Alternatives Considered

    To address the effects of the existing dam structure, construction 
dike, and diversion channel on the river and its flow, three dam site 
stabilization options were evaluated. Under Option 1--Maintain Current 
Status of the Dam Structures, TVA would remove or minimize possible 
safety and environmental hazards on and around the dam and diversion 
channel site. Under Option 2--Stabilize Existing Flood Profile, TVA 
would modify the existing concrete and earthen components of the dam to 
stabilize the present control on flood flows. The concrete and earthen 
portions of the dam would be demolished and reshaped at a lower 
elevation to maintain existing upstream flood elevations and preserve 
downstream flood benefits. Under Option 3--Restore Original Hydraulic 
Conditions, TVA would remove enough of the concrete and earthen 
structures at the dam site to reestablish pre-construction hydraulic 
conditions along this part of the river. Option 2 was identified as 
TVA's preferred alternative.

Decision

    TVA has decided to implement Option 2 because this would stabilize 
flood elevations at their current levels, address public safety 
concerns, and avoid substantial additional construction in the river. 
Option 1 would not address public safety concerns as effectively as 
Option 2. Under Option 1, the existing dam structure would be left 
largely intact and in place and have a continuing effect on the visual 
setting of the area. Option 3 would fully address public safety 
concerns and return the river to its pre-construction hydraulic level, 
but completely removing the dam structure would increase downstream 
flood elevations and have required considerable more work in the river 
with associated environmental impacts.

Environmentally Preferable Alternative

    Except for aesthetic impacts, TVA has concluded that Option 1 is 
the environmentally preferred alternative because it would minimize 
potential adverse impacts to the pond and fringe wetlands which exist 
adjacent to the concrete part of the dam. However, Option 2 would more 
effectively address public safety concerns at the dam site. Under 
Option 2, the shape and height of the modified dam would also have less 
of a visual impact on the landscape. Although Option 2 could involve 
some work in the river, TVA has determined that the potential 
environmental impacts of Option 2 will be insignificant.

Environmental Mitigation

    Standard construction, demolition, and best management practices 
would be followed in all aspects of the dam stabilization project to 
minimize noise, erosion, dust, and other potential impacts. Disturbed 
areas will be seeded and planted with native vegetation to help 
stabilize the site and to promote the re-establishment of the natural 
ecosystem.

    Dated: May 17, 1999.
Ruben O. Hernandez,
Acting Executive Vice President, River System Operations and 
Environment.
[FR Doc. 99-13534 Filed 5-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-U