[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65369-65370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28005]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Environmental Impact Statement--Montana Land Company Land 
Exchange--Hardin County, Tennessee

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on 
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 to 1508) and 
TVA's procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. 
TVA will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on 
alternatives for a requested land exchange by Montana Land Company, L. 
L. C. (MLC) involving 22 acres of TVA land on Pickwick Reservoir, which 
is proposed to be exchanged for 164 acres of property, also on Pickwick 
Reservoir, in Hardin County, Tennessee.

DATES: Comments on the scope of the EIS must be received on or before 
November 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Jon M. Loney, Manager, 
NEPA Administration, Environmental Policy and Planning, Tennessee 
Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 
37902-1499.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold M. Draper, NEPA Specialist, 
Environmental Policy and Planning, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West 
Summit Hill Drive, WT 8C, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499; telephone 
(865) 632-6889 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pickwick Reservoir is an impoundment of the 
Tennessee River formed by Pickwick Landing Dam, which is located at 
Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 206.7 in Hardin County, Tennessee. Pickwick 
Reservoir is located in parts of three States--Alabama, Mississippi, 
and Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) originally acquired 
63,625 acres of land for construction of the reservoir, which was begun 
in December 1934 and completed in February 1938. TVA has retained 
17,358 acres of land lying above full pool elevation. At full pool, the 
reservoir is 52.7 miles long, shoreline length is 490.6 miles, and 
surface area is 43,100 acres.
    In the late 1980s, private developers began construction on a 
residential and resort subdivision consisting of 3,000 acres and 
extending for 11.5 miles along the shoreline of lower Pickwick 
Reservoir. This development was named Points of Pickwick. The project 
features waterfront lots, waterview lots, interior single family lots, 
zero lot line developments, condominium residences, an 18-hole 
championship golf course, underground utilities, a community marina, 
and nature trails. In 1995, MLC acquired the property and has continued 
subdivision development. TVA owns land along two embayments, Lower 
Anderson Branch and Haw Branch, which extend into this development. No 
private shoreline access rights exist across the TVA parcels. Shoreline 
access rights exist across a narrow TVA-owned shoreline band adjoining 
MLC properties, including the parcel proposed to be exchanged with TVA.
    In 1999, TVA completed an EIS on residential shoreline development 
impacts throughout the Tennessee Valley. The Record of Decision (ROD) 
was published at 64 FR 30092-30094. In order to limit the eventual 
development of shoreline and accompanying impacts to aquatic ecology, 
water quality, scenic beauty, and other valuable resources, the ROD 
indicated that TVA would adopt a strategy of ``maintaining and 
gaining'' public shoreline. Under this strategy, TVA agreed to consider

[[Page 65370]]

proposals for additional water use access and residential development 
if it could be shown that the loss of public shoreline was offset by a 
gain in shoreline resource amenities and public value. TVA's overall 
goal in implementing this strategy would be to maintain and improve 
environmental integrity, maintain and enhance public benefits from 
reservoir lands, and keep the projected maximum residential buildout 
level at 38 percent of the shoreline length for the Tennessee Valley 
region.
    In 1981, TVA published a land allocation plan for Pickwick 
Reservoir. The Pickwick Reservoir Plan allocated the tract on Lower 
Anderson Branch (Planned Tract 1, 12 acres) as open space and the tract 
on Haw Branch (Planned Tract 2, 36 acres) as open space and a safety 
harbor. These tracts are located in Hardin County, Tennessee on the 
right bank near Tennessee River Mile (TRM) 210.0.
    After reviewing TVA's Shoreline Management decision, MLC made a 
request for fee transfer of Planned Tract 1 (Lower Anderson Branch) and 
Planned Tract 2 (Haw Branch) in exchange for approximately 160 acres of 
MLC-owned land. TVA solicited comments on this proposal through a 
public notice in July 2000. The response to this notice indicated that 
there were concerns over whether the project was an equitable trade and 
whether the exchange would be environmentally beneficial. In addition, 
the initial environmental evaluation has revealed concerns over the 
impacts of exchanging highly visible public land on the main reservoir 
for lands at the back of a cove. Because of the potential environmental 
benefits of a gain in public land on lower Pickwick Reservoir, TVA has 
decided to continue consideration of this request. However, because of 
concerns about the significance of the impacts should residential 
development occur on the two tracts proposed for exchange, TVA has 
elected to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to better 
understand the impacts of the proposal.
    At this time, TVA anticipates that three alternatives would be 
analyzed in the EIS. Under No Action, TVA would not amend the Pickwick 
Reservoir Plan and would not exchange the two tracts of TVA land. A 
second alternative would consider the original request by the developer 
for 48 acres of TVA land in exchange for approximately 122 acres of 
privately-owned property in Haw Branch. A third alternative would 
consider the developer's request and mitigation measures to reduce 
environmental impacts. This would include 22 acres of TVA in exchange 
for 164 acres of privately-owned property, along with 50-foot shoreline 
buffer management zones and community water-use facilities.
    Based on the results of the previous public meeting and subsequent 
public comments, TVA anticipates that the EIS will include discussion 
of the potential effects of alternatives on the following resources and 
issue areas: visual resources, cultural resources, threatened and 
endangered species, terrestrial ecology, wetlands, recreation, water 
quality, aquatic ecology, and socioeconomics. Other issues which may be 
discussed, depending on the potential impacts of the alternatives, 
include floodplains and air quality.
    TVA is interested in receiving additional comments on the scope of 
issues to be addressed in the EIS. Written comments on the scope of the 
EIS should be received on or before November 30, 2000. Following 
completion of the Draft EIS, an additional opportunity to review and 
comment on the proposal will be provided at that time.

    Dated: October 24, 2000.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Executive Vice President River System Operations & Environment.
[FR Doc. 00-28005 Filed 10-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-U