[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45859-45861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15955]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Completion and Operation of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2, Rhea 
County, TN

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 parts 1500 to 1508) and 
TVA's procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. On 
August 1, 2007, the TVA Board of Directors decided to adopt the 
preferred alternative identified in TVA's Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Completion and Operation of 
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2, Rhea County, Tennessee.
    A Notice of Availability of the FSEIS was published in the Federal 
Register on June 23, 2007. Under the selected alternative, TVA has 
decided to meet the need for additional baseload capacity on the TVA 
system and maximize the use of existing assets by completing and 
operating Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 2. The unit would be 
completed as originally designed incorporating additional modifications 
made to its sister unit, WBN Unit 1, which has been operating since 
1996. No expansion of the existing site footprint would be required to 
complete construction of Unit 2. TVA has prepared the FSEIS to update 
the extensive environmental record pertinent to the proposed action. In 
addition to the FSEIS, TVA conducted a detailed scoping, estimating, 
and planning (DSEP) study. TVA used information from the DSEP and the 
FSEIS to make the decision to complete construction and to operate Unit 
2.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce L. Yeager, NEPA Policy Program 
Manager, Environmental Stewardship and Policy, Tennessee Valley 
Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11B,

[[Page 45860]]

Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499; telephone (865) 632-8051 or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FSEIS for completion and operation of 
WBN Unit 2 supplements the original 1972 TVA EIS titled ``Final 
Environmental Statement, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2'' and 
the ``Final Statement Related to the Operation of Watts Bar Nuclear 
Plant Units 1 and 2, Supplement No. 1,'' (NRC 1995b), which TVA adopted 
on July 10, 1995. Where pertinent, the FSEIS incorporates by reference, 
utilizes, tiers from, and updates information from the substantial 
previous environmental record prepared for actions related to the 
construction and operation of WBN, including updating the need for 
power analysis.

Alternatives Considered

    In the 1972 Final Environmental Statement (FES) for Watts Bar Units 
1 and 2, TVA considered a number of alternatives to constructing and 
operating WBN, including the No Action alternative. TVA is proposing to 
complete WBN Unit 2 as originally designed except for modifications 
consistent with those made to Unit 1. Consistent with applicable 
regulations, the FSEIS also tiers off of Energy Vision 2020--An 
Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRP) and Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (``IRP'' EIS) (TVA 1995); the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Production of Tritium in a Commercial Light 
Water reactor (DOE 1999); and the Reservoir Operations Study Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (TVA 2004), and 
incorporates by reference the balance of the environmental record 
pertinent to WBN. The IRP EIS analyzed a substantial number of energy 
resource alternatives, including energy efficiency improvements and 
demand side management.

Environmental Consequences

    The environmental consequences of constructing and operating WBN 
were addressed comprehensively in the 1972 FES for WBN Units 1 and 2. 
Subsequent environmental reviews by TVA and the NRC have updated that 
analysis. By 1996 when the construction of Unit 1 was complete, most of 
the construction effects had already occurred. Unit 2 would use 
structures that already exist and most of the work required to complete 
Unit 2 would occur inside of those buildings. Disturbances proposed for 
the construction of new support facilities would be within the current 
plant footprint. TVA would use standard construction best management 
practices to control minor construction impacts to air and water from 
dust, sedimentation, and noise. Where needed, the FSEIS further updated 
information and analyses in the following areas: Surface water; 
groundwater; aquatic ecology; threatened and endangered species; 
wetlands; natural areas; cultural resources; socioeconomic, 
environmental justice and land use impacts; floodplains and flood risk; 
seismic effects; climatology and meteorology; nuclear plant safety and 
security; radiological effects; radioactive waste; spent fuel storage; 
transportation of radioactive materials, and decommissioning.
    The analyses conducted for the FSEIS indicate that no significant 
impacts would be expected as a result of completing and operating WBN 
Unit 2. The oversight of permitting agencies, such as the Tennessee 
Department of Environment and Conservation, will help further safeguard 
the environment from unacceptable environmental impacts. No effects to 
federally-listed species would occur. The analysis acknowledges that 
there will be both beneficial and adverse impacts to local community 
services from completing Unit 2, largely associated with the effects on 
social services during the construction process.
    These findings are primarily a result of the fact that: (1) WBN 
Unit 1 is already an existing facility operating under an NRC license; 
(2) WBN Unit 2 is substantially complete; (3) the environmental 
footprint of the proposed action is confined to that of the existing 
plant (primarily within existing structures of the plant); and (4) the 
proposed addition of WBN Unit 2 results in relatively minor changes to 
ongoing operations of WBN that have the potential for environmental 
effects.

Decision

    On August 1, 2007, the TVA Board of Directors decided to adopt the 
preferred alternative to complete and operate WBN Unit 2. This decision 
took into account environmental considerations together with economic 
and technical aspects of the project. Proceeding with completion and 
operation of WBN Unit 2 is the best decision for TVA and the Tennessee 
Valley in terms of power supply, power price, generation mix, return on 
investment, use of existing assets, and avoidance of environmental 
impacts. This decision has the three-fold benefits of assuring future 
power supplies without the environmental effects resulting from 
operation of fossil fuel generating plants (including increased 
emissions), avoiding the even larger capital outlays associated with 
totally new construction, and avoiding the environmental impacts 
resulting from siting and construction of new power generating 
facilities elsewhere. The FSEIS concluded that WBN Unit 2 can be 
completed and operated without significant, adverse impacts on the 
environment.

Environmentally Preferred Alternative

    On May 31, 2007, the TVA Board endorsed enhanced reliance on 
renewable energy resources, demand side management (energy 
conservation), and energy efficiency to help meet the growing demand 
for electricity from the TVA system. These energy resource options were 
evaluated in TVA's IRP EIS. TVA is implementing a number of these 
resource options and expects to rely more heavily on such options in 
the future. Energy conservation and improved energy efficiency 
typically would have lesser environmental impacts than completing and 
operating a nuclear plant. They would not, however, offset the near-
term need for more baseload generation that would be met by completing 
and operating WBN Unit 2.
    Accordingly, TVA has concluded that the preferred alternative is 
also the environmentally preferable alternative. This alternative has 
the benefits of assuring future power supplies without relying upon 
fossil fuel generation and its associated environmental impacts, and 
avoiding the greater environmental impacts resulting from siting and 
construction of new power generating facilities elsewhere.

Environmental Commitments

    In the FSEIS, TVA has identified two measures that would be 
implemented during construction of WBN Unit 2 to address potential 
socio-economic impacts. TVA will designate certain counties as impacted 
by the construction process so that they would become eligible for a 
supplemental allocation from TVA's tax equivalent payments under 
Tennessee law. These funds could be used by counties and local 
governmental to address impacts on local services and infrastructure. A 
part of the DSEP, TVA conducted a labor study of the potential 
construction workforce. TVA will also provide information from this 
study to officials in the impacted counties. This information should 
help with local planning to better accommodate the anticipated 
temporary population growth.


[[Page 45861]]


    Dated: August 3, 2007.
William R. McCollum, Jr.,
Chief Operating Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-15955 Filed 8-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P