[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 109 (Thursday, June 8, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26620-26632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11784]



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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

18 CFR Part 1318


Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is proposing to amend its 
procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to 
make these implementing procedures better align with its decision 
making processes, and to incorporate into these procedures guidance 
issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) since the 
procedures were last amended. TVA also proposes to move its NEPA 
implementing procedures from TVA Instruction IX (Environmental Review) 
to Chapter XIII (Tennessee Valley Authority) in the Code of Federal 
Regulations as Part 1318. In addition, implementation of the Executive 
Order (E.O.) 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management 
Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering 
Stakeholder Input, is addressed.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must 
be submitted on or before August 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted by one of the following methods:
    1. TVA's NEPA Web site: http://www.tva.gov/nepa. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments electronically on the Web site.
    2. Email: [email protected].
    3. Mail comments to: NEPA Rule Comments, Tennessee Valley 
Authority, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive 11D-K, Knoxville, TN 37902.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, please note 
that any comments received, including names and addresses, will become 
part of the project administrative record and will be available for 
public inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Higdon, NEPA Specialist, 
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive #11D-K, Knoxville, 
Tennessee 37902. Telephone: 865-632-8051. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This proposed rule revises TVA's implementing procedures for 
assessing the effects of TVA's actions in accordance with NEPA, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1505.1 and 
1507.3 require Federal agencies to adopt procedures as necessary to 
supplement CEQ's regulations implementing NEPA and to consult with CEQ 
during their development. TVA established its procedures for 
implementing NEPA in 1980 (45 FR 54511-15, August 15, 1980), and 
amended the procedures in 1983 (48 FR 19264, April 28, 1983) to 
incorporate requirements relating to floodplain management and 
protection of wetlands, among other things.
    TVA has completed an internal review of its NEPA procedures and 
practices and has identified the need to revise its procedures. TVA 
found during its review that some procedures must be updated to more 
accurately address TVA's current mission, program areas, or 
organizational structure. Also, the current procedures should be 
updated to appropriately address the currently evolving energy market 
place, current communication trends, and CEQ guidance and additional 
orders that were established subsequent to the initial TVA NEPA 
procedures. In addition, TVA has identified opportunities to improve 
its practices and to provide clarity to the procedures to ensure 
environmental compliance and improve the decision-making process. In 
updating its procedures, TVA also wishes to ensure that those 
procedures reduce paperwork and delay to the extent possible.
    The proposed amendments include: (1) Updates to organizational 
references to clarify roles and responsibilities within TVA; (2) 
acknowledgement of the use of modern notification and communication 
methods to improve public participation; (3) revisions to TVA's list of 
categorical exclusions to include common actions that have been 
demonstrated to have little effect on the human environment and to 
remove categorical exclusions for actions which TVA rarely or no longer 
undertakes; (4) instructions to incorporate E.O. 13690; and (5) 
revisions to improve the clarity of the procedures and remove redundant 
and outdated information. Key changes to the procedures proposed by TVA 
are described below.
    TVA's NEPA implementing procedures have been contained in TVA 
Instruction IX (Environmental Review), a section of TVA's 
administrative code of internal policies and procedures. Although most 
of the code was eliminated in the 1980s, Instruction IX (Environmental 
Review) has remained in effect. TVA now proposes to publish the amended 
procedures as rules to be codified in Chapter XIII (Tennessee Valley 
Authority) as part 1318 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR part 
1318). The heading of part 1318 would be ``Implementation of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.'' TVA intends to promote 
greater transparency in the NEPA process by incorporating its NEPA 
procedures in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Extensive changes 
to the format and organization of the procedures are needed to meet the 
uniform requirements applying to Federal regulations codified in the 
CFR.
    TVA consulted with CEQ while preparing these proposed regulations. 
Like TVA's current NEPA procedures, the proposed regulations would 
supplement the CEQ regulations implementing NEPA. The proposed 
regulations were drafted with the objective of minimizing repetition of 
requirements already contained in the CEQ regulations and with the 
understanding that the TVA-specific regulations would be applied with 
the CEQ regulations. The notice and the proposed TVA regulations 
include many words and phrases that are specifically defined in either 
the NEPA statute or CEQ regulations. Many of these definitions can be 
found in part 1508 of the CEQ regulations (40 CFR part 1508). In 
addition, the proposed TVA regulations include definitions for certain 
terms.

Administrative Requirements

A. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and Various Executive Orders Including 
E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review; E.O. 12898, Federal Actions 
To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations; E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform Act; E.O. 13045, 
Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks; E.O. 13132, 
Federalism; E.O. 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments; E.O. 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, and Use; and E.O. 
13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs

    This proposed rule amends TVA's procedures for the implementation 
of NEPA and is not subject to review by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under E.O. 12866. The proposed rule contains no Federal 
mandates for State, local, or tribal government or for the private 
sector. TVA has determined that these amendments will not have a 
significant annual effect of $100 million or more or result in 
expenditures of $100 million in any one year by State, local, or tribal 
governments or by the private sector. Nor will the amendments

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have concerns for environmental health or safety risks that may 
disproportionately affect children, have significant effect on the 
supply, distribution, or use of energy, or disproportionally impact 
low-income or minority populations. Accordingly, this proposed rule has 
no implications for any of the aforementioned authorities.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., TVA is 
required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis unless the head 
of the agency certifies that the proposal will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. TVA's Chief 
Executive Officer has certified that the amendments promulgated in this 
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. This determination is based on the finding 
that the amendments are directed toward changing existing TVA 
procedures for conducting environmental reviews and do not compel any 
other party to take any action or interfere with an action taken by any 
other party. The amendments do not change the substantive requirements 
of TVA programs that are most likely to affect small entities (e.g., 
TVA permitting, economic assistance and development programs).

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule does not contain information collection 
requirements that require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

D. National Environmental Policy Act

    The CEQ does not direct agencies to prepare a NEPA analysis or 
document before establishing agency procedures that supplement the CEQ 
regulations for implementing NEPA. TVA's NEPA procedures assist in the 
fulfillment of its responsibilities under NEPA, but are not the 
agency's final determination of what level of NEPA analysis is required 
for a particular agency action. The requirements for establishing 
agency NEPA procedures are set forth at 40 CFR 1505.1 and 1507.3. The 
determination that establishing agency NEPA procedures does not require 
NEPA analysis and documentation has been upheld in Heartwood, Inc. v. 
U.S. Forest Service, 73 F. Supp. 2d 962, 972-73 (S.D. III. 1999), 
aff'd, 230 F.3d 947, 954-55 (7th Cir. 2000).

Description of Proposed Changes

    TVA's proposed regulations are organized under subparts A through G 
of 18 CFR part 1318, covering the contents of TVA Instruction IX 
(Environmental Review) sections 1 through 5. Subpart A of the proposed 
regulations includes sections 1 through 4 of TVA's current NEPA 
procedures. The provisions in section 5 of TVA's current NEPA 
procedures are now found in Subparts B through G of the proposed 
regulations. TVA proposes to reorganize some sections of the procedures 
to improve its organization by grouping similar subjects together. As 
noted above, the new numbering and formatting of sections and 
paragraphs changes the structure and organization of the procedures, 
but is necessary to meet the requirements for codifying regulations in 
the CFR.
    The majority of implementing procedures found in TVA Instruction IX 
(Environmental Review) would transfer to 18 CFR part 1318 and remain 
intact, except for organizational and grammatical changes added to 
improve clarity and reflect regulatory requirements. Throughout the 
procedures, TVA proposes to revise references to TVA management and 
staff positions and office titles because those positions and office 
titles have changed since 1983 and are subject to further change over 
time; therefore, these titles would be revised to more general terms to 
clarify roles and responsibilities within TVA. The following paragraphs 
contain a section-by-section summary of key proposed changes under each 
subpart from those currently in TVA's NEPA procedures. These summaries 
are provided so that members of the public may focus their review on 
changes proposed by TVA.

Subpart A--General Information

    Subpart A of the proposed regulations includes sections 1 through 4 
of TVA's current NEPA procedures.
    Section 1318.10 Purpose. Minor revisions are proposed for this 
section to improve clarity.
    Section 1318.20 Policy. In addition to minor edits to improve 
clarity, this section would incorporate TVA's policy that the 
application of NEPA principles during the environmental review process 
will assist TVA to make better, more informed decisions.
    Section 1318.30 Abbreviations. Abbreviations for the following 
would be added to this section: Categorical Exclusion, Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement, Environmental Impact Statement, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
Finding of No Significant Impact, and Record of Decision.
    Section 1318.40 Definitions. TVA would add a definition of 
``controversial'' and revise the definition of ``floodplain'' to 
recognize that the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard applies for 
federally funded projects. The definition of ``important farmland'' 
would be moved to reflect the alphabetical order of defined terms.

Subpart B--Initiating the NEPA Process

    This subpart incorporates and expands the current procedures in 
section 5.1 of TVA Instruction IX.
    Section 1318.100 Action formulation. TVA would expand this section 
to reflect the TVA policy that in addition to decision-making 
responsibilities of the TVA Chief Executive Officer and Board of 
Directors, other TVA managers and officials make decisions for some TVA 
actions.
    Section 1318.101 NEPA determination. In addition to minor edits to 
improve clarity, the procedures would be expanded to clarify roles and 
responsibilities and to clarify when NEPA applies.

Subpart C--Categorical Exclusions

    Substantial revisions to TVA's procedures relating to categorical 
exclusions are proposed. Subpart C would replace the current procedures 
in section 5.2 of TVA Instruction IX.
    Section 1318.200 Purpose and scope. In addition to minor revisions 
to improve clarity, this section incorporates direction to avoid 
segmenting a larger project into small parts when considering applying 
categorical exclusions.
    Section 1318.201 Extraordinary circumstances. Proposed revisions to 
this section would expand the list of extraordinary circumstances in 
which a normally excluded action may have a significant environmental 
effect.
    Appendix A--Categorical exclusions. The list of categorical 
exclusions would be appended to Subpart C. TVA is proposing to retain 4 
of the current categorical exclusions unchanged, revise 15, and remove 
9. TVA also proposes to expand its list of CEs to include 31 new 
categories of activities. TVA's proposed revisions are consistent with 
guidance issued by CEQ on establishing, applying, and revising 
categorical exclusions under NEPA (CEQ, ``Final Guidance for Federal 
Departments and Agencies on Establishing, Applying, and Revising 
Categorical Exclusions Under the National Environmental Policy Act,'' 
75 FR 75628, December 6, 2010).

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    In response to CEQ's issuance of the guidance, TVA conducted an 
extensive review of its current 28 categorical exclusions and 
identified the need to make numerous revisions and additions to ensure 
TVA's compliance with the purposes and provisions of NEPA. Based on 
this review, TVA identified four categorical exclusions that do not 
require revision and would be retained. These four categorical 
exclusions are clearly defined and continue to address actions that 
would not typically result in significant environmental impacts.
    Of the nine categorical exclusions that TVA proposes to remove, 
three are proposed for removal because activities covered by those 
exclusions are no longer performed regularly by TVA (i.e., exploration 
for uranium, visitor center construction, backslope agreements). Two 
categorical exclusions are considered to be too broadly defined and 
would be replaced by new categorical exclusions that are more specific. 
Two other categorical exclusions would be removed because they include 
human resources actions that are addressed by another categorical 
exclusion. Finally, TVA determined that two additional categorical 
exclusions should be removed because they are inconsistent with the 
definition of categorical exclusions in CEQ's regulations.
    During the review of its categorical exclusions, TVA identified the 
need to revise 15 existing categorical exclusions to reflect current 
agency programs, clarify the definitions of the categories, apply new 
spatial limits, and/or change the scope of categorically excluded 
activities. Some revisions are proposed to expand or limit the 
applicability of the categorical exclusions and/or make the scope and 
quantitative aspects of the categorical exclusions more consistent with 
those adopted by other Federal agencies engaged in similar or identical 
actions.
    TVA is proposing to add 31 new categorical exclusions to include 
activities that are commonly performed by TVA and have been shown not 
to have significant environmental impacts under normal circumstances. 
Most of the new categorical exclusions address routine natural 
resources stewardship, land and facilities management, economic 
development, and certain transmission system management activities. 
Consistent with CEQ's guidance, TVA has prepared supporting 
documentation for the proposed revisions. The document, entitled 
``Proposed Categorical Exclusions Supporting Documentation,'' is 
intended to assist the public in reviewing the proposed changes to 
TVA's list of categorical exclusions and is available for review at 
TVA's Web site (http://www.tva.gov/nepa). The document provides 
substantiating information that activities encompassed by the new and 
revised categorical exclusions would not normally cause significant 
environmental effects and explains in greater detail TVA's reasons for 
retaining, modifying or eliminating existing categorical exclusions. 
The document includes: A discussion of the actions in the category; 
references to previous TVA projects documented with environmental 
reviews and relevant findings; a summary of relevant environmental 
issues for each category of actions; references and comparisons to 
other Federal agencies with similar provisions for categorical 
exclusions; information on how TVA would document the application of 
the categorical exclusion; a discussion of each new spatial limit that 
is proposed for the categorical exclusion; and other supporting 
information.

Subpart D--Environmental Assessments

    This subpart incorporates and expands the current procedures in 
section 5.3 of TVA Instruction IX. Requirements relating to generic EAs 
were moved to the subpart for miscellaneous procedures.
    Section 1318.300 Purpose and scope. A statement was added to this 
section to reflect that environmental assessments should be concise and 
focus on important issues and reasonable alternatives.
    Section 1318.301 Public and stakeholder participation in the EA 
process. This section would be revised to describe factors considered 
by TVA in determining how to involve the public in the preparation of 
EAs. In addition, TVA would require that staff identify and involve 
interested stakeholders, including local and State agencies, other 
Federal agencies, and Indian tribes, during the EA review process, as 
appropriate. TVA would also require public reviews of EAs prepared for 
actions that would normally require an EIS.
    Section 1318.302 EA preparation. Minor changes to the organization 
and grammar in this section would clarify EA requirements and the 
responsibilities of TVA staff early in the EA process. Responsibilities 
for determining the need for public involvement in the completion of 
the EA would also be set out in this section.
    Section 1318.303 Finding of No Significant Impact. This section 
clarifies that the finding should be concise, identify environmental 
mitigation measures to which TVA commits, and incorporate the EA.
    Section 1318.304 Supplements and adoptions. This section would be 
expanded to address adoption of EAs prepared by other agencies; TVA 
Instruction IX only addresses adoption of EISs prepared by other 
agencies.

Subpart E--Environmental Impacts Statements

    Section 1318.400 Purpose and scope. TVA would make revisions to the 
list of actions normally requiring an EIS. Examples of water resource 
development and water control projects would be added for clarity. TVA 
would specify that ``major power generating facilities'' would normally 
require an EIS if such actions involve construction of new major power 
generating facilities occurring at sites not previously used for 
industrial purposes.
    Two actions would be removed from the list of actions normally 
requiring an EIS. Uranium mining and milling complexes would be removed 
from the list of actions requiring an EIS because TVA no longer 
conducts these actions. Any major action which will have a significant 
effect on the quality of the human environment was removed from the 
list because it is well established by CEQ regulation that such actions 
require completion of an EIS.
    Section 1318.401 Lead and cooperating agency determinations. Minor 
revisions would clarify roles and responsibilities.
    Section 1318.402 Scoping process. Minor revisions to this section 
would clarify the types of agencies with whom TVA may coordinate and 
the roles and responsibilities of TVA entities and NEPA compliance 
staff. This section incorporates a requirement that if a scoping report 
for an EIS is prepared, it would be made available to the public.
    Section 1318.403 DEIS preparation, transmittal, and review. This 
section combines TVA Instruction IX sections 5.4.4 and 5.4.5 and 
includes substantive changes. It incorporates information relating to 
cooperating agency reviews of a Draft EIS and includes the requirement 
that Draft EISs will be available on TVA's public Web site. A minor 
revision was made to specify that 45 days is the minimum length of the 
public review period for a Draft EIS. Roles and responsibilities are 
clarified as well in this section. TVA proposes to remove information 
related to providing additional public involvement and to determining 
the appropriate type and format for involvement.
    Section 1318.404 FEIS preparation and transmittal. This section 
combines sections 5.4.6 and 5.4.7 of TVA

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Instruction IX. Minor revisions to this section would clarify roles and 
responsibilities. This section also incorporates guidance for 
addressing substantive comments received on a Draft EIS and how such 
input would be incorporated in the Final EIS. The section also 
incorporates requirements to post a Final EIS to the TVA public Web 
site and by other means upon request.
    Section 1318.405 Agency decision. This section combines sections 
5.4.8 and 5.4.9 of TVA Instruction IX and clarifies when actions may 
commence after a Final EIS is published. Minor revisions regarding the 
contents of the Record of Decision were made for clarity. This section 
also incorporates the limitations on actions that apply during the NEPA 
process pursuant to CEQ's regulations at 40 CFR 1506.1(a).
    Section 1318.406 Supplements. This section clarifies the 
circumstances in which TVA would supplement an EIS. Minor revisions to 
this section would clarify roles and responsibilities. Also, the term 
``revisions'' relating to changes made to an EIS is removed.
    Section 1318.407 EIS adoption. To improve clarity, this section 
revises and incorporates additional requirements pertaining to the 
adoption of an EIS (or portion) prepared by another agency. The section 
incorporates procedures to ensure that the scientific accuracy of the 
analysis and conclusions are verified by TVA prior to adoption. The 
section also incorporates procedures relating to supplementing EISs 
that TVA determines do not adequately address TVA's action; relating to 
issuing decisions based on EISs (a) for which TVA served as a 
cooperating agency and (b) which TVA determines adequately address its 
decision; and to public notification requirements for EISs deemed 
adequate but prepared without TVA's participation as a cooperating 
agency. The section also incorporates procedures relating to 
notification of the public and other interested stakeholders.

Subpart F--Miscellaneous Procedures

    Miscellaneous procedures in TVA's Instruction IX would be 
reorganized under Subpart F and precede procedures relating to 
floodplains and wetlands.
    Section 1318.500 Public participation. Minor revisions to this 
section would clarify TVA's policy regarding public participation 
during the NEPA process. Reference to TVA's former Citizen Action 
Office is removed. This section also incorporates information regarding 
TVA's Web site as a resource for the public to learn about TVA actions 
and NEPA reviews, as well as information regarding public availability 
of names and addresses provided by those commenting on any NEPA 
document.
    Section 1318.501 Mitigation commitment identification, auditing, 
and reporting. Minor revisions to this section clarify roles and 
responsibilities, and address disclosure of mitigation commitments in 
NEPA documents. In addition, this section clarifies considerations made 
when determining whether to modify or delete previously-made mitigation 
commitments.
    Section 1318.502 Tiering. No substantive changes are proposed for 
this section.
    Section 1318.503 Programmatic and generic NEPA documents. TVA would 
remove procedures in TVA's Instruction IX that address using generic 
EAs to establish whether a category of actions may be treated as a 
categorical exclusion; categorical exclusions would no longer be 
established in this manner. This section incorporates guidance 
regarding programmatic and generic NEPA analyses of programs, policies 
or plans, or of actions that may have a wide geographic scope. This 
section also incorporates information regarding actions that may 
continue during programmatic NEPA review period, and when tiering from 
programmatic reviews is appropriate.
    Section 1318.504 Private applicants. Major revisions to this 
section pertain to clarification of roles and responsibilities of TVA's 
NEPA compliance staff and other TVA staff when applicants and non-TVA 
entities propose to undertake an action requiring TVA approval or 
involvement. This section also incorporates requirements for 
consideration of an applicant's purpose and need in decision-making and 
clarifies that while non-TVA entities may prepare NEPA documents, it 
remains TVA's responsibility to ensure NEPA adequacy. This section also 
specifies that a private entity's participation in TVA's NEPA process 
does not commit TVA to a favorable action on the request.
    Section 1318.505 Non-TVA EISs. No substantive changes are proposed 
to this section.
    Section 1318.506 Documents. A minor revision to this section is 
proposed to clarify that electronic archiving of NEPA documents is 
acceptable and will be done in compliance with TVA's record retention 
policy.
    Section 1318.507 Reducing paperwork and delay. No substantive 
changes to this section are proposed.
    Section 1318.508 Supplemental guidance. No substantive changes to 
this section are proposed.
    Section 1318.509 Substantial compliance. Minor revisions to this 
section incorporate TVA's general policy that the substance of its NEPA 
reviews and processes are of utmost importance, rather than the form of 
its reviews and processes.
    Section 1318.510 Emergency actions. This section incorporates and 
revises procedures in Section 5.6 of TVA's Instruction IX relating to 
emergency actions. The section would be revised to clarify the roles 
and responsibilities of TVA staff and the responsible official in 
determining and documenting that an emergency exists.
    Section 1318.511 Modification of assignments. No substantive 
changes to this section are proposed.
    Section 1318.512 Status reports. This section would be revised to 
clarify that TVA's Web site serves as the primary means by which 
information or status reports of TVA's NEPA documents or compliance 
activities is available to the public.
    Section 1318.513 Official responsible for NEPA compliance efforts. 
This section would be revised to clarify that the person responsible 
for the management of TVA NEPA compliance staff is the official 
responsible for overall NEPA compliance.

Subpart G--Floodplains and Wetlands

    In addition to minor clarifications, this subpart incorporates 
information from E.O. 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk 
Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and 
Considering Stakeholder Input. Additional information regarding how TVA 
proposes to determine project-specific Federal Flood Risk Management 
Standard elevations and their applicability can be reviewed at the TVA 
Web site listed above.
    Section 1318.600 Purpose and scope. In this section, TVA 
incorporates information from E.O. 13690. Further, the text of this 
section was revised to clarify when wetland evaluations are not 
required under E.O. 11990, Protection of Wetlands.
    Section 1318.601 Area of impact. Minor revisions to this section 
are proposed to clarify roles and responsibilities.
    Section 1318.602 Actions that will affect floodplains or wetlands. 
Minor revisions are proposed to clarify roles and responsibilities.
    Section 1318.603 Public notice. Minor revisions are proposed to 
improve clarity and to incorporate

[[Page 26624]]

procedures relating to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. 
Outdated procedures pertaining to the use of State or regional A-95 
clearinghouses and TVA's Citizen Action Office (which no longer exists) 
were updated for clarification.
    Section 1318.604 Disposition of real property. No substantive 
changes to this section are proposed.
    Section 1318.605 General and class reviews. This section 
incorporates guidance that general or class reviews of similar or 
repetitive actions occurring in floodplains may be conducted in lieu of 
site-specific reviews.

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 1318

    Administrative practice and procedure, Environmental impact 
statements, Environmental protection, Floodplains, Floods, Wetlands.


0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, TVA proposes to add a new part 
1318 to chapter XIII of title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations to 
read as follows:

PART 1318--IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT 
OF 1969

Subpart A--General Information
Sec.
1318.10 Purpose.
1318.20 Policy.
1318.30 Abbreviations.
1318.40 Definitions.
Subpart B--Initiating the NEPA Process
1318.100 Action formulation.
1318.101 NEPA determination.
Subpart C--Categorical Exclusions
1318.200 Purpose and scope.
1318.201 Extraordinary circumstances.
Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 1318--Categorical Exclusions
Subpart D--Environmental Assessments
1318.300 Purpose and scope.
1318.301 Public and stakeholder participation in the EA process.
1318.302 EA preparation.
1318.303 Finding of no significant impact.
1318.304 Supplements and adoptions.
Subpart E--Environmental Impact Statements
1318.400 Purpose and scope.
1318.401 Lead and cooperating agency determinations.
1318.402 Scoping process.
1318.403 DEIS preparation, transmittal and review.
1318.404 FEIS preparation and transmittal.
1318.405 Agency decision.
1318.406 Supplements.
1318.407 EIS adoption.
Subpart F--Miscellaneous Procedures
1318.500 Public participation.
1318.501 Mitigation commitment identification, auditing and 
reporting.
1318.502 Tiering.
1318.503 Programmatic and generic NEPA documents.
1318.504 Private applicants.
1318.505 Non-TVA EISs.
1318.506 Documents.
1318.507 Reducing paperwork and delay.
1318.508 Supplemental guidance.
1318.509 Substantial compliance.
1318.510 Emergency actions.
1318.511 Modification of assignments.
1318.512 Status reports.
1318.513 Official responsible for NEPA compliance efforts.
Subpart G--Floodplains and Wetlands
1318.600 Purpose and scope.
1318.601 Area of impact.
1318.602 Actions that will affect floodplains or wetlands.
1318.603 Public notice.
1318.604 Disposition of real property.
1318.605 General and class reviews.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.

Subpart A--General Information


Sec.  1318.10  Purpose.

    This part establishes procedures for Tennessee Valley Authority 
(TVA) to use for compliance with:
    (a) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
    (b) Other applicable guidelines, regulations and Executive orders 
implementing NEPA; and
    (c) The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for 
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508).


Sec.  1318.20  Policy.

    It is the policy of TVA that:
    (a) TVA incorporates environmental considerations into its 
decision-making processes to the fullest extent possible. These 
procedures ensure that actions are viewed in a manner to encourage 
productive and enjoyable harmony between man and the environment.
    (b) Commencing at the earliest possible point and continuing 
through implementation, appropriate and careful consideration of the 
environmental aspects of proposed actions is built into the decision-
making process in order that adverse environmental effects may be 
avoided or minimized, consistent with the requirements of NEPA.
    (c) Environmental reviews under NEPA will assist decision makers in 
making better, more knowledgeable decisions that concentrate on truly 
significant environmental issues, consider reasonable alternatives to 
the proposed action, are consistent with the environmental importance 
of the action, substantially fulfill the identified need and purpose 
for a proposed action, and are practicable.


Sec.  1318.30  Abbreviations.

(a) CE--Categorical Exclusion
(b) CEQ--Council on Environmental Quality
(c) DEIS--Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(d) EA--Environmental Assessment
(e) EIS--Environmental Impact Statement
(f) EPA--Environmental Protection Agency
(g) FEIS--Final Environmental Impact Statement
(h) FONSI--Finding of No Significant Impact
(i) NEPA--National Environmental Policy Act
(j) ROD--Record of Decision
(k) TVA--Tennessee Valley Authority


Sec.  1318.40  Definitions.

    The following definitions apply throughout these procedures. All 
other applicable terms should be given the same meaning as set forth in 
CEQ's currently effective regulations (40 CFR part 1508) unless such a 
reading would make the terms inconsistent with the context in which 
they appear.
    Controversial refers to scientifically supported commentary that 
casts substantial doubt on the agency's methodology or data, but does 
not mean commentary expressing mere opposition.
    Federally funded projects for purposes of the Federal Flood Risk 
Management Standard are actions where Federal funds are used for new 
construction, substantial improvement of existing structures, or to 
address substantial damage to existing structures and facilities.
    Floodplain refers to the lowland and relatively flat areas 
adjoining flowing inland waters and reservoirs. Floodplain generally 
refers to the base floodplain, i.e., that area subject to a 1 percent 
or greater chance of flooding in any given year. For federally funded 
projects, the definition of floodplains for the Federal Flood Risk 
Management Standard applies.
    Important farmland includes prime farmland, unique farmland, and 
farmland of statewide importance as defined in 7 CFR part 657.
    Natural and beneficial floodplain and wetland values refer to such 
attributes as the capability of floodplains and wetlands to provide 
natural moderation of floodwaters, water quality maintenance, fish and 
wildlife habitat, plant habitat, open space, natural beauty, scientific 
and educational study areas, and recreation.
    Practicable, as used in Subpart G of this part, refers to the 
capability of an action being performed within existing

[[Page 26625]]

constraints. The test of what is practicable depends on the situation 
involved and should include an evaluation of all pertinent factors, 
such as environmental impact, economic costs, statutory authority, 
legality, technological achievability, and engineering constraints.
    Wetlands are those areas inundated by surface or ground water with 
a frequency sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances 
do or would support, a prevalence of vegetation or aquatic life that 
requires saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions for growth 
and reproduction. Wetlands do not include temporary human-made ponds 
associated with active construction projects.

Subpart B--Initiating the NEPA Process


Sec.  1318.100  Action formulation.

    (a) Each office, group, or department (``entity'') within TVA is 
responsible for integrating environmental considerations into its 
planning and decision-making processes at the earliest possible time to 
ensure that potential environmental effects are appropriately 
considered, to reduce the risk of delays, and to minimize potential 
conflicts.
    (b) Environmental analyses should be included in or circulated with 
and reviewed at the same time as other planning documents. This 
responsibility is to be carried out in accordance with the 
environmental review procedures contained herein.
    (c) TVA's Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors are the 
agency's primary decision makers for programs and actions that are 
likely to be the most consequential from an environmental, financial, 
and policy standpoint. Other TVA officials and managers are responsible 
for and make decisions about other TVA actions.


Sec.  1318.101  NEPA determination.

    (a) NEPA applies to proposed actions with potential impacts on the 
physical environment that would result in a non-trivial change to the 
environmental status quo.
    (b) At the earliest possible time, the TVA entity proposing to 
initiate an action must consult with the staff responsible for NEPA 
compliance (``NEPA compliance staff'') and TVA legal counsel, as 
appropriate, in determining whether the action requires an 
environmental review under NEPA and, if so, the level of environmental 
review.
    (c) The level of review will be in one of the following categories: 
Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental 
Impact Statements.
    (d) The NEPA compliance staff will determine whether the action is 
already covered under an existing NEPA review. These determinations 
should be appropriately documented before an action proceeds.
    (e) NEPA and its implementing regulations (both CEQ's and TVA's) 
provide an established, well-recognized process for appropriately 
analyzing environmental issues and involving the public.
    (f) TVA may choose to conduct an environmental review when NEPA 
does not apply.

Subpart C--Categorical Exclusions


Sec.  1318.200  Purpose and scope.

    (a) Categories of actions addressed in this section are those that 
do not normally have, either individually or cumulatively, a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment and require 
neither the preparation of an EA nor an EIS.
    (b) The TVA entity proposing to initiate an action must determine, 
in consultation with the NEPA compliance staff, whether or not the 
proposed action is categorically excluded.
    (c) In order to find that a proposal can be categorically excluded, 
TVA will ensure that a larger project is not impermissibly broken down 
into small parts such that the use of a categorical exclusion for any 
such small part would irreversibly and irretrievably commit TVA to a 
particular plan of action for the larger project.
    (d) The actions listed in Appendix A of this part are classes of 
actions that TVA has determined do not individually or cumulatively 
have a significant effect on the human environment (categorical 
exclusions), subject to review for extraordinary circumstances.


Sec.  1318.201  Extraordinary circumstances.

    (a) An action that would normally qualify as a categorical 
exclusion must not be so classified if an extraordinary circumstance is 
present and cannot be mitigated, including through the application of 
other environmental regulatory processes. In order to determine whether 
extraordinary circumstances exist, TVA may consider whether:
    (1) The action has the potential to significantly impact 
environmental resources, including the following resources:
    (i) Threatened or endangered species,
    (ii) Wetlands or floodplains,
    (iii) Cultural or historical resources,
    (iv) Areas having special designation or recognition such as wild 
and scenic rivers, parklands, or wilderness areas, and
    (v) Important farmland; and
    (2) The significance of the environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed action is or may be highly controversial.
    (b) The mere presence of one or more of the resources under 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section does not preclude use of a categorical 
exclusion. Rather, the determination of whether extraordinary 
circumstances exist depends upon the existence of a cause-effect 
relationship between a proposed action and the potential effect on 
these resource conditions, and, if such a relationship exists, the 
degree of the potential effect of a proposed action on these resource 
conditions.

Subpart D--Environmental Assessments


Sec.  1318.300  Purpose and scope.

    (a) An EA will be prepared for any proposed action not qualifying 
as a categorical exclusion to determine whether an EIS is necessary or 
a FONSI can be prepared. An EA is not necessary if it has been 
determined that an EIS will be prepared.
    (b) EAs should concisely communicate information and analyses about 
important environmental issues and reasonable alternatives.


Sec.  1318.301  Public and stakeholder participation in the EA process.

    (a) In deciding how to involve the public in the preparation of 
EAs, TVA will consider the extent to which the public already has been 
involved through other processes or has commented on a proposed action 
or has otherwise expressed interest.
    (b) TVA will also identify and involve, as appropriate, other 
interested stakeholders including local and State agencies, other 
Federal agencies, and Indian tribes.
    (c) EAs prepared for actions listed in Sec.  1318.400(a) will be 
circulated for public review and comment.


Sec.  1318.302  EA preparation.

    (a) As soon as practical after the decision to prepare an EA is 
made, the initiating TVA entity, in consultation with NEPA compliance 
staff, should determine the need for an internal coordination meeting 
to discuss:
    (1) Reasonable alternatives,
    (2) Permit requirements,
    (3) Coordination with other agencies,
    (4) Environmental issues,
    (5) Public involvement, and

[[Page 26626]]

    (6) A schedule for EA preparation.
    (b) The EA will describe the proposed action and include brief 
discussions of the need for action, reasonable alternatives, the no-
action alternative, the environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and alternatives, measures (if any) to minimize or mitigate such 
impacts, a listing of the agencies and persons consulted, and a list of 
permits that may be required for the proposed action.
    (c) As appropriate, EAs will identify alternatives that were 
considered, but not addressed in further detail in the EA.
    (d) The EA will address comments made during any public comment 
period.
    (e) The EA will briefly provide sufficient data and analysis for 
determining whether to prepare an EIS or a FONSI.
    (f) The EA will be reviewed by the NEPA compliance staff and other 
interested TVA entities, including TVA legal counsel.
    (g) After the EA is completed and with the concurrence of TVA legal 
counsel, the NEPA compliance staff will make one of the following 
determinations:
    (1) The action does not require the preparation of an EIS,
    (2) The action will require the preparation of an EIS, or
    (3) Additional information or analyses are required before the 
significance of potential impacts can be determined.


Sec.  1318.303  Finding of No Significant Impact.

    (a) If it is concluded, based on an EA, that a proposed action does 
not require the preparation of an EIS, the NEPA compliance staff, in 
consultation with TVA legal counsel and the initiating TVA entity, will 
prepare a FONSI.
    (b) A FONSI must concisely summarize the proposed action and the 
EA, which should be incorporated by reference, and identify any 
environmental mitigation measures to which TVA commits.
    (c) A FONSI must be made available to the public.
    (d) In the following circumstances and if TVA did not provide an 
opportunity for public comment on a draft EA, the NEPA compliance 
staff, in consultation with TVA legal counsel and the initiating TVA 
entity, will make a draft FONSI available for public review and comment 
for a period of time (normally 30 days) before a final determination is 
made whether or not to prepare an EIS and before the proposed action 
may begin:
    (1) The proposed action is, or is closely similar to, an action 
listed in Sec.  1318.400(a),
    (2) TVA has previously announced that the proposed action would be 
the subject of an EIS, or
    (3) The nature of the proposed action is one without precedent.


Sec.  1318.304  Supplements and adoptions.

    (a) If new information concerning action modifications, 
alternatives, or probable environmental effects becomes available and 
there are important decisions remaining to be made, the initiating TVA 
entity, in consultation with the NEPA compliance staff and TVA legal 
counsel, will consider whether an EA should be supplemented based on 
the significance of the new information. The NEPA compliance staff will 
be responsible for preparing supplements to EAs.
    (b) TVA may adopt an EA prepared by another agency if it determines 
that the action it proposes is adequately addressed in the EA. Public 
involvement must be provided consistent with Sec.  1318.301. Notice of 
the adopted EA and the FONSI issued by TVA must be provided on TVA's 
public Web site.

Subpart E--Environmental Impact Statements


Sec.  1318.400  Purpose and scope.

    (a) The following actions normally will require an EIS:
    (1) New large water resource development and water control projects 
such as construction of new dams or navigation locks.
    (2) The construction of new major power generating facilities 
proposed at sites not previously used for industrial purposes.
    (3) Any major action, the environmental impact of which is expected 
to be highly controversial.
    (b) If TVA determines that an EIS will not be prepared for an 
action falling within one of these categories, the basis for this must 
be discussed in the environmental review that is conducted or in a 
document that is made available to the public upon request.
    (c) An EIS should include a description and an analysis of the 
proposed action; reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, 
including the no-action alternative; probable environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action and alternatives and measures (if 
any) to minimize impacts; and a list of the major preparers of the EIS.
    (d) The scope and detail of the EIS should be reasonably related to 
the scope and the probable environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and alternative actions (see 40 CFR 1502.10-1502.18).
    (e) The no-action alternative in an EIS (or an EA) should represent 
the environmental status quo and should be formulated to provide the 
environmental baseline from which the proposed action and other 
alternatives can be assessed even when TVA is legally required to take 
action. For proposed changes to existing programs or plans, 
continuation of the existing program or plan and associated 
environmental impacts should be considered the no-action alternative.


Sec.  1318.401  Lead and cooperating agency determinations.

    (a) As soon as practical after the decision is made to prepare an 
EIS (or EA), the NEPA compliance staff, in consultation with the 
initiating TVA entity and TVA legal counsel, should consider whether 
requesting other Federal, State, or local agencies to participate in 
the preparation of the EIS as lead, joint lead (see 40 CFR 1501.5), or 
cooperating agencies (see 40 CFR 1501.6) is desirable and/or necessary.
    (b) If TVA is requested to participate in the preparation of an EIS 
(or EA) of another Federal agency, the NEPA compliance staff, in 
consultation with other interested TVA entities, will determine if TVA 
should become a cooperating agency.


Sec.  1318.402  Scoping process.

    (a) As soon as practical after the decision to prepare an EIS is 
made, the NEPA compliance staff in consultation with other TVA entities 
will tentatively identify action alternatives, probable environmental 
issues and necessary environmental permits, and a schedule for EIS 
preparation.
    (b) The scoping process may include interagency scoping sessions to 
coordinate an action with and obtain inputs from other interested 
agencies (including local, State, and other Federal agencies, as well 
as Indian tribes), and public scoping meetings to obtain input from 
interested members of the general public.
    (c) The NEPA compliance staff, in consultation with other TVA 
entities, will determine whether public scoping meetings should be held 
in addition to seeking comments by other means. Meeting types and 
formats should be selected to facilitate timely and meaningful public 
input into the EIS process.
    (d) As soon as practical in the scoping process, the NEPA 
compliance staff, in consultation with the initiating TVA

[[Page 26627]]

entity and TVA legal counsel, will prepare and publish a notice of 
intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal Register. This notice will 
briefly describe the proposed action, possible alternatives, and 
potentially affected environmental resources. In addition, those issues 
which tentatively have been determined to be insignificant and which 
will not be discussed in detail in the EIS may be identified. The 
scoping process will be described and, if a scoping meeting will be 
held, the notice should state where and when the meeting is to occur if 
that has been determined. The notice will identify the person in TVA 
who can supply additional information about the action and how to 
submit comments.
    (e) There will normally be a public comment period of 30 days from 
the date of publication of the notice of intent in the Federal Register 
to allow other interested agencies and the public an opportunity to 
review and comment on the proposed scope of the EIS.
    (f) On the basis of input received, the NEPA compliance staff, in 
consultation with other TVA entities, will determine what, if any, 
additions or modifications in the scoping process or schedule are 
required and establish the scope of the EIS.
    (g) At the close of the scoping process, the NEPA compliance staff, 
in consultation with the other TVA entities, should identify the 
following EIS components:
    (1) Key action alternatives.
    (2) Important environmental issues to be addressed in detail.
    (3) Probable non-significant environmental issues that should be 
mentioned but not addressed in detail.
    (4) Lead and cooperating agency assignments, if any.
    (5) Related environmental documents.
    (6) Other environmental review and consultation requirements.
    (7) Delegation of DEIS work assignments to TVA entities and, when 
appropriate, other agencies.
    (h) If a scoping report summarizing the preceding EIS components is 
prepared, it must be made available to the public.


Sec.  1318.403  DEIS preparation, transmittal and review.

    (a) Based on information obtained and decisions made during the 
scoping process, the NEPA compliance staff, in cooperation with the 
initiating TVA entity and other interested TVA entities, will prepare 
the preliminary DEIS using an appropriate format (see 40 CFR 1502.10).
    (b) After internal review of the DEIS is completed, the NEPA 
compliance staff will provide it to any cooperating agencies to obtain 
their comments. If a cooperating agency's analysis of an environmental 
issue or impact differs from TVA's, those differences should be 
resolved before the DEIS is released for public comment or the 
cooperating agency's position should be set forth and addressed in the 
DEIS.
    (c) After approval of the DEIS by the senior manager of the 
initiating TVA entity and TVA legal counsel, the NEPA compliance staff 
will release the DEIS to the public and transmit the DEIS to the EPA 
for publication of the notice of availability. NEPA compliance staff 
will also provide notice to other interested Federal, State, and local 
agencies and other entities and individuals who have previously 
expressed an interest in the type of action and/or commented on the 
scope of the EIS.
    (d) The DEIS will be available on TVA's public Web site and by 
other means upon request to TVA.
    (e) A minimum of 45 days from the date of publication of the notice 
of availability in the Federal Register must be provided for public 
comment. TVA may increase or extend the public comment period in its 
discretion.
    (f) Materials to be made available to the public should be provided 
to the public without charge to the extent practical, or at a fee which 
is not more than the actual costs of reproducing copies.


Sec.  1318.404  FEIS preparation and transmittal.

    (a) At the close of the DEIS public comment period, the NEPA 
compliance staff will determine, in consultation with the initiating 
TVA entity and other interested TVA entities, what is needed for the 
preparation of an FEIS.
    (b) If the modifications to the DEIS in response to comments are 
minor and confined to factual corrections or explanations of why the 
comments do not warrant additional TVA response, TVA may issue errata 
sheets attached to the DEIS instead of rewriting the DEIS. If other 
more extensive modifications are required, the NEPA compliance staff, 
in cooperation with other interested TVA entities, will prepare an FEIS 
utilizing an appropriate format (see 40 CFR 1502.10).
    (c) The FEIS should address all substantive comments on the DEIS 
that TVA received before the close of the public comment period by 
responding specifically to the comments and/or by revising the text of 
the DEIS. Comments that are substantively similar should be summarized 
and addressed together.
    (d) With the approval of the senior manager of the initiating TVA 
entity and TVA legal counsel, the NEPA compliance staff will release 
the FEIS to the public and transmit the FEIS to the EPA for publication 
of the notice of availability in the Federal Register. NEPA compliance 
staff will also provide notice to other interested Federal, State, and 
local agencies and to entities and individuals who commented on the 
DEIS.
    (e) The FEIS will be available on TVA's public Web site and by 
other means upon request to TVA.


Sec.  1318.405  Agency decision.

    (a) Except in emergency circumstances, a decision about a proposed 
action for which an EIS has been issued will not be made until 30 days 
after a notice of availability of the FEIS has been published in the 
Federal Register or 90 days after a notice of availability of the DEIS 
has been published in the Federal Register, whichever is later.
    (b) After release of the FEIS and after TVA makes a decision about 
the proposed action, a ROD must be prepared by the NEPA compliance 
staff, in consultation with TVA legal counsel and the initiating TVA 
entity (see 40 CFR 1505.2). The ROD will normally include the 
following:
    (1) The decision;
    (2) The basis for the decision and preferences among alternatives;
    (3) The alternative(s) considered to be environmentally preferable;
    (4) A summary of important environmental impacts;
    (5) The monitoring, reporting, and administrative arrangements that 
have been made; and
    (6) The measures that would mitigate or minimize adverse 
environmental impacts to which TVA commits to implement (see 40 CFR 
1505.2(c)).
    (c) A ROD will be made available to the public.
    (d) Until a ROD is made available to the public, normally no action 
should be taken to implement an alternative that would have adverse 
environmental impacts or limit the choice of reasonable alternatives.


Sec.  1318.406  Supplements.

    If TVA makes substantial changes in the proposed action that are 
relevant to environmental concerns or there is significant new 
information relevant to environmental concerns, and important decisions 
related to the proposed action remain to be made, the initiating TVA 
entity, in consultation with the NEPA compliance staff and TVA legal 
counsel, will determine whether the FEIS should be supplemented. The 
NEPA compliance staff will be responsible for preparing supplements to 
EISs.

[[Page 26628]]

Sec.  1318.407  EIS adoption.

    (a) TVA may adopt as its final EIS another agency's EIS or any 
portion thereof whether or not TVA participated in its preparation.
    (b) The NEPA compliance staff, in consultation with other 
interested TVA entities, will determine if the scope and analyses in 
the other agency's EIS adequately address the TVA action. TVA will also 
review to ensure the scientific accuracy of the analysis and 
conclusions drawn. If TVA determines that the EIS or a portion thereof 
adequately addresses TVA's proposed action, it must make this 
determination and the adopted EIS available on its public Web site. If 
the other agency's EIS does not adequately assess its proposed action, 
TVA may choose to supplement the EIS in accordance with the process 
used to supplement other EISs (see 40 CFR 1506.3).
    (c) If TVA cooperated in the preparation of an EIS that TVA 
determines adequately addresses its proposed action, TVA may make a 
decision about its proposed action 30 days or later after notice of 
availability of the FEIS was published in the Federal Register. A 
record of that decision should be prepared consistent with Sec.  
1318.405.
    (d) If TVA did not cooperate in the preparation of an EIS that TVA 
determines adequately addresses its proposed action and that it 
proposes to adopt, NEPA compliance staff will transmit notice of its 
adoption to EPA for publication of a notice of availability and 
circulate the FEIS for public comment.
    (e) TVA will provide notice of its adoption to other interested 
Federal, State, and local agencies, other entities, and individuals.

Subpart F--Miscellaneous Procedures


Sec.  1318.500  Public participation.

    (a) TVA's policy is to encourage meaningful public participation in 
and awareness of its proposed actions and decisions. This policy is 
implemented through various mechanisms.
    (b) The type of and format for public participation will be 
selected as appropriate to best facilitate timely and meaningful public 
input.
    (c) TVA provides additional public participation opportunities 
during its open meetings of the Board of Directors, which are widely 
publicized and normally include a listening session during which 
members of the public may comment to the Board of Directors on TVA 
activities.
    (d) TVA also maintains a public Web site at which it posts 
information about TVA activities and programs, including ongoing and 
recently completed EAs and EISs.
    (e) The names and addresses of those commenting on any NEPA 
document may be made publicly available.


Sec.  1318.501  Mitigation commitment identification, auditing and 
reporting.

    (a) All appropriate measures to minimize or mitigate expected 
significant adverse environmental impacts (``mitigation measures'') 
must be identified in the EA or EIS and those mitigation measures to 
which TVA commits must be identified in the associated FONSI or ROD (or 
the documentation prepared for a categorical exclusion, if any).
    (b) Each mitigation commitment that is not regulatory-based will be 
tentatively assigned by the NEPA compliance staff to the appropriate 
TVA entity responsible for implementing the commitment. The NEPA 
compliance staff should consult with the responsible entities to 
resolve assignment conflicts, identify supporting offices, and 
determine implementation schedules.
    (c) The responsible entity must report to the NEPA compliance staff 
the status of mitigation commitments periodically or whenever a 
specific request is made.
    (d) The NEPA compliance staff must ensure that commitments are met 
and will, as it deems appropriate, audit commitment progress.
    (e) Circumstances may arise that warrant modifying or deleting 
previously made commitments. The decision to modify or delete the 
commitment will be made by the NEPA compliance staff in consultation 
with TVA legal counsel, after considering the environmental 
significance of such a change.


Sec.  1318.502  Tiering.

    TVA may rely on tiering for the environmental review of proposed 
actions. Tiering involves coverage of general matters in broader EISs 
or EAs on programs, plans, and policies, and subsequent narrower 
analyses of implementing actions that incorporate by reference the 
broader analyses (see 40 CFR 1508.28).


Sec.  1318.503  Programmatic and generic NEPA documents.

    (a) Programmatic or Generic EAs or EISs may be prepared to address 
proposed programs, policies, or plans or when a proposed action has a 
wide geographic scope.
    (b) Programmatic-level reviews can support proposed high-level or 
broad decisions as well as provide the foundation for the review of 
specific implementing actions that tier from the programmatic review. 
This promotes efficiency and can reduce analytical redundancy.
    (c) Ongoing, existing, or previously planned and approved actions 
that may be within the scope of a programmatic review may continue 
during the programmatic review period.
    (d) The identification of significant impacts in a programmatic EIS 
does not preclude the review of specific implementing actions in an EA 
that tiers from the programmatic EIS if the implementation of the 
implementing actions would not result in new or different significant 
impacts.


Sec.  1318.504  Private applicants.

    (a) In those cases when private applicants, persons or other non-
Federal entities (collectively ``private entity'') propose to undertake 
an action that will require TVA's approval or involvement, the 
contacted TVA entity will notify the NEPA compliance staff. That staff 
must determine, in consultation with TVA legal counsel, whether NEPA is 
triggered and the scope of the review of TVA's proposed action.
    (b) TVA will provide private entities information on their 
responsibilities for assisting TVA in conducting the necessary NEPA 
review. At TVA's discretion, this can include providing TVA detailed 
information about the scope and nature of the proposed action, 
environmental analyses and studies, and copies of associated 
environmental permit applications submitted to other Federal, State, or 
local agencies.
    (c) In identifying reasonable alternatives, TVA should consider the 
applicant's purpose and need, in addition to TVA's purpose and need.
    (d) Private entities may be allowed to prepare draft and final EAs 
or EISs for TVA's review and approval, but TVA remains responsible for 
the adequacy of the documents and the conduct of associated EA and EIS 
processes.
    (e) Private entities normally will be required to reimburse TVA for 
its costs in reviewing their proposed actions.
    (f) Participation of private entities in a TVA NEPA review, 
including reimbursement of TVA's costs, does not commit TVA to 
favorable action on a request.


Sec.  1318.505  Non-TVA EISs.

    (a) The NEPA compliance staff, in consultation with other 
interested TVA entities, will coordinate the review of EISs provided to 
TVA for comment by other Federal agencies.
    (b) The NEPA compliance staff, in consultation with TVA legal 
counsel as

[[Page 26629]]

appropriate, will prepare comments on such EISs and transmit them to 
the initiating agency (see 40 CFR 1503.2 and 1503.3).


Sec.  1318.506  Documents.

    The NEPA compliance staff must keep on file all final and approved 
environmental documents either in paper form or electronically, in 
accordance with TVA's records retention policy.


Sec.  1318.507  Reducing paperwork and delay.

    (a) These procedures are to be interpreted and applied with the aim 
of reducing paperwork and the delay of both the assessment and 
implementation of a proposed action.
    (b) Data and analyses should be commensurate with the importance of 
associated impacts. Less important material should be summarized, 
consolidated, or referenced.
    (c) Any environmental document may be combined with any other 
document to reduce duplication and paperwork.
    (d) Review of proposed actions under these procedures may be 
consolidated with other reviews where such consolidation would reduce 
duplication or increase efficiency.


Sec.  1318.508  Supplemental guidance.

    The NEPA compliance staff, in consultation with interested TVA 
entities and with concurrence of TVA legal counsel, may issue 
supplemental or explanatory guidance to these procedures.


Sec.  1318.509  Substantial compliance.

    (a) Flexibility is the key to implementing these procedures and 
reviewing proposed actions. The substance of reviews and processes 
rather than the form of reviews and processes is what is most 
important.
    (b) Substantial compliance with these procedures must be achieved, 
though minor deviations will be permitted.


Sec.  1318.510  Emergency actions.

    (a) Because of emergencies or unforeseen situations, some of the 
steps outlined in these procedures may be consolidated, modified, or 
omitted.
    (b) The NEPA compliance staff should consult with CEQ about 
alternative arrangements, which shall be limited to the immediate 
impacts of the emergency.
    (c) The NEPA compliance staff, with the concurrence of TVA legal 
counsel, must determine whether such changes would substantially comply 
with the intent of these procedures.
    (d) The official responsible for NEPA compliance shall document in 
writing the determination that an emergency exists and describe the 
responsive action(s) taken at the time the emergency exists. The form 
of that documentation is within the discretion of that official.


Sec.  1318.511  Modification of assignments.

    The assignments and responsibilities identified for TVA entities in 
these procedures can be modified by agreement of the entities involved 
or by the direction of TVA's Chief Executive Officer.


Sec.  1318.512  Status reports.

    Information or status reports on EISs and other related NEPA 
compliance activities and documents may be found on TVA's public Web 
site.


Sec.  1318.513  Official responsible for NEPA compliance efforts.

    The TVA official who is responsible for the management of the NEPA 
compliance staff is the person who is responsible for overall NEPA 
compliance.

Subpart G--Floodplains and Wetlands


Sec.  1318.600  Purpose and scope.

    (a) Consistent with Executive Order No. 11988 (Floodplain 
Management), as amended by Executive Order No. 13690 (Establishing a 
Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further 
Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input), and Executive Order No. 
11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and other such presidential orders or 
memoranda currently in effect, the review of a proposed action 
undertaken in accordance with Sec. Sec.  1318.200, 1318.300, and 
1318.400 that potentially affects floodplains or wetlands must include 
a floodplain or wetlands evaluation as required by this section.
    (b) As appropriate, floodplain evaluations must apply the Federal 
Flood Risk Management Standard to federally-funded projects.
    (c) A wetland evaluation under Executive Order 11990 is not 
required for the issuance of permits or licenses for activities 
involving wetlands on non-Federal lands.


Sec.  1318.601  Area of impact.

    (a) If a proposed action will potentially occur in or affect 
wetlands or floodplains, the initiating TVA entity, as soon as 
practicable in the planning process, will request the appropriate TVA 
staff with expertise in floodplain or wetland impact evaluations (``TVA 
staff'') to determine whether the proposed action will occur in or 
affect a wetland or floodplain and the level of impact, if any, on the 
wetland or floodplain.
    (b) Further floodplain or wetland evaluation is unnecessary if the 
TVA staff determines that the proposed action:
    (1) Is outside the floodplain or wetland,
    (2) Has no identifiable impacts on a floodplain or wetland, and
    (3) Does not directly or indirectly support floodplain development 
or wetland alteration.


Sec.  1318.602  Actions that will affect floodplains or wetlands.

    (a) When a proposed action can otherwise be categorically excluded 
under Sec.  1318.200 no additional floodplain or wetland evaluation is 
required if:
    (1) The initiating TVA entity determines that there is no 
practicable alternative that will avoid affecting floodplains or 
wetlands and that all practicable measures to minimize impacts of the 
proposed action to floodplains or wetlands are incorporated and
    (2) The TVA staff determines that impacts on the floodplain or 
wetland would be minor.
    (b) If the action requires an EA or an EIS, the evaluation must 
consider:
    (1) The effect of the proposed action on natural and beneficial 
floodplain and wetland values and
    (2) Alternatives to the proposed action that would eliminate or 
minimize such effects.
    (c) The initiating TVA entity must determine if there is no 
practicable alternative to siting in a floodplain or constructing in a 
wetland. Upon concurrence by the NEPA compliance staff in consultation 
with TVA legal counsel and TVA staff with expertise in floodplain or 
wetland impact evaluations, this determination shall be final. If a 
determination of no practicable alternative is made, all practicable 
measures to minimize impacts of the proposed action on the floodplain 
or wetland must be implemented. If at any time prior to commencement of 
the action it is determined that there is a practicable alternative 
that will avoid affecting floodplains or wetlands, the proposed action 
must not proceed.


Sec.  1318.603  Public notice.

    (a) Public notice of actions affecting floodplains or wetlands is 
not required if the action is categorically excluded under Sec.  
1318.200. If an EA or EIS is prepared and a determination of no 
practicable alternative is made in accordance with Sec.  1318.602, the 
initiating office must notify the public of a proposed action's 
potential impact

[[Page 26630]]

on the floodplain or wetland. Public notice of actions affecting 
floodplains or wetlands may be combined with any notice published by 
TVA or another Federal agency if such a notice generally meets the 
minimum requirements set forth in this section. Issuance of a draft or 
final EA or EIS for public review and comment will satisfy this notice 
requirement.
    (b) Public notices must at a minimum:
    (1) Briefly describe the proposed action and the potential impact 
on the floodplain or wetland;
    (2) Briefly identify alternative actions considered and explain why 
a determination of no practicable alternative has been proposed;
    (3) Briefly discuss measures that would be taken to minimize or 
mitigate floodplain or wetland impacts;
    (4) State when appropriate whether the action conforms to 
applicable State or local floodplain protection standards and the 
Federal Flood Risk Management Standard;
    (5) Specify a reasonable period of time within which the public can 
comment on the proposal; and
    (6) Identify the TVA official who can provide additional 
information on the proposed action and to whom comments should be sent.
    (c) Such notices must be issued in a manner designed to bring the 
proposed action to the attention of those members of the public likely 
to be interested in or affected by the action's potential impact on the 
floodplain or wetland.
    (d) TVA must consider all relevant and timely comments received in 
response to a notice and reevaluate the action as appropriate to take 
such comments into consideration before the proposed action is 
implemented.


Sec.  1318.604  Disposition of real property.

    When TVA property in a floodplain or wetland is proposed for lease, 
easement, right-of-way, or disposal to non-federal public or private 
parties and the action will not result in disturbance of the floodplain 
or wetland, a floodplain or wetland evaluation is not required. The 
conveyance document, however, must:
    (a) Require the other party to comply with all applicable Federal, 
State or local floodplain and wetland regulations, and
    (b) Identify other appropriate restrictions to minimize 
destruction, loss, or degradation of floodplains and wetlands and to 
preserve and enhance their natural and beneficial values, except when 
prohibited by law or unenforceable by TVA, or otherwise, the property 
must be withheld from conveyance or use.


Sec.  1318.605  General and class reviews.

    In lieu of site-specific reviews, TVA may conduct general or class 
reviews of similar or repetitive activities that occur in floodplains.

Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 1318--Categorical Exclusions

    The following actions are designated as categorical exclusions 
pursuant to Sec.  1318.200. Individual actions must be reviewed to 
determine if any of the extraordinary circumstances listed in Sec.  
1318.201 is present. If any of the extraordinary circumstances 
applies and cannot be mitigated, an EA or an EIS must be prepared.
    1. Educational or informational activities undertaken by TVA 
alone or in conjunction with other agencies, public and private 
entities, or the general public.
    2. Technical and planning assistance provided to State, local 
and private organizations and entities.
    3. Personnel actions.
    4. Procurement actions.
    5. Accounting, auditing, financial reports and disbursement of 
funds.
    6. Transactions (contracts, agreements or other instruments) for 
the sale, purchase, or interchange of electricity not resulting in 
the construction and operation of new generating facilities or in 
major modifications to existing generating facilities or associated 
electrical transmission infrastructure.
    7. Administrative actions consisting solely of paperwork.
    8. Communication, transportation, computer service and office 
services.
    9. Property protection activities that do not physically alter 
facilities or grounds, law enforcement and other legal activities.
    10. Emergency preparedness actions not involving the 
modification of existing facilities or grounds.
    11. Minor actions to address threats to public health and 
safety, including, but not limited to, temporary prohibition of 
existing uses of TVA land or property, short-term closures of sites, 
and selective removal of trees that pose a hazard.
    12. Site characterization, data collection, inventory 
preparation, planning, monitoring, and other similar activities that 
have little to no physical impact.
    13. Engineering and environmental studies that involve minor 
physical impacts, including but not limited to, soil borings, dye-
testing, installation of monitoring stations and groundwater test 
wells, and minor actions to facilitate access to a site.
    14. Conducting or funding minor research, development and 
demonstration projects and programs.
    15. Transmission and utility line right-of-way maintenance 
actions occurring within an existing maintained right-of-way, 
including routine vegetation management, removal of danger trees 
outside the right-of-way, and access road improvements or 
construction (generally no more than 1 mile of road construction 
outside the right-of-way).
    16. Construction of new transmission line infrastructure, 
including electric transmission lines generally no more than 10 
miles in length and that require no more than 125 acres of new 
developed rights-of-way and no more than 1 mile of new access road 
construction outside the right-of-way; and/or construction of 
electric power substations or interconnection facilities, including 
switching stations, phase or voltage conversions, and support 
facilities that generally require the physical disturbance of no 
more than 10 acres.
    17. Modification, repair, maintenance, or upgrade of, and minor 
addition to existing transmission infrastructure, including work on 
power equipment and structures within existing substations and 
switching stations as well as work on existing transmission lines; 
the addition, retirement, and/or replacement of breakers, 
transformers, bushings, and relays; transmission line uprate, 
modification, reconductoring, and clearance resolution for 
transmission lines; limited pole replacement; and access road 
improvements and construction (generally no more than 1 mile of road 
construction outside the right-of-way).
    18. Construction, modification and operation of communication 
facilities and/or equipment, including power line carriers, 
insulated overhead ground wires/fiber optic cables, devices for 
electricity transmission control and monitoring, VHF radios, and 
microwaves and support towers.
    19. Removal of conductors and structures, and/or the cessation 
of right-of-way vegetation management, when existing transmissions 
lines are retired; or the rebuilding of transmission lines within or 
contiguous to existing rights-of-way involving generally no more 
than 25 miles in length and no more than 125 acres of expansion of 
the existing right-of-way.
    20. Purchase, conveyance, exchange, lease, license, and/or 
disposal of existing substations, substation equipment, switchyards, 
and/or transmission lines and rights-of-way and associated equipment 
between TVA and other utilities and/or customers.
    21. Purchase or lease and subsequent operation of existing 
combustion turbine or combined-cycle plants for which there is 
existing adequate transmission and interconnection to the TVA 
transmission system and whose planned operation by TVA is within 
existing environmental permits for the purchased or leased facility.
    22. Development of dispersed recreation sites (generally not to 
exceed 10 acres in size) to support activities such as hunting, 
fishing, primitive camping, wildlife observation, hiking, and 
mountain biking. Actions include, but are not limited to, 
installation of guardrails, gates and signage, stabilization of 
sites, trail construction, and access improvements/controls.
    23. Development of public use areas that generally result in the 
physical disturbance of no more than 10 acres, including, but not 
limited to, construction of parking areas, campgrounds, stream 
access points, and day use areas.
    24. Minor actions conducted by non-TVA entities on TVA property 
to be authorized under contract, license, permit, or covenant 
agreements, including those for utility crossings, agricultural 
uses, recreational uses,

[[Page 26631]]

rental of structures, and sales of miscellaneous structures and 
materials from TVA land.
    25. Transfer, lease, or disposal (sale, abandonment or exchange) 
of tracts of land, mineral rights, landrights, and rights in 
ownership of permanent structures that are minor in nature.
    26. Approvals under Section 26a of the TVA Act of minor 
structures, boat docks and ramps, and shoreline facilities.
    27. Installation of minor shoreline structures or facilities, 
boat docks and ramps, and bank stabilization (generally up to \1/2\ 
mile in length) by TVA.
    28. Modifications to land use plans to rectify minor 
administrative errors or to incorporate new information that is 
consistent with a previously approved decision included in the plan; 
amendments to land use allocations to a more restrictive or 
protective allocation (e.g., from industrial use to natural resource 
conservation) provided that any such allocation is consistent with 
other TVA plans and policies; or minor amendments to land use 
allocations to implement TVA's shoreline or land management 
policies.
    29. Actions to restore and enhance wetlands, riparian, and 
aquatic ecosystems that generally involve physical disturbance of no 
more than 125 acres, including, but not limited to, construction of 
small water control structures; revegetation actions using native 
materials; construction of small berms, dikes, and fish attractors; 
removal of debris and sediment following natural or human-caused 
disturbance events; installation of silt fences; construction of 
limited access routes for purposes of routine maintenance and 
management; and reintroduction or supplementation of native, 
formerly native, or established species into suitable habitat within 
their historic or established range.
    30. Actions to maintain, restore, or enhance terrestrial 
ecosystems that generally involve physical disturbance of no more 
than 125 acres, including, but not limited to, establishment and 
maintenance of non-invasive vegetation; bush hogging; prescribed 
fires; installation of nesting and roosting structures, fencing, and 
cave gates; and reintroduction or supplementation of native, 
formerly native, or established species into suitable habitat within 
their historic or established range.
    31. The following forest management activities:
    a. Actions to manipulate species composition and age class, 
including, but not limited to, harvesting or thinning of live trees 
and other timber stand improvement actions (e.g., prescribed burns, 
non-commercial removal, chemical control), generally covering up to 
125 acres and requiring no more than 1 mile of temporary or seasonal 
permanent road construction;
    b. Actions to salvage dead and/or dying trees including, but not 
limited to, harvesting of trees to control insects or disease or 
address storm damage (including removal of affected trees and 
adjacent live, unaffected trees as determined necessary to control 
the spread of insects or disease), generally covering up to 250 
acres and requiring no more than 1 mile of temporary or seasonal 
permanent road construction; and
    c. Actions to regenerate forest stands, including, but not 
limited to, planting of native tree species upon site preparation, 
generally covering up to 125 acres and requiring no more than 1 mile 
of temporary or seasonal permanent road construction.
    32. Actions to manage invasive plants including, but not limited 
to, chemical applications, mechanical removal, and manual treatments 
that generally do not physically disturb more than 125 acres of 
land.
    33. Actions to protect cultural resources including, but not 
limited to, fencing, gating, signing, and bank stabilization 
(generally up to \1/2\ mile in length when along stream banks or 
reservoir shoreline).
    34. Reburial of human remains or objects (including 
repatriations) on TVA land.
    35. Installation or modification (but not expansion) of 
groundwater withdrawal wells, or plugging and abandonment of 
groundwater or other wells. Site characterization must verify a low 
potential for seismicity, subsidence, and contamination of 
freshwater aquifers.
    36. Routine operation, repair or in-kind replacement, and 
maintenance actions for existing buildings, infrastructure systems, 
facility grounds, public use areas, recreation sites, and operating 
equipment at or within the immediate vicinity of TVA's generation 
and other facilities. Covered actions are those which are required 
to maintain and preserve assets in their current location and in a 
condition suitable for use for its designated purpose. Such actions 
will not result in a substantial change in the design capacity, 
function, or operation. (Routine actions that include replacement or 
changes to major components of buildings, facilities, infrastructure 
systems, or facility grounds, and actions requiring new permits or 
changes to an existing permit(s) are addressed in CE 37). Such 
actions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
    a. Regular servicing of in-plant and on-site equipment 
(including during routine outages) such as gear boxes, generators, 
turbines and bearings, duct work, conveyers, and air preheaters; 
fuel supply systems; unloading and handling equipment for fuel; 
handling equipment for ash, gypsum or other by-products or waste; 
hydropower, navigation and flood control equipment; water quality 
and air emissions control or reduction equipment; and other 
operating system or ancillary components that do not substantially 
increase emissions or discharges beyond current permitted levels;
    b. Routine testing and calibration of facility components, 
subsystems, or portable equipment (such as control valves, in-core 
monitoring devices, transformers, capacitors, monitoring wells, 
weather stations, and flumes);
    c. Routine cleaning and decontamination, including to surfaces 
of equipment, rooms, and building systems (including HVAC and septic 
systems);
    d. Repair or replacement of plumbing, electrical utilities, 
sewerage, pipelines, and telephone and other communication service;
    e. Repair or replacement of doors, windows, walls, ceilings, 
roofs, floors and lighting fixtures in structures less than 50 years 
old;
    f. Painting and paint removal at structures less than 50 years 
old, including actions taken to contain, remove, or dispose of lead-
based paint when in accordance with applicable requirements;
    g. Recycling and/or removal of materials, debris, and solid 
waste from facilities, in accordance with applicable requirements;
    h. Routine removal of minor amounts of asbestos-containing 
materials, in accordance with applicable requirements;
    i. Routine removal of minor amounts of contaminated intact 
equipment and other contaminated material, in accordance with 
applicable requirements;
    j. Grounds keeping actions, including mowing and landscaping, 
snow and ice removal, application of fertilizer, erosion control and 
soil stabilization measures (such as reseeding and revegetation), 
removal of dead or undesirable vegetation with a diameter of less 
than 3 inches (at breast height), and leaf and litter collection and 
removal;
    k. Repair or replacement of gates and fences;
    l. Maintenance of hazard buoys;
    m. Maintenance of groundwater wells, discharge structures, pipes 
and diffusers;
    n. Maintenance and repair of process, wastewater, and stormwater 
ponds and associated piping, pumping, and treatment systems;
    o. Maintenance and repair of subimpoundments and associated 
piping and water control structures;
    p. Debris removal and maintenance of intake structures and 
constructed intake channels including sediment removal to return 
them to the originally-constructed configuration; and
    q. Clean up of minor spills as part of routine operations.
    37. Modifications, upgrades, uprates, and other actions that 
alter existing buildings, infrastructure systems, facility grounds, 
and plant equipment, or their function, performance, and operation. 
Such actions, which generally will not physically disturb more than 
10 acres, include but are not limited to, the following:
    a. Replacement or changes to major components of existing 
buildings, facilities, infrastructure systems, facility grounds, and 
equipment that are like-kind in nature;
    b. Modifications, improvements, or operational changes to in-
plant and on-site equipment that do not substantially alter 
emissions or discharges beyond current permitted limits. Examples of 
equipment include, but are not limited to: Gear boxes, generators, 
turbines and bearings, duct work, conveyers, superheaters, 
economizers, air preheaters, unloading and handling equipment for 
fuel; handling equipment for ash, gypsum or other by-products or 
waste; hydropower, navigation and flood control equipment; air and 
water quality control equipment; control, storage, and treatment 
systems (e.g. automation, alarms, fire suppression, ash ponds, 
gypsum storage, and ammonia storage and handling systems); and other 
operating system or ancillary components;
    c. Installation of new sidewalks, fencing, and parking areas at 
an existing facility;

[[Page 26632]]

    d. Installation or upgrades of HVAC systems;
    e. Modifications to water intake and outflow structures provided 
that intake velocities and volumes and water effluent quality and 
volumes are consistent with existing permit limits;
    f. Repair or replacement of doors, windows, walls, ceilings, 
roofs, floors and lighting fixtures in structures greater than 50 
years old; and
    g. Painting and paint removal at structures greater than 50 
years old, including actions taken to contain, remove and dispose of 
lead-based paint when in accordance with applicable requirements.
    38. Siting, construction, and use of buildings and associated 
infrastructure physically disturbing generally no more than 10 acres 
of undisturbed land or 25 acres of previously-disturbed land.
    39. Siting and temporary placement and operation of trailers, 
prefabricated and modular buildings, or tanks on previously 
disturbed sites at an existing TVA facility.
    40. Demolition and disposal of structures, buildings, equipment 
and associated infrastructure and subsequent site reclamation, 
subject to applicable review for historical value, on sites 
generally less than 10 acres in size.
    41. Actions to maintain roads, trails, and parking areas 
(including resurfacing, cleaning, asphalt repairs, and placing 
gravel) that do not involve new ground disturbance (i.e., no 
grading).
    42. Improvements to existing roads, trails, and parking areas, 
including, but not limited to, scraping and regrading; regrading of 
embankments, installation or replacement of culverts; and minor 
expansions.
    43. Actions to enhance and control access to TVA property 
including, but not limited to, construction of and improvements to 
access road and parking area (generally no greater than 1 mile in 
length and physically disturbing no more than 10 acres of 
undisturbed land or 25 acres of previously-disturbed land) and 
installation of control measures such as gates, fences, or post and 
cable.
    44. Small-scale, non-emergency cleanup of solid waste or 
hazardous waste (other than high-level radioactive waste and spent 
nuclear fuel) to reduce risk to human health or the environment. 
Actions include collection and treatment (such as incineration, 
encapsulation, physical or chemical separation, and compaction), 
recovery, storage, or disposal of wastes at existing facilities 
currently handling the type of waste involved in the action.
    45. Installation, modification, and operation of the following 
types of renewable or waste-heat recovery energy projects which 
increase generating capacity at an existing TVA facility, generally 
comprising of physical disturbance to no more than 10 acres of 
undisturbed land or 25 acres of previously-disturbed land:
    a. Combined heat and power or cogeneration systems at existing 
buildings or sites;
    b. Solar photovoltaic systems mounted on the ground, an existing 
building or other structure (such as a rooftop, parking lot or 
facility and mounted to signage lighting, gates or fences);
    c. A small number of wind turbines with a height generally less 
than 200 feet (measured from the ground to the maximum height of 
blade rotation) that are located more than 10 nautical miles from an 
airport or aviation navigational aid and more than 1.5 nautical 
miles from a National Weather Service or Federal Aviation 
Administration radar;
    d. Small-scale biomass power plants (generally less than 10 
megawatts) using commercially available technology intended to 
primarily support operations in single facilities or contiguous 
facilities (such as an office complex) and that is located within a 
previously disturbed or developed area and uses agricultural residue 
products or wood waste as its fuel supply; and
    e. Methane gas electric generating systems using commercially 
available technology installed within a previously disturbed or 
developed area on or contiguous to an existing landfill or 
wastewater treatment plant.
    46. Installation, modification, operation, and removal of 
commercially available small-scale, drop-in, run-of-the-river 
hydroelectric systems that do not require construction of new water 
storage structures or new water diversion from a stream or river 
channel. Covered systems would be located up-gradient of natural 
fish barriers and outside of any navigation channels and involve no 
major construction or modification of stream or river channels.
    47. Modifications to the TVA rate structure (i.e., rate change) 
and any associated modifications to contracts for pricing energy or 
demand for wholesale end-users or direct serve customers of TVA 
power or development of new or modified pricing products that result 
in no or only minor increases in peak or base load energy generation 
or that result in system-wide demand reduction.
    48. Financial and technical assistance for programs conducted by 
non-TVA entities to promote energy efficiency or water conservation, 
including, but not limited to, assistance for installation or 
replacement of energy efficient appliances, insulation, HVAC 
systems, plumbing fixtures, and water heating systems.
    49. Financial assistance including, but not limited to, 
approving and administering grants, loans and rebates for the 
renovation or minor upgrading of existing facilities, established or 
developing industrial parks, or existing infrastructure; the 
extension of infrastructure; geotechnical boring; and construction 
of commercial and light industrial buildings. Generally, such 
assistance supports actions that physically disturb no more than 10 
acres of undisturbed land or no more than 25 acres of previously-
disturbed land.
    50. Financial assistance for the following actions: Approving 
and administering grants, loans and rebates for continued operations 
or purchase of existing facilities and infrastructure for uses 
substantially the same as the current use; purchasing, installing, 
and replacing equipment or machinery at existing facilities; and 
completing engineering designs, architectural drawings, surveys, and 
site assessments (except when tree clearing, geotechnical boring, or 
other land disturbance would occur).

Jacinda B. Woodward,
Senior Vice President, Resources and River Management.

[FR Doc. 2017-11784 Filed 6-7-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P