[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55207-55208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22440]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Cumberland Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residuals Management 
Operations

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Amended Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is amending its June 7, 
2018 Record of Decision (ROD) for the Cumberland Fossil Plant Coal 
Combustion Residuals Management Operations Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS). The 2018 ROD indicated TVA's intent to construct and 
operate a bottom ash dewatering facility, process water basins, and an 
onsite landfill at the Cumberland Fossil Plant (CUF). During the design 
and permitting process, limitations were encountered which required a 
shift in the onsite landfill's location. Additionally, TVA proposes to 
use the future onsite landfill as a repository for both existing and 
future CCR, rather than using the existing Fly Ash Stack as the storage 
facility for existing CCR. In August 2019, TVA completed a supplemental 
review, analyzing the potential impacts of the proposed landfill shift. 
This amended ROD incorporates TVA's decisions relating to the 
modifications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: W. Douglas White, NEPA Project 
Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902; Telephone: 865-632-2252 or Email: 
[email protected]. The Final EIS, this amended Record of Decision (ROD) 
and other project documents are available on TVA's website https://www.tva.gov/nepa nepa.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided in accordance with 
the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations and the TVA 
procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. On 
June 7, 2018, TVA published in the Federal Register (68 FR 53421) its 
ROD for the Cumberland Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residuals 
Management Operations Final Environmental Impact Statement. The Final 
EIS identified Alternative C as TVA's preferred alternative, which 
includes the construction and operation of a Bottom Ash Dewatering 
Facility, closure-in-place of the Bottom Ash Impoundment, and a 
combination of closure-in-place and closure-by-removal of the Main Ash 
Impoundment and Stilling Impoundment. The portion of the Main Ash 
Impoundment and Stilling Impoundment that would be closed-by-removal 
would be repurposed as Process Water Basin 1 and Process Water Basin 2, 
respectively. The CCR that is removed from the impoundments would be 
transported to an existing onsite landfill (Fly Ash Stack). TVA elected 
to further consider options regarding the location for the permanent 
disposal of CCR excavated from these impoundments to support 
construction of the process water basins. In addition, TVA would 
construct an onsite landfill to manage future dry CCR produced at CUF.
    TVA's CCR disposal areas at CUF, including the impoundments, are 
subject to the 2015 Commissioner's Order entered by the Tennessee 
Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Investigations at 
CUF under that TDEC Order are ongoing. Therefore, TVA elected to 
further consider the proposed in-place closure of the Bottom Ash 
Impoundment and a portion of the Main Ash Impoundment before making a 
decision on closure of these facilities to allow the execution of the 
requirements of the TDEC Order to guide closure activities to the 
maximum extent possible.
    As described in the Final EIS and subsequent ROD, TVA intends to 
construct and operate a new CCR landfill approximately 1.2 miles 
southwest of the plant site on CUF property. The approximately 80-acre 
landfill would have a total estimated capacity of 14.3 million cubic 
yards which provides adequate CCR storage for long-range planning 
purposes. TVA has decided to consider the future onsite CCR landfill 
for permanent storage of the CCR removed from a portion of the Main Ash 
Impoundment and Stilling Impoundment to support construction of the 
process water basins.
    In addition, in consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
and TDEC, TVA has proposed a revised design of the future onsite CCR 
landfill that avoids direct impacts to surface water features 
associated with impoundments within the landfill boundary. This revised 
design includes the relocation of the proposed stormwater basin and the 
replacement of the proposed leachate impoundment with a leachate tank 
farm. However, the relocation of these facilities required additional 
area outside the boundary reviewed in the Final EIS. Additionally,

[[Page 55208]]

some areas along the eastern portion of the project area that were 
included in the original landfill boundary would no longer be needed to 
support development of the landfill. The revised landfill boundary 
encompasses a total of approximately 242 acres, compared to the 
original 174 acres, resulting in a net change of approximately 68 acres 
of additional disturbance.
    In August 2019, TVA completed a supplemental review providing an 
analysis of potential impacts associated with the proposed change in 
the future onsite CCR landfill boundary and the use of this onsite 
landfill as a repository for both existing and future CCR rather than 
using the Fly Ash Stack (as originally proposed) as the storage 
facility for existing CCR. TVA now amends the June 2018 ROD (Federal 
Register Vol. 83, No. 110) to incorporate the revised proposal. By this 
notice, TVA is providing notification of its decision and agency 
reasoning.

Environmental Consequences

    In the Supplemental Analysis, TVA adopted the analysis in the 2018 
Cumberland Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residuals Management Operations 
Final EIS and provided supplemental analysis of the potential impacts 
with the proposed change in the future onsite CCR landfill boundary, in 
addition to using this new landfill as a repository for both existing 
and future CCR. The 2018 Final EIS identified that existing CCR would 
be placed in the Fly Ash Stack.
    The proposed changes to the landfill location would increase the 
project's footprint by 68 acres. The proposed change would impact an 
additional 66 acres of low quality summer roosting and foraging habitat 
for threatened and endangered bats. An additional 2.0 acres of wetlands 
is within the revised project boundary. While additional water features 
were identified within the revised landfill boundary, the stormwater 
impoundment would be relocated and the leachate impoundment would be 
replaced by a tank system, therefore avoiding direct stream impacts. 
The remaining resources analyzed in the 2018 FEIS, including air 
quality, geology, groundwater, cultural and historic resources, public 
health and safety, parks and recreation, natural areas, visual 
resources, and socioeconomics and environmental justice, would see no 
additional impacts as a result of this increase.
    Impacts to additional environmental resources would be slightly 
higher than those discussed in the 2018 Final EIS as well. However, the 
impacts would be minor and do not alter the overall impact findings and 
conclusions of the 2018 Final EIS.

Amended Decision

    TVA has decided to amend the June 7, 2018 ROD to incorporate the 
proposed change in the future onsite CCR landfill boundary and the use 
of this onsite landfill as a repository for both existing and future 
CCR. The proposed action would result in additional impacts to 
resources than those reviewed in the 2018 Final EIS. However, the 
impacts would be minor and do not alter the overall impact finding and 
conclusions of the Final EIS.

Mitigation Measures

    The June 7, 2018 ROD lists mitigation measures associated with the 
Cumberland Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residuals Management Operations 
Final EIS to reduce adverse impacts associated with the proposed 
actions. These mitigation measures will remain in effect and are listed 
below. No new mitigation measures were identified during the 
supplemental analysis.
     A TDEC Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit and U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers 404 permit will be required for disturbance to 
wetlands and stream features, and the terms and conditions of these 
permits would likely require mitigation for these proposed activities. 
TVA will adhere to all conditions stipulated in these permits.
     TVA will implement groundwater mitigation measures that 
could include monitoring, assessment, or corrective action programs as 
mandated by state and federal requirements. The CCR Rule and state 
requirements provide an additional layer of groundwater protection to 
minimize risk.
     TVA will coordinate with the Tennessee Department of 
Transportation and Stewart County transportation officials as needed to 
develop appropriate mitigation measures to reduce localized temporary 
transportation effects.
     Potential impacts to Wells Creek and/or Scott Branch from 
landfill leachate and stormwater discharges will be mitigated as 
required to meet permit requirements.
     Forested land within the proposed landfill project area is 
of low summer roosting quality for threatened and endangered bats, 
although it may be used as a foraging area. Section 7 consultation with 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been completed. No tree removal 
would occur between June 1 and July 31 to avoid any potential direct 
impact to juvenile bats at a time when they are unable to fly.
     TVA executed a memorandum of agreement with the Tennessee 
State Historic Preservation Officer to address the adverse effects of 
National Register of Historic Places listed site 40SW219.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1505.2.

    Dated: October 4, 2019.
Robert M. Deacy, Sr.,
Senior Vice President Generation Construction, Projects & Services.
[FR Doc. 2019-22440 Filed 10-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8120-08-P