[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32269-32270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10653]


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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY


Pumped Storage Hydro Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is conducting a study to 
evaluate increasing pumped storage hydropower (PSH) capacity within its 
power service area. To meet its obligations under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), TVA is preparing a Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential new PSH 
facilities at two locations in Jackson County, Alabama and expansion of 
the existing Raccoon Mountain PSH Plant in Marion County, Tennessee. 
Based on the findings of the PEIS, TVA may potentially select one or 
more sites as the need for long-duration energy storage increases. The 
PEIS will consider potential environmental and economic impacts from 
the construction and operation at each site.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments on the scope and environmental 
issues must be postmarked, emailed, or submitted online no later than 
July 5, 2023. To facilitate the scoping process, TVA will hold a 
virtual public scoping meeting; see https://www.tva.gov/nepa for more 
information on the meeting.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Elizabeth Smith, NEPA 
Compliance Specialist, 400 West Summit Hill Dr., WT 11D, Knoxville, TN 
37902-1499. Comments may also be submitted online at: https://www.tva.gov/nepa or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about the NEPA 
process and/or general project information, please email 
[email protected], or NEPA Specialist, Elizabeth Smith, at 
(865) 632-3053.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided in accordance with 
the Council on Environmental Quality's Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 
to 1508) and TVA's procedures for implementing the NEPA. TVA is an 
agency and instrumentality of the United States, established by an act 
of Congress in 1933, to foster the social and economic welfare of the 
people of the Tennessee Valley region and to promote the proper use and 
conservation of the region's natural resources. One component of this 
mission is the generation, transmission, and sale of reliable and 
affordable electric energy.
    The analyses in a programmatic NEPA review are valuable in setting 
out the broad view of environmental impacts and benefits for a proposed 
decision such as a rulemaking, or establishing a policy, program, or 
plan. That programmatic NEPA review can then be relied upon when 
agencies make decisions based on the programmatic EIS, as well as 
decisions based on a subsequent (also known as tiered) NEPA review.

Background

    PSH is a type of hydroelectric energy storage that consists of two 
water reservoirs at different elevations in which water can be pumped 
to the higher elevation reservoir during periods in which energy 
storage is needed and then can be released during periods when energy 
is needed on the electrical grid. PSH is utilized for long term storage 
to provide for reserves on the grid, use excess energy to store water 
in the higher reservoir when demand drops below the base load 
generation, and to support intermittent generation for renewables such 
as wind and solar.
    TVA is planning a substantial decarbonization effort and aspires to 
be carbon neutral by 2050. As part of these efforts, long-duration 
storage (8 to 12 hours) will be needed to balance the daily energy 
cycle. This long-duration storage will enable additional generation 
from solar, new nuclear, and carbon capture technologies.
    Long duration energy storage, like pumped storage, supports nuclear 
generation and carbon capture technologies by assisting with load 
balancing and allowing these technologies to run nearly full time, 
which is important as these technologies are generally not conducive to 
following the demand curve and work best when running fully loaded. PSH 
is a reliable and proven technology. The addition of pumped storage 
hydro facilities could also help TVA maintain grid stability and 
reliability in the future grid with less dispatchable generation and 
greater minute-by-minute variability due to fluctuations in output from 
renewables such as solar and wind.

Project Purpose and Need

    TVA is planning a substantial decarbonization effort with 
aspirations of being carbon neutral by 2050. To meet these goals, long-
duration storage (8 to 12 hours) will be needed to balance the daily 
energy cycle. This long-duration storage will enable additional 
generation from solar, new nuclear, and carbon capture technologies.
    Long duration energy storage, like pumped storage, supports nuclear 
generation and carbon capture technologies by assisting with load 
balancing and allowing these technologies to run nearly full time, 
which is important as these technologies are generally not conducive to 
following the demand curve and work best when running fully loaded. PSH 
is a reliable and proven technology. The addition of pumped storage 
hydro facilities could also help TVA maintain grid stability and 
reliability in the future grid with less dispatchable generation and 
greater minute-by-minute variability due to fluctuations in output from 
renewables such as solar and wind.
    The purpose of this PEIS is to evaluate the potential for pumped 
storage facilities in two areas in Jackson County, Alabama, and an 
expansion of the existing facility at Raccoon Mountain and to consider 
potential environmental and economic impacts from the construction and 
operation of pumped storage facilities at each site. After the PEIS, 
one or more sites will be further evaluated, and transmission line 
siting performed. The impacts of that evaluation and transmission 
options for the preferred site(s) will be considered in a future 
supplement to this PEIS.

[[Page 32270]]

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    TVA has initially identified four alternatives for evaluation in 
the PEIS associated with the proposed pumped storage hydro facilities. 
These include a No Action Alternative and three Action Alternatives. 
Under the No Action Alternative, TVA will evaluate and consider the 
impact of not including additional PSH in TVA's energy storage fleet. 
TVA will evaluate and consider each of the Action Alternatives to 
determine which site(s) are best suited for pumped storage. The Action 
Alternatives will include the expansion of the existing PSH facility at 
Raccoon Mountain, constructing a new facility near Pisgah, Alabama 
(Rorex Creek), and constructing a new facility near Fabius, Alabama 
(Widows Creek). Both new facilities would be located within Jackson 
County, Alabama.
    The description and analysis of these alternatives in the PEIS will 
inform decision makers, other agencies, and the public about the 
potential for environmental impacts associated with the proposed PSH 
facilities. TVA solicits comment on whether there are other 
alternatives that should be assessed in the PEIS. TVA also requests 
information and analyses that may be relevant to the project.

Anticipated Environmental Impacts

    Public scoping is integral to the process for implementing NEPA and 
ensures that (1) issues are identified early and properly studied, (2) 
issues of little significance do not consume substantial time and 
effort, and (3) the analysis of identified issues is thorough and 
balanced. This PEIS will identify the purpose and need of the Action 
Alternatives and will contain descriptions of the existing 
environmental and socioeconomic resources within the area that could be 
affected by the proposed project. Evaluation of potential environmental 
impacts to these resources will include, but not be limited to, water 
resources, biological resources, cultural resources, natural areas and 
recreation, navigation, utilities, recreation, geology and groundwater, 
air quality and climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, land use and 
prime farmland, noise, public health and safety, socioeconomics and 
environmental justice, solid and hazardous waste and material, 
transportation, and visual resources. The PEIS will analyze measures 
that would avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental effects.
    The final range of issues to be addressed in the environmental 
review will be determined, in part, from scoping comments received. TVA 
is particularly interested in public input on other reasonable 
alternatives that should be considered in the PEIS. The preliminary 
identification of reasonable alternatives and environmental issues in 
this notice is not meant to be exhaustive or final.

Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations

    TVA anticipates consulting with the required authorities including, 
but not limited to: the Endangered Species Act; Bald and Golden Eagle 
Protection Act; Rare Species Protection and Conservation Act; National 
Historic Preservation Act; Clean Air Act; and Federal Clean Water Act.
    TVA anticipates seeking required permits or authorizations as 
appropriate, from the following governmental entities: U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Alabama Department 
of Environment and Conservation; Tennessee Department of Environment 
and Conservation; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Alabama State 
Historic Preservation Officer; Tennessee State Historic Preservation 
Officer; and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers. This is not an 
exhaustive list, other permits or authorizations may be sought as 
required or appropriate.

Public Participation and Scoping Process

    The public is invited to submit comments on the scope of the PEIS 
no later than the date identified in the DATES section of this notice. 
Federal, state, and local agencies and Native American Tribes are also 
invited to provide comments. Information about this project is 
available on the TVA web page at https://www.tva.gov/nepa, including a 
link to an online public comment page.

SEIS Preparation and Schedule

    Any comments received, including names and addresses, will become 
part of the administrative record and will be available for public 
inspection. After consideration of comments received during the scoping 
period, TVA will develop a scoping document that will summarize public 
and agency comments that were received and identify the schedule for 
completing the PEIS process.
    Following analysis of the resources and issues, TVA will prepare a 
draft PEIS for public review and comment tentatively scheduled for late 
2024/early 2025; the final PEIS and decision is tentatively scheduled 
for 2025. In finalizing the PEIS and in making its final decision, TVA 
will consider the comments that it receives on the draft PEIS. A final 
determination on proceeding with the preferred alternative will be 
documented in a Record of Decision.
    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9.

Susan Jacks,
General Manager, Environmental Resource Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-10653 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P