Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Draft Environmental Assessment Project Name: Fukushima Response Strategy Project Number: 2012-12 FUKUSHIMA RESPONSE STRATEGY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Hamilton and Rhea Counties, Tennessee and Limestone County, Alabama Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Knoxville, Tennessee March 2013 This page intentionally left blank Symbols, Acronyms, and Abbreviations Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Related Environmental Reviews .............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................................ 6 1.5 Necessary Permits or Licenses ............................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Description of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 9 2.1.1 The No Action Alternative .................................................................................................. 9 2.1.2 The Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Further Discussion .................................. 14 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Identification of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 16 2.4 The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 17 3.1 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases ....................................................................................... 20 3.2 Solid, Hazardous, and Radiological Wastes .......................................................................... 21 3.2.1 Browns Ferry ................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.2 Sequoyah ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.3 Watts Bar ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.3 Floodplains and Flood Risk .................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1 Browns Ferry ................................................................................................................... 23 3.3.2 Sequoyah ......................................................................................................................... 23 3.3.3 Watts Bar ......................................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 24 3.4.1 Browns Ferry ................................................................................................................... 24 3.4.2 Sequoyah ......................................................................................................................... 25 3.4.3 Watts Bar ......................................................................................................................... 25 3.5 Endangered and Threatened Species ................................................................................... 25 3.5.1 Browns Ferry ................................................................................................................... 27 3.5.2 Sequoyah ......................................................................................................................... 28 3.5.3 Watts Bar ......................................................................................................................... 28 3.6 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 29 3.6.1 Browns Ferry ................................................................................................................... 29 3.6.2 Sequoyah ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.6.3 Watts Bar ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.7 Other Environmental Resources ............................................................................................ 30 3.7.1 Radiological Concerns ..................................................................................................... 30 3.7.2 Seismic Risk .................................................................................................................... 30 3.7.3 Visual and Aesthetic Character ....................................................................................... 31 3.7.4 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ................................................................... 32 3.7.5 Groundwater .................................................................................................................... 32 3.7.6 Surface Water and Aquatic Life ....................................................................................... 33 3.7.7 Vegetation and Wildlife .................................................................................................... 35 3.7.8 Transportation ................................................................................................................. 37 CHAPTER 4 – ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .................................................................... 39 4.1 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases ....................................................................................... 41 Environmental Assessment i Fukushima Response Strategy 4.1.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 41 4.1.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 42 4.2 Solid, Hazardous, and Radiological Waste ............................................................................ 42 4.2.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 42 4.2.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 42 4.3 Floodplains and Flood Risk .................................................................................................... 43 4.3.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 43 4.3.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 43 4.4 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 44 4.4.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 44 4.4.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 44 4.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 44 4.5.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 44 4.5.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 44 4.6 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 45 4.6.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 45 4.6.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 45 4.7 Other Environmental Resources ............................................................................................ 46 4.7.1 Radiological Concerns ..................................................................................................... 46 4.7.2 Seismic Risk .................................................................................................................... 46 4.7.3 Visual and Aesthetic Character ......................................................................................