Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Final EA Project Name: Shawnee Fossil Plant Units 1 and 4 Project Number: 2015-2 SHAWNEE FOSSIL PLANT UNITS 1 AND 4 West Paducah, Kentucky FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Knoxville, Tennessee December 2014 For further information, contact: Charles P. Nicholson, PhD NEPA Compliance Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D Knoxville, TN 37902-1499 Phone: 865-632-3582 E-Mail: [email protected] Final EA – Shawnee Units 1 and 4 This page intentionally left blank Table of Contents Table of Contents SYMBOLS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................... VI 1. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION .................................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Shawnee Fossil Plant ............................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Related Environmental Reviews and Consultation Requirements .......................................... 3 1.4 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................................ 4 Public and Agency Involvement ..................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Necessary Permits or Licenses ............................................................................................... 6 2. ALTERNATIVES ...................................................................................................................... 7 Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 7 2.1.1 Alternative A – The No Action Alternative ......................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Alternative B – Retire SHF Units 1 and 4 .......................................................................... 7 2.1.3 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ......... 8 FGD Systems ............................................................................................................................. 8 SCR Equipment ........................................................................................................................ 12 Electrical System Components ................................................................................................ 13 2.1.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Further Discussion .................................. 13 Repower Units 1 and 4 to Burn Renewable Biomass Fuel ...................................................... 13 Retire Units 1 and 4, Rely on Energy Efficiency or Renewable Energy .................................. 14 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Identification of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 16 2.4 The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................................................... 17 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....................... 18 Air Quality and Climate Change ...................................................................................................... 18 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 18 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 18 Climate Change ....................................................................................................................... 20 Greenhouse Gases .................................................................................................................. 21 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 22 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ....................................................................................... 22 Alternative B – SHF Unit Retirement ....................................................................................... 22 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ............... 22 Resource Specific Mitigation Measures/BMPs ........................................................................ 25 Summary of Impacts ................................................................................................................ 25 3.2 Noise ...................................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 25 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 26 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ....................................................................................... 26 Alternative B – SHF Unit Retirement ....................................................................................... 26 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ............... 26 Summary of Impacts ................................................................................................................ 26 3.3 Visual Resources ................................................................................................................... 27 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 27 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 27 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ....................................................................................... 27 Alternative B – SHF Unit Retirement ....................................................................................... 27 iii Final EA – Shawnee Units 1 and 4 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ............... 27 3.4 Groundwater .......................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 27 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 29 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ....................................................................................... 29 Alternative B – SHF Unit Retirement ....................................................................................... 29 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ............... 29 3.5 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................ 31 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 31 Existing Wastewaters ............................................................................................................... 32 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 34 Alternative A - No Action Alternative ........................................................................................ 34 Alternative B – SHF Unit Retirement ....................................................................................... 35 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ............... 35 Resource-Specific Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................................... 47 3.6 Cultural and Historic Resources ............................................................................................ 48 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 48 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 49 Alternative A - No Action Alternative ........................................................................................ 49 Alternative B – SHF Unit Retirement ....................................................................................... 49 Alternative C – Install and Operate SCR and FGD Systems on SHF Units 1 and 4 ............... 49 3.7 Solid and Hazardous Waste .................................................................................................. 50 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 50 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 51 Alternative A - No Action Alternative .......................................................................................