Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Environmental Document Transmitted Public/Agencies Project Name: TVA Solar Photovoltaic Projects Project Number: 2013-34 TVA SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECTS DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Knoxville, Tennessee June 2014 To request further information, contact: James F. Williamson NEPA Compliance Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11 D Knoxville, TN 37902 Phone: 865.632.6418 Fax: 865.632.3451 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Background .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................ 4 1.5 Related Environmental Reviews and Consultation Requirements .......................................... 4 1.6 Scope of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment ......................................................... 5 1.7 Necessary Permits or Licenses ............................................................................................... 6 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 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Identification of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 15 2.4 The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................................................................................................. 17 3.1 Groundwater .......................................................................................................................... 18 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 18 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 18 3.2 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................ 19 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 20 3.3 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 21 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 21 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 22 3.4 Floodplains ............................................................................................................................. 22 3.4.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 22 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 23 3.5 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................... 23 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 23 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 26 3.6 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 26 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 26 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 31 3.7 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 32 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 32 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 32 3.8 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 32 3.8.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 32 3.8.1.1 Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................ 33 3.8.1.2 State-listed Species .................................................................................................. 39 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 39 3.9 Managed Areas and Ecologically Significant Sites ................................................................ 41 3.9.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 41 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 42 3.10 Land Use and Prime Farmlands ............................................................................................ 42 3.10.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 42 Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment i TVA Solar PV Projects 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 43 3.11 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 44 3.11.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 44 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 45 3.12 Visual Resources ................................................................................................................... 46 3.12.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 46 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 47 3.13 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice.......................................................................... 50 3.13.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 50 3.13.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 51 3.14 Unavoidable Adverse Environmental Impacts ....................................................................... 51 3.15 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ..................................................... 52 CHAPTER 4 – LIST OF PREPARERS .............................................................................................. 53 4.1 NEPA Project Management ................................................................................................... 53 4.2 Other Contributors .................................................................................................................. 53 CHAPTER 5 – ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT RECIPIENTS .................................................... 55 5.1 Federal Agencies ................................................................................................................... 55 5.2 Federally Recognized Tribes ................................................................................................. 56 5.3 State Agencies ....................................................................................................................... 56 5.4 Individuals and Organizations ...............................................................................................