DOE/EA-1706 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WEST TENNESSEE SOLAR FARM PROJECT HAYWOOD COUNTY, TENNESSEE U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory Pittsburgh, PA February 2011 10-088(E)/010511 DOE/EA-1706 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT West Tennessee Solar Farm Project Haywood County, Tennessee February 2011 10-088(E)/010511 Environmental Assessment for the West Tennessee Solar Farm Project Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 VOLUNTEER STATE SOLAR INITIATIVE ....................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Tennessee Solar Institute ........................................................................................ 1 1.1.1.1 Solar Innovation Grants ........................................................................ 2 1.1.1.2 Solar Installation Grants ....................................................................... 3 1.1.2 West Tennessee Solar Farm .................................................................................... 3 1.2 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT AND RELATED PROCEDURES......... 4 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ................................................................................. 5 1.3.1 DOE’s Purpose and Need ....................................................................................... 5 1.3.2 State of Tennessee’s Purpose and Need .................................................................. 5 1.4 SCOPE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ...................................................... 5 1.5 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ..................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Public Scoping ........................................................................................................ 6 1.5.2 Draft EA Public Meeting and Comments ............................................................... 8 1.6 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................................. 9 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SOLAR FARM PROJECT AND ALTERNATIVES ....... 13 2.1 PROPOSED SOLAR FARM PROJECT .............................................................................. 13 2.1.1 Installation and Construction ................................................................................ 13 2.1.1.1 Solar Farm .......................................................................................... 13 2.1.1.2 Electrical Interconnection ................................................................... 15 2.1.1.3 Information and Welcome Center ...................................................... 17 2.1.2 Operations ............................................................................................................. 17 2.1.2.1 Solar Farm .......................................................................................... 17 2.1.2.2 Information and Welcome Center ...................................................... 17 2.1.3 Educational Programs ........................................................................................... 18 2.2 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ............................................................................................ 18 2.3 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED .................................................... 18 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .......................... 21 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 21 3.2 LAND USE AND VISUAL RESOURCES .......................................................................... 21 3.2.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 21 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 22 3.2.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 22 3.2.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 22 3.3 AIR QUALITY ..................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 22 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 23 3.3.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 24 3.3.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 27 3.4 NOISE ................................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 27 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 27 3.4.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 28 3.4.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 29 3.5 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ...................................................................................................... 29 3.5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 29 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 31 3.5.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 31 Table of Contents i Environmental Assessment for the West Tennessee Solar Farm Project 3.5.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 32 3.6 WATER RESOURCES ........................................................................................................ 32 3.6.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 32 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 34 3.6.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 34 3.6.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 36 3.7 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................. 37 3.7.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 37 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 37 3.7.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 37 3.7.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 38 3.8 CULTURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................. 38 3.8.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 38 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 39 3.8.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 39 3.8.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 39 3.9 SOCIOECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE .............................................. 39 3.9.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 39 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 41 3.9.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 41 3.9.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 42 3.10 UTILITIES ............................................................................................................................ 42 3.10.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 42 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 42 3.10.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 42 3.10.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 44 3.11 TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................................... 44 3.11.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 44 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 45 3.11.2.1 Proposed Solar Farm Project .............................................................. 45 3.11.2.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 46 3.12 WASTE MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................