Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Draft Environmental Assessment Project Name: FY22 & FY23 Transmission System Vegetation Management Project Number: 2020-22 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ROUTINE PERIODIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FISCAL YEARS 2022 AND 2023 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Chattanooga, Tennessee July 2021 To request further information, contact: Anita E. Masters NEPA Program Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market St., BR2C Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.2 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 TVA’s Transmission System .............................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 The Need for Transmission System Reliability .................................................................. 2 1.2.3 TVA’s Vegetation Management Program .......................................................................... 2 1.2.4 Vegetation Management Practices ................................................................................... 5 1.2.5 Emphasis on Integrated Vegetation Management ............................................................ 7 1.2.6 Selection of Vegetation Control Methods .......................................................................... 8 1.3 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................ 9 1.4 Related Environmental Reviews ............................................................................................ 10 1.5 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................. 10 1.6 Prior Agency and Tribal Involvement ..................................................................................... 10 1.7 Scope of the Environmental Assessment and Issues to be Addressed ................................ 11 1.8 Necessary Permits or Licenses ............................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Alternatives Including the Proposed Action ........................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative – Do Not Perform Routine Vegetation Management ................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Alternative B – Action Alternative – Perform Routine Vegetation Management ............. 14 2.2 Process of Managing Vegetation within Transmission Line ROWs ....................................... 17 2.2.1 Vegetation Management Framework .............................................................................. 17 2.2.2 TVA’s Integrated Sensitive Area Review Process........................................................... 20 2.2.3 Programmatic Agreements and Consultations ................................................................ 21 2.3 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 23 2.4 Summary of Mitigation Measures .......................................................................................... 25 2.5 TVA’s Preferred Alternative ................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................................................................................................. 27 3.1 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 27 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences for Vegetation ................................................................. 29 3.2 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 30 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences for Wildlife ....................................................................... 33 3.3 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 36 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 36 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences for Aquatic Ecology ........................................................ 38 3.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 39 3.4.1 Regulatory Framework for Threatened and Endangered Species .................................. 39 3.4.2 Threatened and Endangered Species in the TVA Study Area ........................................ 40 3.4.3 Affected Environment of Threatened and Endangered Species ..................................... 41 3.4.3.1 Plants ........................................................................................................................ 41 3.4.3.2 Terrestrial Animals .................................................................................................... 42 3.4.3.3 Aquatic Animals ........................................................................................................ 47 3.4.4 Environmental Consequences for Threatened and Endangered Species ...................... 48 3.4.4.1 Plants ........................................................................................................................ 48 3.4.4.2 Terrestrial Animals .................................................................................................... 50 Draft Environmental Assessment i FY22 & FY23 Transmission System Vegetation Management 3.4.4.3 Aquatic Animals ........................................................................................................ 53 3.5 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................ 54 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 54 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences for Surface Water ........................................................... 55 3.6 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 56 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 56 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences for Wetlands ................................................................... 59 3.7 Managed and Natural Areas, Parks and Recreation ............................................................. 62 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 62 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences for Natural Areas ............................................................ 63 3.8 Archaeological and Historic Resources ................................................................................. 64 3.8.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 64 3.8.1.1 Regulatory Framework .............................................................................................. 64 3.8.1.2 Archaeological Resources ........................................................................................ 64 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences for Archaeological and Historic Resources .................... 67 3.9 Summary of Method Impacts and Mitigation Measures ......................................................... 68 3.10 Environmental Consequences Summary of the Proposed Vegetation Management Alternative ........................................................................................................ 70 3.11 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................ 74 3.11.1 Geographic Area of Analysis ........................................................................................... 74 3.11.2 Identification of “Other Actions” ....................................................................................... 74 3.11.3 Analysis of Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................ 75 3.12 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts ............................................................................................... 75 3.13 Relationship of Short-Term Uses to Long-Term Productivity ................................................ 75 3.14 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ..................................................... 76 CHAPTER 4 – LIST OF PREPARERS .............................................................................................