Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Environmental Record Project Name: CUF Borrow Areas and Access Road Project Number: 2017-3 CUMBERLAND FOSSIL PLANT BORROW AREAS AND ACCESS ROAD FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Stewart County, Tennessee Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Chattanooga, Tennessee August 2017 To request further information, contact: Ashley Pilakowski NEPA Compliance Tennessee Valley Authority 400 W Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Phone: 865- 632-2256 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Summary Summary Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has prepared the following Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess the environmental impacts of developing borrow sites for the Cumberland Fossil Plant located in northern Tennessee on the Cumberland River in Stewart County. The “borrow sites” are sites from which TVA would get soil that would be used in the partial closure of the Dry Fly Ash and Gypsum stacks. The soil from these borrow sites would also be used to support other more routine operation and maintenance activities at the plant, including minor erosion repair and other activities requiring fill such as drainage improvements. If and when such actions are undertaken, they will receive separate NEPA review. TVA’s preferred alternative is Alternative B: • develop and operate two borrow sites on TVA-owned property at Cumberland Fossil Plant, and • construct a bridge over Wells Creek and road to provide access to the borrow sites. TVA evaluated the potential effects of these proposed actions to environmental resources including air quality, land use, prime farmland, geology, groundwater and surface water, floodplains, vegetation, wildlife, aquatic ecology, threatened and endangered species, wetlands, transportation, visual resources, cultural and historic resources, and noise. With the implementation of project best management practices (BMPs) and mitigation measures, no significant impacts to these resources were identified. Final Environmental Assessment S-i This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................ 1 1.4 Related Environmental Reviews .............................................................................................. 3 1.5 Scope of the Environmental Assessment and Summary of the Proposed Action ................... 3 1.6 Public and Agency Involvement ............................................................................................... 4 1.7 Necessary Permits and Licenses ............................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 2 – ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Description of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Development of Borrow Sites and Access Road Alternative ............................................ 5 2.1.2 Alternative A – The No Action Alternative ......................................................................... 6 2.1.3 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property ................................................................................... 6 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives ...................................................................................................... 9 2.3 TVA’s Preferred Alternative ................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Summary of Mitigation Measures and BMPs ......................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................................................................................................. 13 3.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................... 14 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 14 3.1.1.1 Regulatory Framework for Air Quality ....................................................................... 14 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 15 3.1.2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 15 3.1.2.2 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property .............................................................. 15 3.2 Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases .............................................................................. 16 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 16 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 16 3.2.2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 16 3.2.2.2 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property .............................................................. 16 3.3 Geology and Soils .................................................................................................................. 17 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 17 3.3.1.1 Site Geology .............................................................................................................. 17 3.3.1.2 Geologic Hazards ...................................................................................................... 19 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 21 3.3.2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 21 3.3.2.2 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property .............................................................. 21 3.4 Groundwater .......................................................................................................................... 22 3.4.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 22 3.4.1.1 Regional Aquifers ...................................................................................................... 22 3.4.2 Environmental Consequence .......................................................................................... 22 3.4.2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 22 3.4.2.2 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property .............................................................. 22 Final Environmental Assessment i Cumberland Fossil Plant Borrow Areas and Access Road EA 3.5 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................ 23 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 23 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 26 3.5.2.1 Alternative A – No Action .......................................................................................... 26 3.5.2.2 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property .............................................................. 26 3.6 Floodplains ............................................................................................................................. 27 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 27 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 28 3.6.2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ........................................................................ 28 3.6.2.2 Alternative B – Develop and Operate Two Borrow Sites, Construct an Access Road and Bridge on CUF Property .............................................................. 28 3.7 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 29 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 29 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences........................................................................................