Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Environmental Document Transmitted Public/Agencies Project Name: Union-Tupelo 161-kV Transmission Line Project Number: 2012-38 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UNION-TUPELO NO. 3 161-KV TRANSMISSION LINE Lee and Union Counties, Mississippi Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Chattanooga, Tennessee October 2014 Direct Comments to: Anita E. Masters NEPA Program and Valley Projects Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 Phone: 423-751-8697 E-mail: [email protected] This page intentionally left blank Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Proposed Action – Improve Power Supply .............................................................................. 1 1.2 Need for the Proposed Action .................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Decisions to be Made ............................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Other Pertinent Environmental Reviews or Documentation .................................................... 5 1.5 Scoping Process and Public Involvement ................................................................................ 5 1.6 Issues to be Addressed............................................................................................................ 9 1.7 Necessary Federal Permits or Licenses .................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 11 2.1 Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 11 2.1.1 No Action Alternative – Do Not Construct Additional Transmission Facilities ................. 11 2.1.2 Action Alternative – Construct, Operate, and Maintain 161-kV Transmission Assets ............................................................................................................................. 12 2.1.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Discussion ................................... 12 2.1.3.1 Rebuild Union-Tupelo No. 2 161-kV Transmission Line ........................................... 12 2.1.3.2 Construct Bankhead 161-kV Switching Station and Transmission Line from Bankhead to Tupelo .......................................................................................... 13 2.2 Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of the Proposed Transmission Line .................. 13 2.2.1 Transmission Line Construction ...................................................................................... 13 2.2.1.1 Right-of-Way Acquisition and Clearing ..................................................................... 13 2.2.1.2 Access Road Identification ........................................................................................ 14 2.2.1.3 Construction Assembly/Laydown Area Selection ..................................................... 14 2.2.1.4 Structures and Conductors ....................................................................................... 15 2.2.1.5 Conductor and Ground Wire Installation ................................................................... 16 2.2.2 Operation and Maintenance ............................................................................................ 16 2.2.2.1 Inspection .................................................................................................................. 16 2.2.2.2 Vegetation Management ........................................................................................... 17 2.2.2.3 Structure Replacement ............................................................................................. 17 2.3 Siting Process ........................................................................................................................ 17 2.3.1 Definition of the Study Area ............................................................................................. 18 2.3.2 Characterization of the Study Area ................................................................................. 18 2.3.2.1 Natural and Cultural Features ................................................................................... 18 2.3.2.2 Land Use ................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.2.3 Transportation ........................................................................................................... 18 2.3.3 Data Collection ................................................................................................................ 19 2.3.4 Establishment and Application of Siting Criteria .............................................................. 19 2.3.5 Development of General Route Segments and Potential Transmission Line Routes ............................................................................................................................. 20 2.3.5.1 Development of Potential Route Segments .............................................................. 21 2.3.5.2 Potential Transmission Line Corridors ...................................................................... 22 2.3.6 Route Identification and Evaluation ................................................................................. 22 2.3.7 Identification of a Preferred Transmission Line Route .................................................... 24 2.3.8 Explanation of Changes Along the Proposed Transmission Line Route ........................ 24 2.4 Comparison of Environmental Effects by Alternative ............................................................. 25 2.5 Identification of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 26 2.6 The Preferred Alternative ....................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 29 Environmental Assessment i Union-Tupelo No. 3 161-kV Transmission Line 3.1 Groundwater and Geology ..................................................................................................... 29 3.2 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................ 30 3.3 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 31 3.4 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 32 3.5 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................... 33 3.6 Endangered and Threatened Species ................................................................................... 35 3.6.1 Aquatic Animals ............................................................................................................... 36 3.6.2 Plants ............................................................................................................................... 37 3.6.3 Terrestrial Animals ........................................................................................................... 37 3.7 Floodplains ............................................................................................................................. 39 3.8 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 39 3.9 Aesthetics ............................................................................................................................... 43 3.9.1 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................. 43 3.9.2 Noise ................................................................................................................................ 44 3.9.3 Odors ............................................................................................................................... 44 3.10 Archaeological and Historic Resources ................................................................................. 44 3.11 Recreation, Parks, and Natural Areas ................................................................................... 46 3.12 Land Use and Prime Farmland .............................................................................................. 47 3.13 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice.......................................................................... 48 CHAPTER 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 49 4.1 Groundwater and Geology ..................................................................................................... 49 4.1.1 No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 49 4.1.2 Action Alternative ............................................................................................................