Document Type: EA-Administrative Record Index Field: Final EA Project Name: Potential Paradise Plant Retirement Project Number: 2018-34 POTENTIAL PARADISE FOSSIL PLANT RETIREMENT FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Prepared by: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Knoxville, Tennessee FEBRUARY 2019 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 Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Related Environmental Reviews .............................................................................................. 4 1.4 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................................ 5 1.5 Public and Agency Involvement ............................................................................................... 5 1.6 Necessary Permits or Licenses and Consultation Requirements ............................................ 6 CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Description of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Coal Combustion Residual Activities to Occur with All Alternatives .................................. 8 2.1.2 Alternative A – The No Action Alternative ......................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Alternative B – Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .......................................... 9 2.1.3.1 Decommissioning, Deactivation, and Decontamination Activities .............................. 9 2.1.3.2 CCR Activities ........................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................................................................................................. 13 3.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................... 13 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 13 3.1.1.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 13 3.1.1.2 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 15 3.1.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 15 3.1.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 17 3.2 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................ 18 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 18 3.2.1.1 Surface Water – Green River and Jacobs Creek ..................................................... 18 3.2.1.2 Existing PAF Wastewater Streams ........................................................................... 19 3.2.1.3 Coal Combustion Residuals ...................................................................................... 21 3.2.1.4 Other Surface Runoff ................................................................................................ 22 3.2.1.5 Paradise Combined Cycle Plant ............................................................................... 23 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 23 3.2.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 23 3.2.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 23 3.3 Groundwater .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 24 3.3.1.1 Physiographic Setting and Regional Aquifer ............................................................ 24 3.3.1.2 Groundwater Use ...................................................................................................... 25 3.3.1.3 Groundwater Quality ................................................................................................. 26 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 26 3.3.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 26 3.3.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 26 3.4 Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 27 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 28 3.4.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 28 3.4.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 28 Final Environmental Assessment i Potential Paradise Fossil Plant Retirement Environmental Assessment 3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 28 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 28 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 32 3.5.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 32 3.5.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 32 3.6 Solid and Hazardous Waste .................................................................................................. 32 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 32 3.6.1.1 Solid Waste ............................................................................................................... 32 3.6.1.2 Hazardous Waste ...................................................................................................... 33 3.6.1.3 Universal Waste ........................................................................................................ 34 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 34 3.6.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 34 3.6.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 34 3.7 Visual Resources ................................................................................................................... 35 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 35 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 36 3.7.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 36 3.7.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 37 3.8 Transportation ........................................................................................................................ 37 3.8.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 37 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................................... 38 3.8.2.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 38 3.8.2.2 Alternative B: Potential Retirement of Paradise Fossil Plant .................................... 38 3.9 Noise ...................................................................................................................................... 38 3.9.1 Affected Environment