Environmental Impact Statement: Water Supply Development for the Duck River Region, South Central Tennessee

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

Environmental Impact Statement: Water Supply Development for the

Duck River Region, South Central Tennessee

AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will cooperate with the

Tennessee Duck River Development Agency (TDRDA) to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on water supply development and

alternatives for the Columbia Dam component of the Duck River project.

Located on the Duck River in south central Tennessee, the Columbia Dam

cannot be completed as originally planned due to the presence of

endangered species. This EIS will consider a range of alternatives to

provide an adequate and reliable water supply for the Columbia area,

including Bedford, Marshall, Maury, and southern Williamson counties.

Alternatives to be considered will include construction of a water

supply dam and impoundment on Fountain Creek; installation of one or

more water pipelines from existing reservoirs or streams; use of

groundwater wells; and other alternatives identified during the scoping

process. With this notice, TVA and TDRDA invite comments on the scope

of this EIS. This notice is provided in accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and TVA's implementing procedures.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS must be received at the

address below on or before June 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dale V. Wilhelm, NEPA Liaison,

Tennessee Valley Authority, WT 8C, 400 West Summit Hill Drive,

Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jack L. Davis, Manager, Water Resource Projects, Tennessee Valley

Authority, WT 10C, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee

37902-1499, phone (615) 632-7183.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TVA and local officials in the upper Duck

River watershed area, south central Tennessee, began a cooperative

effort in 1964 to advance economic growth and provide an adequate and

dependable water supply for the region. As the TDRDA, a State agency,

worked to develop a water supply system to connect the five largest

cities in the watershed, TVA was requested to investigate water

resource development. In 1965, TVA concluded that multipurpose

reservoir development on the mainstem of the Duck River offered the

best potential for meeting the area's water supply needs. The

construction of dams on the river would control flooding, create water

supply sources, and provide opportunities for water-based recreation.

After further study, TVA proposed construction of two dams: one at Duck

River Mile (DRM) 136.7, near Columbia, and an upstream dam at DRM 248.6

near Normandy. The proposed dams and reservoirs were presented in a

1968 planning report as components of the Duck River Project.

Following the enactment of NEPA, TVA issued a draft EIS on the Duck

River Project in June 1971. A public hearing was held in August 1971

and a final EIS (TVA-OHES-EIS-72-5) was issued in April 1972. The final

EIS was [[Page 13003]] supplemented in June 1974 to correct identified

deficiencies.

Construction of the 3,230-acre Normandy Dam and Reservoir was

completed in 1976 and is currently in operation. Construction of the

12,600-acre Columbia Dam and Reservoir began in 1973. Construction was

slowed in the mid-to-late 70s and eventually halted in 1983 because

consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that the

reservoir could jeopardize the continued existence of two endangered

species. These two species, the birdwing pearly mussel and the

Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel, had been listed as endangered in

1975 under provisions of the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Subsequent fieldwork and ESA listings indicated that two additional

endangered Mussel species (tan riffleshell and pale lilliput pearly

mussel) and an endangered plant (leafy prairie clover) also occurred in

the Columbia Dam area. Other species known to occur in the area were

proposed for endangered status or were identified as candidates for

possible ESA listing. The presence of those endangered species in the

project area is the basis for TVA not being able to complete Columbia

Project as originally planned.

During the dry times of the year, water supplies and water quality

are stressed in the Duck River watershed area of middle Tennessee.

During periods of drought, instream water quality is primarily

sustained by minimum flows from Normandy Dam. Projected growth for the

region indicates a worsening of the situation. TVA and TDRDA will

evaluate alternatives to meet the water supply needs of the area.

Analysis of water supply needs will include domestic, industrial, and

agricultural uses; water quality; flood protection; and recreation

uses. For planning purposes, projected benefits and costs will be

evaluated for a 30 to 50 year period, depending on the alternative

under consideration. Conservation effects on water use will also be

considered.

In addition to assisting TDRDA In the analysis of water supply

needs and alternative water supplies, TVA may be involved in several

other ways depending on the outcome of the analysis. This could include

making available some of the property acquired for the Columbia

Reservoir for a smaller reservoir, approving any new dam structure

under Section 26a of the TVA Act, and/or providing design assistance.

TDRDA would be responsible for financing any water supply project that

may be pursued as a result of the analysis.

The first step in the preparation of the EIS will be the

determination of the scope of the EIS. It is anticipated that the scope

will include possible construction of a surface impoundment on Fountain

Creek (TVA already owns most of the land) and other potential water

supply sources including in-stream flows, pumped storage, and pipeline

sources. Different design concepts will also be addressed. Potentially

important issues for discussion in the EIS include:;

1. Effects on stream discharge, water quality, and availability;

2. Impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecology, including threatened

and endangered species;

3. Impacts on floodplains, wetlands, recreation, and existing land

uses; and

4. Socioeconomic, historic, archaeological, and cultural effects

associated with completion of the project and alternatives to it.

This list is not intended to be all inclusive, nor is it intended

to be a predetermination of impacts. As scoping and preparation of the

EIS proceeds, other issues may be revealed which will necessitate

further analyses.

TVA and TDRDA invite comments on the above issues. The agencies

also request comments on environmental issues which should not be

viewed as important and which should not be discussed in detail in the

EIS.

A public meeting will be held on May 2, 1995, at 7 p.m. CDT at

Culleoka School, Culleoka, Tennessee, in Maury County to receive oral

comments about the scope of this EIS. Details about this meeting will

be announced in area newspapers. Comments received at this meeting will

be accorded the same weight as written comments.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District) will

participate in this EIS process as a cooperating agency. The U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service may also become a cooperating agency.

After the scoping process and the initial environmental analysis

are completed, TVA and TDRDA will prepare a draft EIS. A Notice of

Availability of the draft EIS, soliciting public comments, will be

published in the Federal Register and area newspapers. Those persons

who choose not to comment on the scope of the document at this time but

wish to receive a copy of the draft for their review and comment should

send their names and addresses to Dale V. Wilhelm at the address listed

above. TVA anticipates releasing a final EIS on this project in about

24 months.

Dated: March 3, 1995.

Kathryn J. Jackson,

Senior Vice President, Resource Group, Tennessee Valley Authority.

[FR Doc 95-5770 Filed 3-8-95; 8:45 am]

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