Tennessee Valley Authority – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has decided to adopt the preferred alternative in its final environmental impact statement (Final EIS) for the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The TVA Board of Directors approved the IRP and authorized staff to implement the preferred alternative at its August 22, 2019 meeting. This alternative, identified as the Target Power Supply Mix in the Final EIS, will guide TVA's selection of energy resource options to meet the energy needs of the Tennessee Valley region over the next 20 years. The energy resource options include continued investment in TVA's hydroelectric resources, license renewal for nuclear resources, expansion of solar and natural gas-fired generation, increased energy efficiency, demand response, and energy storage, and decreased coal-fired generation.

The TVA Regional Resource Stewardship Council (RRSC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, September 11-12, 2019, to consider various matters. The RRSC was established to advise TVA on its natural resources and stewardship activities and the priority to be placed among competing objectives and values. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will be requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reinstatement, without change, of TVA's Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. This generic clearance will fast-track the process for TVA to seek feedback from the public, through surveys and similar feedback instruments, regarding TVA services and programs.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed expansion of mining operations by Sugar Camp Energy, LLC to extract TVA-owned coal reserves in Hamilton and Franklin counties, Illinois. A portion of the expansion area contains coal reserves owned by TVA that are leased to Sugar Camp Energy, LLC. TVA will consider whether to approve the company's application to mine approximately 12,125 acres (``project area'') of TVA-owned coal reserves.

The TVA Regional Energy Resource Council (RERC) has scheduled a meeting to discuss the 2019 IRP development process, develop the RERC's 2019 IRP recommendation, and identify the challenges and opportunities faced by TVA in developing the 2019 IRP. The RERC was established to advise TVA on its energy resource activities and the priority to be placed among competing objectives and values. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Members of the TVA Board of Directors also plan to attend portions of this meeting.

The TVA Regional Energy Resource Council (RERC) will hold a meeting Wednesday, April 17, 2019, and Thursday, April 18, 2019, to discuss the draft results and associated documents relating to TVA's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The RERC was established to advise TVA on its energy resource activities and the priority to be placed among competing objectives and values. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The TVA Regional Resource Stewardship Council (RRSC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, April 3-4, 2019, to consider various matters. The RRSC was established to advise TVA on its natural resources and stewardship activities and the priority to be placed among competing objectives and values. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the potential environmental effects associated with management of coal combustion residual (CCR) material at the Gallatin Fossil Plant (GAF) located near Gallatin in Sumner County, Tennessee. The purpose of the EIS is to address the final disposition of CCR onsite at GAF, support TVA's goal to eliminate wet CCR storage at its plants, and assist TVA in complying with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) CCR Rule. The proposed actions would also provide long-term on-site landfill space for operations and/or storage of CCR. TVA will develop and evaluate various alternatives for these actions, including the No Action Alternative. Public comments are invited concerning both the scope of the review and environmental issues that should be addressed.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the potential environmental effects associated with the future management of coal combustion residual (CCR) material at the Allen Fossil Plant (ALF) located in Shelby County, Tennessee, southwest of the City of Memphis. The purpose of this EIS is to support the implementation of TVA's goal to eliminate all wet CCR storage at its coal plants by closing CCR surface impoundments across the TVA system, and to assist TVA in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) CCR Rule. In addition, the proposed actions would make the ALF closure area land available for future economic development projects in the greater Memphis area. TVA will evaluate closure of the East Ash Pond Complex, the West Ash Pond, and the Metal Cleaning Pond. In addition to these closures, TVA will analyze potential location requirements and associated environmental impacts associated with construction and utilization of a proposed beneficial re-use facility to process CCR materials. TVA will also evaluate potential impacts associated with actions requiring use of permitted borrow sites and the disposal of CCR at existing offsite permitted landfills. TVA will develop and evaluate various alternatives to these actions, including the No Action Alternative. Public comments are invited concerning both the scope of the review and environmental issues that should be addressed.

This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations and Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). TVA has decided to close the Shawnee Fossil Plant (SHF) Special Waste Landfill (SWL) and Ash Impoundment 2 and construct a new process water basin (PWB). A notice of availability (NOA) of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Shawnee Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Management was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2018. The Final SEIS identified TVA's preferred alternative as Alternative CClosure-in-Place and Regrading of the SWL and Ash Impoundment 2 and Construction of a New PWB. TVA's decision would achieve the purpose and need to manage the disposal of CCR materials on a dry basis and to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2015 CCR regulations, as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky's regulations.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is amending its regulation which contain TVA's procedure for the Protection of National Security Classified Information. These amendments reflect changes in position titles and addresses; conform the references to Protection of National Security Classified Information to the most current publication of TVA's Protection of National Security Classified Information Notices in the Federal Register.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing proposed changes to its Natural Resource Plan (NRP). Public comment is invited concerning the scope of the supplemental EIS, including how the plan addresses TVA's management of natural and cultural resources and the environmental issues that should be addressed in the supplemental EIS.

This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations and Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). TVA has decided to construct and operate a bottom ash dewatering facility, process water basins, and an onsite landfill at the Cumberland Fossil Plant (CUF). The notice of availability (NOA) of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cumberland Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residuals Managment Operations was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2018. The Final EIS identified TVA's preferred alternative as Alternative C, which includes the Construction and Operation of a Bottom Ash Dewatering Facility, Closure-In-Place of the Bottom Ash Impoundment, and a combination of Closure-in-Place and Closure-by-Removal of the Main Ash Impoundment and Stilling Impoundment. The portion of the Main Ash Impoundment and the Stilling Impoundment that would be Closed-by-Removal would be repurposed as Process Water Basin 1 and Process Water Basin 2, with coal combustion residuals (CCR) that are removed from the impoundment transported to an existing onsite landfill. In addition, under Alternative C, TVA would construct an onsite landfill to manage future CCR produced at CUF. TVA's current decision pertains only to the construction and operation of a Bottom Ash Dewatering Facility, construction and operation of the new onsite CCR Landfill, and construction of the Processs Water Basins, which includes removal of CCR from a portion of the Main Ash Impoundment and the Stilling Impoundment. TVA is electing to further consider the location for permanent disposal of the ash excavated from the Main Ash Impoundment and the Stilling Impoundment. CCR removed for construction of the basins would be staged temporarily within the Main Ash Impoundment footprint until a final decision is made (following any necessary supplemental environmental review) on a location for permanent disposal of the material. The preferred alternative would achieve the project purpose and need of converting the wet storage of CCR to a dry system and promoting the future management of dry CCR at CUF by converting to dry bottom ash handling and providing additional long-term disposal for dry CCR materials produced at CUF. In addition to state and federal water and waste regulations, TVA's CCR disposal areas at CUF, including the impoundments, are subject to the 2015 Commissioner's Order entered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Investigations at CUF under that Order are ongoing. Therefore, TVA is electing to further consider the proposed in-place closure of the Bottom Ash Impoundment and a portion of the Main Ash Impoundment before making a decision on closure of these facilities. In addition, TVA is electing to further consider the location for permanent disposal of the ash excavated from the Main Ash Impoundment and the Stilling Impoundment.

This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations and Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). TVA has decided to construct and operate an onsite landfill at the Shawnee Fossil Plant (SHF). A notice of availability (NOA) of the Final EIS for Shawnee Fossil Plant Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Management was published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2017. The Final EIS identified TVA's preferred alternative as Alternative B Construction of an Onsite CCR Landfill, Closure-in-Place of Ash Impoundment 2 with a reduced footprint, and Closure-in-Place of the former Special Waste Landfill. TVA's current decision pertains only to the construction of a new onsite CCR landfill, and would achieve part of the project purpose and need by providing additional long-term disposal for dry CCR materials produced at SHF. TVA is electing to further consider the alternatives for closure of Ash Impoundment 2 and the former Special Waste Landfill (SWL) before making a decision.

The TVA Regional Energy Resource Council (RERC) has scheduled a webinar meeting to discuss guiding principles that TVA should consider when designing wholesale rate changes and the mechanisms TVA should use to engage Valley stakeholders in discussions relating to wholesale rate changes. The RERC initiated discussions on these issues at its meeting on November 29, 2017, and intends to continue those discussions at this scheduled webinar meeting. The RERC was established to advise TVA on its energy resource activities and the priority to be placed among competing objectives and values. Notice of this webinar meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The TVA Regional Energy Resource Council (RERC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, to consider various matters related to energy resources in the Tennessee Valley. The RERC was established to advise TVA on its energy resource activities and the priority to be placed among competing objectives and values. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is amending its September 10, 2003, Record of Decision (ROD) for the Rarity Pointe Commercial Recreation and Residential Development on Tellico Reservoir, Loudon and Monroe Counties, Tennessee Final Environmental Impact Statement (2003 Rarity Pointe FEIS). In 2012, WindRiver Management LLC (WindRiver) purchased the Rarity Pointe development and requested that TVA consider modifications to the original development plan. In July 2017, TVA completed a supplemental environmental assessment analyzing the potential impacts of the proposed modifications. This amended ROD incorporates TVA's decisions relating to the modifications.

The Tennessee Valley Authority issues this final rule amending its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations to incorporate the statutory changes made to the FOIA by the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (Act). The TVA's FOIA regulations provide the procedures by which the public may request records from TVA, and the policies and procedures by which TVA provides such records to the public upon written request. TVA is updating its regulations to incorporate the procedural requirements of the Act.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is announcing an extension of the public comment period on its proposed amendments to procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The amendments also address implementation of the Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Considering Stakeholder Input. A notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on June 8, 2017, announcing a 60-day comment period closing on August 7, 2017. This document serves to extend the comment period by 30 days until September 6, 2017. TVA is extending the comment period because of the timely requests we received to do so.