KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee Valley Authority is seeking public comment on plans to safely close coal combustion residual storage facilities at its coal-fired power plants.
TVA is issuing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement which considers the impacts of two primary closure methods for the CCR impoundments: (1) Closure-in-Place and (2) Closure-by-Removal. It also considers the site-specific impacts of closing 10 of TVA’s impoundments within three years.
The official public comment period begins January 11. Comments on the Draft EIS must be postmarked or e-mailed no later than February 24, 2016.
TVA is also hosting information sessions where the public can visit with subject matter specialists about the study and submit comments either in writing or online. Each session begins at5:30 p.m. local time and includes a brief presentation. Locations are listed along with the Draft EIS and online comment form at https://www.tva.gov/nepa.
EPA structured its CCR Rule to encourage utilities to accelerate the closure of CCR impoundments because of the significant decrease in risk of dry storage versus wet impoundments. EPA determined that once a CCR impoundment is dewatered and closed, the risks are no greater than those of an inactive CCR landfill that is not subject to the rule.
TVA is already investing more than $1 billion to convert its current CCR facilities from wet to dry storage.
Written comments should be sent to Ashley Farless, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St., BR4A, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Comments also may be submitted to by email to CCR@tva.gov.
Public Meetings: TVA is holding public meetings in communities where fossil plants are located across the Valley. All meetings will be held from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Meeting dates and locations are listed below.
MEETING DATES:
Shawnee Fossil Plant — 1/12/2016
Robert Cherry Civic Center
2701 Park Ave., Paducah, KY 42001
Paradise Fossil Plant — 1/13/2016
Muhlenberg County High School, West Campus
501 Robert Draper Way, Greenville, KY 42345
Widows Creek Fossil Plant — 1/19/2016
North Jackson High School
45549 AL-277, Stevenson, AL 35772
Colbert Fossil Plant — 1/20/2016
Tuscumbia Parks & Recreation
601 N. Commons Street E., Tuscumbia, AL 35674
Allen Fossil Plant — 1/21/2016
Bridges Building
477 N. 5th Street, Memphis, TN 38105
John Sevier Fossil Plant — 2/02/2016
Holston Electric Cooperative
1200 West Main Street, Rogersville, TN 37857
Bull Run Fossil Plant —2/03/2016
OR Civic Center
1403 OR Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Kingston Fossil Plant —2/04/2016
Roane County High School
540 W Cumberland Street, Kingston, TN 37763
Cumberland Fossil Plant — 2/09/2016
Clarksville Rec Center
102 Public Square, Clarksville, TN 37040
Johnsonville Fossil Plant — 2/10/2016
Meriweather Lewis
200 E. Commerce St, Waverly, TN 37185
Media Release/ TVA Public Relations, Knoxville, 865-632-6000
