Environmental Assessment - Tennessee Valley Authority

Alternatives and Comparison
Scoping by TVA has determined that from the standpoint of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), there are two viable alternatives available: the No Action Alternative
and the Proposed Action Alternative With Special Conditions. The original Action
Alternative proposed by the applicant did not contain special conditions necessary to
mitigate impacts to aquatic species and is no longer considered feasible.
The No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative would result in the denial or withdrawal of the applicant’s request
for a Section 26a approval for construction of the new water intake and finished water line
across the reservoir. This alternative would not meet the needs of the applicant.
Action Alternative – The Proposed Action Alternative With Special Conditions
Under the Action Alternative, TVA would issue a Section 26a approval for a 20-MGD water
intake and a finished water line across the Tennessee River near the US 11 bridge.
However, the applicant would implement best management practices (BMPs), standard and
special conditions to minimize or reduce the environmental effects of the proposed project
to levels of insignificance or mitigation to offset adverse project impacts.
Affected Environment and Evaluation of Impacts
Site Description
The proposed LUB project is in Loudon County, Tennessee, on Watts Bar Reservoir. Watts
Bar Dam and Lock are about 62 miles downstream, and the Fort Loudoun Dam and Lock
are about 10 miles upstream. The Tennessee River is over 1,000 feet wide in this area and
ranges from 8 to 35 feet deep. TVA maintains a 9-foot-deep navigation channel. The area
of Watts Bar Reservoir surrounding the proposed project is influenced by various activities
and features, including commercial river navigation, recreational boating, private land use,
municipal water use and wastewater treatment, agriculture (primarily pasturelands),
forested areas, roads, and industry (food product manufacturers and ethanol production).
The proposed project, along with the existing water intake and treatment plant, is located in
the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of East Tennessee. In this area, the Tennessee River
flows between parallel low rolling hills and valleys. Much of the underlying bedrock is
limestone and dolomite, leading to a karst topography. The city of Loudon is located
adjacent to the proposed project on the west side of the Tennessee River with the US 11
bridge downstream and the WTP about a mile upstream (see Figure 1). The river is broad
in appearance at the bridge and water intake site, but the presence of a large island just
downstream of the bridge restricts navigation to a narrow channel on the left-descending
(Loudon city) side of the river. A city park and homes have been built along the leftdescending
bank between the WTP and proposed pipeline crossing. The right-descending
side of the river includes several industrial sites and agricultural land. The riverbanks
outside the city of Loudon are mostly forested, with openings for fields and homes.
Impacts Evaluated
The applicant’s proposed activities subsequent to TVA’s selection of the Action Alternative
would have no impact to natural features, such as terrestrial endangered species; wetlands;
prime or unique farmland; groundwater; unique or important terrestrial plant and wildlife
habitats; recreation; parks or natural areas; visual resources; socioeconomics;
environmental justice; air quality; noise; transportation; solid waste; and Wild and Scenic
Rivers, or contribute to the spread of exotic or invasive species.
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