Douglas and Nolichucky Tributary Reservoirs Land Management Plan

Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties, Tennessee

TVA requests your comments on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Douglas and Nolichucky Tributary Reservoirs Land Management Plan (DNTRLMP).  Comments will be accepted until April 26, 2010.  See below for information on how to submit comments.

The DEIS examines the potential effects of alternative ways of managing TVA’s public lands on two tributary reservoirs in the northeast Tennessee Valley region. The proposed land plan would address about 3,191 acres of TVA-managed land on Douglas and Nolichucky reservoirs.  Under a new plan, land would be allocated into broad categories or “zones” including Project Operations, Sensitive Resource Management, Natural Resource Conservation, Industrial, Developed Recreation, and Shoreline Access.

The DEIS considers three alternatives and incorporates TVA’s November 2006 Land Policy and comments received during the public scoping period for the DEIS in 2008.  Each alternative allocates various tracts of TVA-managed land to specific uses.  These allocations are the foundation of the land management plans that will support TVA goals, balance competing demands, respond to the needs of our stakeholders, and meet our responsibilities to protect natural and cultural resources. 
One of the alternatives is the No Action Alternative (Alternative A), under which TVA would not prepare a land management plan and would continue management under the Forecast System established in 1965 for Douglas Reservoir.  Because the Nolichucky Reservoir was not planned under the Forecast System and does not have a previous land management plan, TVA-managed land would be subject to existing commitments and land use agreements as well as the TVA Shoreline Management Policy and Land Policy. 

Under Alternatives B and C, TVA would adopt land management plans for the individual reservoirs and allocate land to different zones.  Under Alternatives B (Proposed Land Use Alternative) and C (Modified Land Use Alternative), two reservoir land management plans would be created for Douglas and Nolichucky reservoirs.  Under all alternatives, existing land use commitments and agreements would be honored.  The alternatives differ in the allocation of parcels to various land uses, which was determined by factors including the existing land use, suitability and capability for specific uses, presence of sensitive resources, public comments, and other opportunities identified during public scoping.  TVA’s preferred alternative is Alternative C. 

Public Involvement
TVA is accepting comments on the DEIS and DNTRLMP from March 12, 2010, through April 26, 2010.  A public meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2010, at the Newport-Cocke Chamber of Commerce‎ in Newport, Tennessee, from 4-8 p.m. (EST).  Comments may be submitted on line, by e-mail or mail.  See the contacts below. 

All comments received will be addressed in a final EIS (FEIS), which will be posted on this site.  The FEIS is scheduled to be completed in fall 2010.  Please note that any comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and will be available for public inspection.

Documents
Below are the DEIS (Volume I) and DNTRLMP (Volumes II-III), which may be accessed by clicking on the corresponding underlined link.  PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Paper or compact disc copies may be requested from the contacts listed below.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The DEIS in its entirety may be downloaded by clicking on the link below. The DEIS has also been divided into sections for faster downloading.

Complete Volume I:  Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Includes the complete text of the DEIS.

Volume 1: Summary and Table of Contents
Includes an abstract, a summary of the issues and alternatives considered, the table of contents for the DEIS, and a table of acronyms and abbreviations.

Volume 1: Chapter 1 - Purpose of and Need for Action
Background information, purpose and need, the decision, other pertinent environmental reviews and documentation, the scoping process, and necessary federal permits, licenses, and consultations.

Volume 1: Chapter 2 - Alternatives Including the Proposed Action
The allocation process, alternatives, comparison of alternatives, impacts summary, the preferred alternative.

Volume 1: Chapter 3 - Affected Environment
Overview of Douglas and Nolichucky reservoirs, indentified resources, other issues of concern in the area around the two tributary reservoirs.

Volume 1: Chapter 4 - Environmental Consequences
Discussion of environmental consequences under the three alternatives for each specified resource.

Volume 1: Chapters 5, 6, and 7 - Supporting Information
Lists of preparers, agencies and individuals receiving copies, literature cited, and glossary of terms.

Volume 1: Appendix A - TVA Land Policy

Volume 1: Appendix B - Scoping Information

Volume 1: Appendix C - Forecast System Designations

Volume 1: Appendix D - Conversion Tables

Volume 1: Appendix E - Supporting Data

Volume 1: Index - Listing of terms and corresponding page number(s) of occurence

Volume II: Douglas Reservoir Land Management Plan
TVA-managed public land surrounding Douglas Reservoir, planning process, regional overview, parcel descriptions, literature cited, glossary, and allocation map. 

Volume III: Nolichucky Reservoir Land Management Plan
TVA-managed public land surrounding Nolichucky Reservoir, planningprocess, regional overview, parcel descriptions, literature cited, glossary, and allocation map. 

Other Related Documents
View maps of the TVA-managed lands on Douglas and Nolichucky reservoirs

Read general information on the land planning process

For additional information:
To make a comment or obtain a copy of the DEIS, contact:
Douglas and Nolichucky Tributary Reservoirs Land Management Plan
ATTN: Amy Henry
TVA NEPA Compliance
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
Phone:  (865) 632-4045
E-mail:  abhenry@tva.gov

Printed copies of the entire DEIS and DNTRLMP are available for viewing at most public libraries and courthouses in the area.
For more information, call (800) 882-5263, or e-mail tvainfo@tva.gov (ATTN: Dana Vaughn).  In the subject line, type “Douglas and Nolichucky Tributary Reservoirs Land Management Plan DEIS.”  Please include your U.S. Postal Service mailing address.