John Sevier Fossil Plant Deconstruction

On April 3, 2015, TVA issued a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the deconstruction of its John Sevier Fossil Plant near Rogersville, Tennessee. The EA evaluates the potential environmental effects of the future disposition of the physical structures associated with the retired coal-fired plant units, including the powerhouse, coal handling facilities, and surrounding support buildings.
TVA assessed four alternatives. The preferred alternative is Alternative C, Demolition to Grade (“Brownfield”). This alternative involves the removal of retired or abandoned structures, roads, and parking lots associated with the coal-fired facility. Based on evaluations in the Final EA, TVA determined that the proposed action would not result in significant impacts on the environment and has therefore issued the FONSI.

A Draft EA was released for comment on December 4, 2014, and the comment period closed on January 8, 2015. The Draft EA was transmitted to state, federal, and local agencies and federally recognized tribes. It was also posted on TVA’s public NEPA review website. A notice of availability, including a request for comments on the Draft EA, was published in newspapers serving the Rogersville area. Comments were also accepted through August 8, 2014, via TVA’s website, mail, and e-mail. TVA carefully reviewed all of the substantive comments that it received. Comments were categorized by author and summarized when appropriate. The comments and TVA’s responses are provided in Appendix E of the Final EA.

The John Sevier Fossil Plant in Hawkins County, Tennessee, was operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority from 1957 until 2012 when the facility was retired. To maintain necessary power generation in the area, TVA replaced the coal-fired generation with a natural gas-fired combined-cycle plant on the John Sevier Fossil reservation. This new plant began operations in 2012 and generates 880 megawatts of power.