Widows Creek Fossil Plant Deconstruction Environmental Assessment

On June 9, 2016, TVA issued a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for deconstruction of its Widows Creek Fossil Plant near Stevenson, Alabama. 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 five alternatives. Based on the findings in the EA, TVA concludes that implementing any of three alternatives, Alternative B1 – Demolition to Grade with Controlled Explosive Demolition of Units 1-8 Chimneys, Alternative B2 – Demolition to Grade with Units 1-8 Chimney Dismantlement, or Alternative B3 – Demolition to Grade with Units 1-8 Chimney Hybrid Demolition/Dismantlement would not be a major federal action significantly affecting the environment. Therefore, TVA has issued the FONSI.

TVA’s preferred alternative and the one it is inclined to implement, is Alternative B1. This alternative involves the removal of retired or abandoned structures, roads, and parking lots associated with the coal-fired facility including the demolition of the Unit 1-8 chimneys through controlled demolition using explosives.

A Draft EA of the proposed WCF Deconstruction project was released for comment on February 17, 2016. The 30-day comment period closed on March 18, 2016. 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 Stevenson, Alabama area. Comments were accepted through March18, 2016, 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 D of the Final EA.

The Widows Creek Fossil Plant in Jackson County, Alabama was operated by the TVA from 1950 until 2015 when the facility was retired.