TVA Seeking Public Input on Planned Projects at Johnsonville

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking the public to comment on proposed projects at both its former Johnsonville Fossil Plant, and to support its natural gas combustion turbine facility on the Johnsonville reservation.

The former Johnsonville Fossil Plant was retired in 2017, but TVA continues to operate 20 natural gas units at the site near New Johnsonville, Tennessee. TVA also operates a heat recovery steam generator on one of the existing gas units to support the neighboring Chemours plant.

TVA is preparing a draft Environmental Assessment to consider the potential environmental impacts of several projects at the site. With the retirement of the coal plant, TVA plans to close the coal yard and associated runoff pond. Options for consideration will include capping and closing the coal yard and pond in place, or removal of the coal combustion residuals with closure. TVA will also consider a no action alternative, which provides a baseline for the other options.

TVA’s preferred alternative is Alternative B, to consolidate the remaining coal yard material and then capping and closing the material in place.

TVA also still needs to manage storm water and process water from the combustion turbine natural gas site. TVA is evaluating three possible locations to construct a process water basin. TVA is also considering developing a site for borrow material such as clay and soil on nearby TVA-owned property. This material would support closure of the coal yard and runoff pond and other possible future projects at Johnsonville, including the decommissioning of the coal plant.

More details are available in the draft EA at www.tva.com/nepa.

Comments are invited and accepted through Jan. 21, 2019. Comments can be submitted online at www.tva.com/nepa, by email to [email protected], or by mail to W. Douglas White, NEPA Project Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority, WT 11B-K, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37902.

Please note that any comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the official record and available for public inspection.

For more information about TVA and its 85-year mission of service to the Tennessee Valley, click here.