ROGERSVILLE, Tenn.  – The Tennessee Valley Authority has decided to demolish the retired John Sevier Fossil Plant and return the site to “brownfield” conditions.

The decision is the result of an Environmental Assessment by TVA on the future of the coal plant buildings since TVA replaced the 1950s-era plant in 2012 with a cleaner and more efficient natural gas plant on the John Sevier reservation.          

A finding of no significant impact (FONSI) was issued on the decision Friday, April 3.

TVA considered four options: 1) assess, close, and secure the site; 2) conduct selective demolition; 3) demolish the site to grade level (“brownfield”) or 4) take no action.

TVA chose its preferred alternative -  removing the plant buildings - as the most cost-beneficial for TVA and ratepayers, considering safety, security, liability and environmental risk at the plant site.

TVA will remove all unneeded structures, roads and parking lots associated with the retired coal plant, including the powerhouse, coal-handling structures and surrounding support buildings. The site will be turned into a grassy field, suitable for commercial or industrial purposes.

The demolition project is expected to take up to 18 months. TVA will issue a request for proposals for a demolition contractor.

TVA will perform separate environmental evaluations for other projects at the site, including the closure of the fly ash stack, bottom ash pond and chemical treatment plant and future fishing and boating access.

The final Environmental Assessment is available online or by contacting Ashley Farless, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St., BR 4A, Chattanooga, TN, 37402 or [email protected].

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.