KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority is improving wastewater treatment at its Bull Run Fossil Plant in Anderson County, Tennessee, in the final stages of an overall plan to move from wet to dry storage of coal ash at the plant.

TVA is in the process of converting from wet to dry storage of ash and other coal combustion residuals at Bull Run and other fossil sites across the TVA service area. Bull Run stopped using water to move ash in 2015, and CCR is now stored dry. However, non-CCR process water from the plant and storm water are still disposed of in the discharge system.

As a result, TVA plans to repurpose part of a wet ash stilling pond and part of the fly ash storage impoundment to create a lined process water basin to more effectively treat the discharged water. Any remaining ash or other CCR material in the basin area would be regraded or removed to a solid waste facility.

Details of the proposed action, including possible alternatives considered, are included in a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment issued last week. TVA received public comments on the draft assessment earlier this year, and responses are included and incorporated in the final document. The study is in addition to a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement from 2016.

The project is expected to improve protection of the groundwater around the site, and is not expected to have a significant overall impact on the environment, according to the assessment. The plan will also not require changes to TVA’s permit for wastewater discharge.

As originally proposed, the approximately 33-acre fly ash impoundment would be closed in place, which means dewatering, grading and covering with an approved cover system.

Copies of the final SEA and Finding of No Significant Impact are available online, by email at [email protected] or in writing by contacting Ashley Farless, NEPA Compliance Specialist, 1101 Market Street, BR 4A, Chattanooga, TN 37402.