Notice2023-10653
Pumped Storage Hydro Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
Tennessee Valley Authority
Abstract
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is conducting a study to evaluate increasing pumped storage hydropower (PSH) capacity within its power service area. To meet its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), TVA is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential new PSH facilities at two locations in Jackson County, Alabama and expansion of the existing Raccoon Mountain PSH Plant in Marion County, Tennessee. Based on the findings of the PEIS, TVA may potentially select one or more sites as the need for long-duration energy storage increases. The PEIS will consider potential environmental and economic impacts from the construction and operation at each site.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32269-32270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10653]
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TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Pumped Storage Hydro Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is conducting a study to
evaluate increasing pumped storage hydropower (PSH) capacity within its
power service area. To meet its obligations under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), TVA is preparing a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential new PSH
facilities at two locations in Jackson County, Alabama and expansion of
the existing Raccoon Mountain PSH Plant in Marion County, Tennessee.
Based on the findings of the PEIS, TVA may potentially select one or
more sites as the need for long-duration energy storage increases. The
PEIS will consider potential environmental and economic impacts from
the construction and operation at each site.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments on the scope and environmental
issues must be postmarked, emailed, or submitted online no later than
July 5, 2023. To facilitate the scoping process, TVA will hold a
virtual public scoping meeting; see <a href="https://www.tva.gov/nepa">https://www.tva.gov/nepa</a> for more
information on the meeting.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Elizabeth Smith, NEPA
Compliance Specialist, 400 West Summit Hill Dr., WT 11D, Knoxville, TN
37902-1499. Comments may also be submitted online at: <a href="https://www.tva.gov/nepa">https://www.tva.gov/nepa</a> or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f282879f82979681869d80939597bcb7a2b3b2868493dc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5c5c0d8c5d0d1c6c1dac7d4d2d0fbf0e5f4f5c1c3d49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about the NEPA
process and/or general project information, please email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95e5e0f8e5f0f1e6e1fae7f4f2f0dbd0c5d4d5e1e3f4bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5020253d20353423243f223137351e150011102426317e373f26">[email protected]</span></a>, or NEPA Specialist, Elizabeth Smith, at
(865) 632-3053.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided in accordance with
the Council on Environmental Quality's Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500
to 1508) and TVA's procedures for implementing the NEPA. TVA is an
agency and instrumentality of the United States, established by an act
of Congress in 1933, to foster the social and economic welfare of the
people of the Tennessee Valley region and to promote the proper use and
conservation of the region's natural resources. One component of this
mission is the generation, transmission, and sale of reliable and
affordable electric energy.
The analyses in a programmatic NEPA review are valuable in setting
out the broad view of environmental impacts and benefits for a proposed
decision such as a rulemaking, or establishing a policy, program, or
plan. That programmatic NEPA review can then be relied upon when
agencies make decisions based on the programmatic EIS, as well as
decisions based on a subsequent (also known as tiered) NEPA review.
Background
PSH is a type of hydroelectric energy storage that consists of two
water reservoirs at different elevations in which water can be pumped
to the higher elevation reservoir during periods in which energy
storage is needed and then can be released during periods when energy
is needed on the electrical grid. PSH is utilized for long term storage
to provide for reserves on the grid, use excess energy to store water
in the higher reservoir when demand drops below the base load
generation, and to support intermittent generation for renewables such
as wind and solar.
TVA is planning a substantial decarbonization effort and aspires to
be carbon neutral by 2050. As part of these efforts, long-duration
storage (8 to 12 hours) will be needed to balance the daily energy
cycle. This long-duration storage will enable additional generation
from solar, new nuclear, and carbon capture technologies.
Long duration energy storage, like pumped storage, supports nuclear
generation and carbon capture technologies by assisting with load
balancing and allowing these technologies to run nearly full time,
which is important as these technologies are generally not conducive to
following the demand curve and work best when running fully loaded. PSH
is a reliable and proven technology. The addition of pumped storage
hydro facilities could also help TVA maintain grid stability and
reliability in the future grid with less dispatchable generation and
greater minute-by-minute variability due to fluctuations in output from
renewables such as solar and wind.
Project Purpose and Need
TVA is planning a substantial decarbonization effort with
aspirations of being carbon neutral by 2050. To meet these goals, long-
duration storage (8 to 12 hours) will be needed to balance the daily
energy cycle. This long-duration storage will enable additional
generation from solar, new nuclear, and carbon capture technologies.
Long duration energy storage, like pumped storage, supports nuclear
generation and carbon capture technologies by assisting with load
balancing and allowing these technologies to run nearly full time,
which is important as these technologies are generally not conducive to
following the demand curve and work best when running fully loaded. PSH
is a reliable and proven technology. The addition of pumped storage
hydro facilities could also help TVA maintain grid stability and
reliability in the future grid with less dispatchable generation and
greater minute-by-minute variability due to fluctuations in output from
renewables such as solar and wind.
The purpose of this PEIS is to evaluate the potential for pumped
storage facilities in two areas in Jackson County, Alabama, and an
expansion of the existing facility at Raccoon Mountain and to consider
potential environmental and economic impacts from the construction and
operation of pumped storage facilities at each site. After the PEIS,
one or more sites will be further evaluated, and transmission line
siting performed. The impacts of that evaluation and transmission
options for the preferred site(s) will be considered in a future
supplement to this PEIS.
[[Page 32270]]
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
TVA has initially identified four alternatives for evaluation in
the PEIS associated with the proposed pumped storage hydro facilities.
These include a No Action Alternative and three Action Alternatives.
Under the No Action Alternative, TVA will evaluate and consider the
impact of not including additional PSH in TVA's energy storage fleet.
TVA will evaluate and consider each of the Action Alternatives to
determine which site(s) are best suited for pumped storage. The Action
Alternatives will include the expansion of the existing PSH facility at
Raccoon Mountain, constructing a new facility near Pisgah, Alabama
(Rorex Creek), and constructing a new facility near Fabius, Alabama
(Widows Creek). Both new facilities would be located within Jackson
County, Alabama.
The description and analysis of these alternatives in the PEIS will
inform decision makers, other agencies, and the public about the
potential for environmental impacts associated with the proposed PSH
facilities. TVA solicits comment on whether there are other
alternatives that should be assessed in the PEIS. TVA also requests
information and analyses that may be relevant to the project.
Anticipated Environmental Impacts
Public scoping is integral to the process for implementing NEPA and
ensures that (1) issues are identified early and properly studied, (2)
issues of little significance do not consume substantial time and
effort, and (3) the analysis of identified issues is thorough and
balanced. This PEIS will identify the purpose and need of the Action
Alternatives and will contain descriptions of the existing
environmental and socioeconomic resources within the area that could be
affected by the proposed project. Evaluation of potential environmental
impacts to these resources will include, but not be limited to, water
resources, biological resources, cultural resources, natural areas and
recreation, navigation, utilities, recreation, geology and groundwater,
air quality and climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, land use and
prime farmland, noise, public health and safety, socioeconomics and
environmental justice, solid and hazardous waste and material,
transportation, and visual resources. The PEIS will analyze measures
that would avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental effects.
The final range of issues to be addressed in the environmental
review will be determined, in part, from scoping comments received. TVA
is particularly interested in public input on other reasonable
alternatives that should be considered in the PEIS. The preliminary
identification of reasonable alternatives and environmental issues in
this notice is not meant to be exhaustive or final.
Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations
TVA anticipates consulting with the required authorities including,
but not limited to: the Endangered Species Act; Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act; Rare Species Protection and Conservation Act; National
Historic Preservation Act; Clean Air Act; and Federal Clean Water Act.
TVA anticipates seeking required permits or authorizations as
appropriate, from the following governmental entities: U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Alabama Department
of Environment and Conservation; Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Alabama State
Historic Preservation Officer; Tennessee State Historic Preservation
Officer; and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers. This is not an
exhaustive list, other permits or authorizations may be sought as
required or appropriate.
Public Participation and Scoping Process
The public is invited to submit comments on the scope of the PEIS
no later than the date identified in the DATES section of this notice.
Federal, state, and local agencies and Native American Tribes are also
invited to provide comments. Information about this project is
available on the TVA web page at <a href="https://www.tva.gov/nepa">https://www.tva.gov/nepa</a>, including a
link to an online public comment page.
SEIS Preparation and Schedule
Any comments received, including names and addresses, will become
part of the administrative record and will be available for public
inspection. After consideration of comments received during the scoping
period, TVA will develop a scoping document that will summarize public
and agency comments that were received and identify the schedule for
completing the PEIS process.
Following analysis of the resources and issues, TVA will prepare a
draft PEIS for public review and comment tentatively scheduled for late
2024/early 2025; the final PEIS and decision is tentatively scheduled
for 2025. In finalizing the PEIS and in making its final decision, TVA
will consider the comments that it receives on the draft PEIS. A final
determination on proceeding with the preferred alternative will be
documented in a Record of Decision.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9.
Susan Jacks,
General Manager, Environmental Resource Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-10653 Filed 5-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 19, 2023.
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