Final Environmental Assessment
Colbert Fossil Plant
Reduction systems for nitrogen oxide control on Units 1 through 5
TVA has prepared an Environmental Assessment of the proposed installation and operation of equipment for the removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from coal combustion flue gases at Colbert Fossil Plant. The plant is located in Colbert County, Alabama, about 10 miles west of Tuscumbia and three miles east of Cherokee. Installation of the NOx removal equipment will begin in 2003 and be completed in 2005.
Nitrogen oxide emissions are a factor in causing acid rain and high ground-level ozone concentrations. NOx is produced in motor vehicle and industrial combustion processes, including electric power generation stations such as TVA’s Colbert Fossil Plant. TVA must meet the new Title 1 Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for ozone, which is formed in part by NOx.
To meet CAA requirements, TVA is considering two alternative technologies for installation at Colbert Fossil Plant. They are a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system or a NOx Tech System. Either system is expected to reduce emissions of NOx from the plant by up to 90 percent. Either would be primarily installed within the existing plant structure and include an ammonia storage facility, also located within the plant site. A combination of the two systems, such as installation of SCR equipment on Unit 5 and installation of NOx Tech systems on Units 1 through 4, may be used. .
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, TVA has prepared a final Environmental Assessment on the no-action alternative and three proposed alternative actions to comply with Clean Air Act requirements regarding NOx emissions.
Documents
The final environmental assessment can be viewed by section, as noted below (PDF files, require Adobe Acrobat Reader):
Introduction
and Table of Contents (35 kb)
Includes an overview and list of chapters, appendices, tables,
and figures.
Chapter
1: Purpose, Need, and Background for the Proposed Action (215
kb)
The purpose of the proposed action, background of air pollution from nitrogen
oxides and NOx control technologies, history of the Colbert Fossil Plant,
related NEPA documents, the scoping process, and public and agency involvement.
Chapter
2: Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action (434 kb)
The proposed action, alternatives to the proposed action, other alternatives
not considered in detail, comparison of alternatives, summary of environmental
commitments, and environmental permits.
Chapter
3: Resources and Environment Impacts (470 kb)
Includes the scope of environmental issues and description of impacts
to the following resources: air quality; ammonia storage and handling
safety; wetlands; significant managed areas; terrestrial ecology; threatened
or endangered species; land use; visual aesthetics and noise; archaeological
and historic resources; solid and hazardous waste; aquatic ecology; wastewater,
surface-water, and groundwater quality; socioeconomics; and transportation.
Chapters 4, 5, and 6: List of Preparers, Agencies Consulted, References, and Abbreviations Used (29 kb)
Appendix
A (139 kb)
Material safety data sheets for anhydrous ammonia.
Appendix
B (607 kb)
Correspondence with agencies and public notices and news releases.
Appendix
C (36 kb)
Wetland determination data
Finding of No Significant
Impact (36 kb)
Based on the
final EA, TVA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact on
February 7, 2003. This document explains TVA’s environmental
review and mitigation commitments, which will ensure no significant
adverse impacts on the environment.
More information
Printed copies of this EA are available for viewing at:
- Helen Keller Public Library, 511 N. Main St., Tuscumbia, AL 35674-2059, 256-383-7065
- Cherokee Public Library, 118 Church Loop, Cherokee, AL 35616-5124, 256-359-4384
- Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN 37402, 423-757-5310.
For more information or to provide comments, contact:
Tina M. Tomaszewski,
Senior NEPA Specialist
Tennessee Valley Authority
1101 Market Street, MR 2T
Chattanooga, TN 37402
E-mail: tvainfo@tva.gov (Attn.:
Tina M. Tomaszewski)