Replacement of Ocoee Transmission Line

Polk County, Tennessee

On November 28, 2006, TVA issued a final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact for its proposed Ocoee 2-3 transmission line replacement project.

TVA’s proposed action is to replace its existing 69-kilovolt transmission line between the Ocoee No. 2 and Ocoee No. 3 hydroelectric plants. This transmission line is necessary for delivering the power generated by the Ocoee No. 3 plant to the TVA transmission grid, and the present line is in poor condition and unreliable. The existing transmission line is about four miles long and runs through the Ocoee River Gorge along U.S. Highway 64 in the Cherokee National Forest (CNF).

This final EA evaluates four alternatives: 1) rebuild in place; 2) build on a combination of new and existing right-of-way; 3) no action and continue to make emergency repairs on an as-needed basis; and 4) build on new right-of-way south of the Ocoee River Gorge. Alternative 4 is TVA’s preferred alternative.

Because TVA’s proposal would require a Forest Service special use permit, the CNF cooperated in the preparation of the EA. The process of preparing and obtaining public and agency review has followed the CNF National Environmental Policy Act process. TVA’s proposal was the subject of a legal notice in the Knoxville News Sentinel and of letters sent to individuals and organizations known to be interested in activities within the CNF, Native American tribes, local elected officials, and governmental agencies that have regulatory responsibilities or environmental expertise needed for preparation of the EA.

Comments received in response to the notice and letters have been addressed in the EA. Read more information on the CNF NEPA process.

Documents

PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Finding of No Significant Impact (PDF, 155 kb)

Final Environmental Assessment (PDF, 680 kb)

Environmental Assessment Figure 1 (PDF, 887 kb)
Existing and Proposed Ocoee 2-Ocoee 3 Replacement Transmission Line Routes

Appendix A (PDF, 234 kb)
Correspondence and Comments

Appendices B - E (PDF, 145 kb)
Tennessee Valley Authority Transmission Line Construction and Maintenance Environmental Protection Specifications

Appendix F (PDF, 315 kb)
Wetlands

Appendix G (PDF, 1,018 kb)
Biological Evaluation

Appendix H (PDF, 348 kb)
Cultural Resources Memorandum of Agreement

Contact

Peter K. Scheffler
TVA NEPA Services
400 West Summit Hill Dr., WT 11D
Knoxville, TN 37902-1401
E-mail: pkscheffler@tva.gov
Phone: 865-632-3451