KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Valley Authority is moving forward with plans to remove coal ash stored at the former Allen Fossil Plant in Shelby County, Tenn., and to demolish the plant structures.

The public is invited to comment on a draft Environmental Impact Statement which will look at the potential environmental effects of various options for removal of coal ash stored at the site. That document is available at www.tva.com/nepa.

In the draft EIS, TVA is considering the removal of coal ash to an existing offsite landfill, either by truck, rail or barge, with the option to beneficially reuse as much of the material as possible. That could include construction of an offsite proposed beneficial reuse facility to process the ash. TVA has eliminated from consideration the option of closing the ash impoundments in place. TVA does not solely own the property where the fossil site is located, and the proposed actions would make the land available for future economic development projects.

The options would include closure of the East Ash Pond, West Ash Pond and Metal Cleaning Pond. TVA has also considered potential environmental impacts associated with the need for fill material such as soil and clay, including the locations of such material.

Comments on the draft EIS are being accepted through Nov. 25, and can be submitted online at www.tva.com/nepa, by email to wdwhite0@tva.gov, or by mail to W. Douglas White, NEPA Compliance Specialist, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive, WT 11B, Knoxville, TN 37902.

Please note that all comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and available for public inspection.

TVA is hosting two public open houses on the various activities at the Allen site. The first will be on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 5-7 p.m. CDT at the Mitchell Community Center, 602 West Mitchell Road in Memphis. Public comments on the draft EIS will be accepted at this event. The second public open house, specifically to discuss the draft EIS, is on Oct. 30 from 5-7 p.m. CDT at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Meeting Room C, 3030 Poplar Avenue in Memphis.

TVA has also completed an Environmental Assessment on the options for the future of buildings and structures at the Allen site. TVA considered the potential environmental impacts of decontaminating and deconstructing the plant, with various options for removal of the stacks, or leaving the plant as is and taking no action.

TVA’s preferred alternative of full demolition would remove the powerhouse and associated structures to three feet below final grade, resulting in a brownfield site. TVA also issued a Finding of No Significant Impact related to the potential environmental effects of these options. Those documents are posted in the power generation-coal and gas section at www.tva.com/nepa.