TVA Land Policy Protects Undeveloped Public Land Managed by TVA
November 30, 2006
The TVA Board today approved a land policy that protects and preserves undeveloped public lands managed by TVA along reservoirs throughout the Tennessee Valley.
The final policy was recommended by the Board’s Community Relations Committee after receiving more than 5,000 comments from the public, organizations, elected officials and government agencies on how public lands should be managed by TVA. An overwhelming majority of the public comments supported the draft policy, which proposed no residential or retail development on TVA-managed land.
“Our committee worked through the comments from thousands of people and organizations to come up with a fair policy that protects public land while still allowing recreation and industrial development,” said TVA Director Susan Williams, who chairs the Community Relations Committee. “The new policy reaffirms the usefulness and effectiveness of TVA’s land planning process.”
The final land policy was developed after a deliberative process that took into account advice and views by the Regional Resource Stewardship Council, past public input on land actions and land plans, and comments and resolutions submitted to the Community Relations Committee since August. The land policy was developed to ensure that the use of TVA reservoir land provides the overall greatest public value.
Changes in the final policy from the draft policy, which was submitted to the TVA Board and for public comment Sept. 29, include:
- Under the draft policy, TVA would limit reservoir lands allocated for industrial use to manufacturing businesses that require water access. The final policy says TVA will give preference for businesses making use of water access, but will also consider other businesses.
- Under the draft policy, TVA would not consider any deed modifications other than for flowage rights. Under the final policy, TVA will consider modifications that would open the land affected to recreational access, or in the case of land already open to the public, continue such access. TVA would also consider deed modifications for industrial use.
In addition to the provision of the policy that allows no residential or retail development, other key policy provisions also remain unchanged from the draft policy. Those include:
- TVA will continue to develop reservoir land management plans with substantial public input and approval from the Board.
- TVA will consider leasing and granting easements for commercial recreation or public recreation purposes if the property is allocated for that use in a reservoir land management plan.
- TVA’s non-reservoir property--primarily power and commercial properties--will continue to be managed as power assets, and decisions regarding disposal will be based on business considerations.
The TVA Board also requested a focused review of TVA’s mineral holdings.
The land policy is available here. The new policy is effective immediately.
TVA manages public lands to protect the integrated operation of the TVA reservoir and power system, to provide for public use and enjoyment of the reservoir system and to provide for continuing economic growth through the land planning process in the Valley.
In other business at a meeting in Knoxville, Tenn., the TVA Board approved the purchase of a three-unit natural gas power plant in Gleason, Tenn., that will help TVA meet growing peak power demand and reduce the need to purchase higher-priced power from external sources during periods of high demand. The facility consists of three combustion turbines rated at 180 megawatts and is currently owned by Allegheny Energy Supply. The purchase price is significantly below the cost of construction of a new plant.
The Board also approved renewal of the charter of the Regional Resource Stewardship Council for an additional two years. The council was created in 2000 to provide stakeholder input on TVA’s stewardship of the Valley’s natural resources.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.
Media Contact
Barbara Martocci, Knoxville, (865) 632-8632
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
