Tennessee Valley Authority
Biggersville, Mississippi
Transmission System Upgrade
Background
TVA is considering building a transmission line that would power Alcorn County EPA’s new substation in Biggersville, Mississippi. The line and substation are needed to relieve overloaded of equipment and provide a reliable source of power to the area.
Alcorn County EPA’s 46-kilovolt Rienzi Substation is overloaded at peak power times. To provide continued reliable power to the area Alcorn plans to build a new 161-kilovolt substation in the Biggersville area and TVA plans to build 8.5 to 9.5 miles of 161-kV transmission line to power the new substation.
TVA will hold an open house on September 16 to provide information, answer questions and accept comments. All comments will be considered by TVA in reaching a decision on the location of the new transmission line and switching station.
A total of 20 alternative line segments are being considered for the line. The line would begin at TVA’s existing Corinth 161-kV Substation, located south of Hwy 72 in Corinth, and extend south towards the substation site, which is located east of Hwy 45 in Biggersville.
The transmission line would consist of steel pole structures on new 100-foot right-of-way.
The project is scheduled to be completed by spring of 2010.
Public involvement
TVA’s process for siting new transmission projects is designed to allow public input at all stages. TVA is committed to working with area stakeholders to address concerns during the course of the project. Comments received during the comment period will be used in reaching a decision on the proposed action.
TVA will hold an open house to discuss the proposed transmission line project. Details are as follows:
Tuesday, September 16
3:00 - 7:00 p.m. EDT
Alcorn County Electric Power Association, North Meeting Room
1909 South Tate Street
Corinth, Mississippi 38834
TVA representatives will be available at the open house to provide information and answer questions. Large maps showing the alternative transmission line routes and switching station sites under consideration will be available.
TVA is interested in receiving comments on the potential of the proposed action to affect the environment or historic properties and would like to identify any other issues associated with this proposal. Any comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and will be available for public inspection.
If you have special needs, please contact Tanya Adams at least five days prior to the meeting toll-free at 800-362-4355.
If you cannot attend the meeting but have questions or comments, contact Chris Austin (see contact information). All written comments on this proposed action should be sent to TVA no later than October 17, 2008.
Map
The map shows the network of alternative routes TVA is considering for the proposed transmission line.
Map of Alternative Routes (393 kb, PDF)
Environmental reviews
The appropriate National Environmental Policy Act reviews will be conducted to ensure that the environmental impacts are minimized. TVA attempts to minimize any land requirements, private property impacts, and environmental impacts associated with this type of project.
Project schedule
Open house: September 16, 2008
Comments accepted: through October 117, 2008
Determine preferred route for field surveys: winter 2008-09
Begin contacting property owners for permission to survey: winter 2008-09
Begin construction: fall 2009
Project in service: spring 2010
Related information
Frequently asked questions about TVA right-of-way
Benefits of planting native shrubs and grasses in utility rights-of-way.
- Landscaping with native shrubs (PDF file, 879 kb)
- Landscaping with native grasses (PDF file, 644 kb)
Fact sheet on electric and magnetic fields and their effects.
Environmental Protection and Best Management Practices (PDF, 7 mb)