Widows Creek Fossil Plant Soil Excavation and Gypsum Stack Closure

On February 28, 2014, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) completed a final environmental assessment and issued a finding of no significant impact for the proposed Gypsum Stack closure at its Widows Creek Fossil Plant.  The proposed closure would involve constructing a cover over the Gypsum Stack.  This cover would shed surface water, limit infiltration, and better isolate the gypsum/fly ash from direct contact with the environment.  TVA proposes cover the gypsum stack with a flexible membrane and soils excavated from property adjacent to WCF that it owns.  With the retirement or idling of seven of the eight coal units at WCF, continued operation of the Gypsum Stack is no longer needed.  Closing the Gypsum Stack would result in a stable facility that would reduce the infiltration of water into the gypsum/fly ash and the potential release of leachate from the facility.