The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Regional Resource Stewardship Council will discuss TVA’s shoreline construction permit policy and review its annual update from the Natural Resource Plan at its Oct. 22-23 meeting in Knoxville.
At the meeting, the council will receive updates from TVA’s Natural Resource Plan annual review, including information about land condition assessments, online recreation applications and cultural resources.
TVA also will gather council input on shoreline construction permits and fees, also known as Section 26a permits. Under Section 26a of the TVA Act, an approved permit from TVA is required before any construction can begin along the shoreline of the Tennessee River or its tributaries that affects navigation, flood control or public lands. “This meeting will give TVA a chance to hear valuable input from representatives from all across the Tennessee Valley about our shoreline construction permit process and fees,” said Bruce Schofield, vice president of TVA Land & Shoreline Management. “The council is an essential resource in helping us balance the needs of people from across the TVA service area.”
The Regional Resource Stewardship Council advises TVA on the operation of its dams and reservoirs, including responsibility for navigation, flood control, reservoir water quality, cultural resources and wildlife protection, and management of public lands and recreation. Created in 2000, the 20-member panel was a key stakeholder review group for TVA’s Natural Resource Plan.
Regional Resource Stewardship Council meetings are open to the public. The council will be in session from 1:15-4:45 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22, and again on Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to noon. The sessions will take place at TVA headquarters, 400 West Summit Hill Drive in Knoxville.
A public comment session will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Anyone interested in speaking should register at the door by 8:30 a.m. Speakers will be limited to five minutes. Up to an hour will be allotted for public comments, with participation on a first-come basis. Written comments also are invited and may be mailed to the Regional Resource Stewardship Council, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11B, Knoxville, Tn. 37902. Comments may be made directly to council members through the council website at http://www.tva.com/rrsc. For more information, call the council records officer at 865 632-6113.