TVA Explains Project Delays

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When will the Blue Ridge dam project be complete? This seems to be the question on residents’ mind. During Wednesday’s chamber of commerce’s meeting, TVA representatives moved to answer this question, presenting an update on a month’s-old project concerning the Lake Blue Ridge Dam. Travis Brickey, John Kammeyer, and Bill Sitton all spoke on behalf of TVA to the lunch crowd, with opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Kammeyer, vice president of TVA’s coal combustion products, projects, and engineering division, delivered an update on the dam project. Concerning this and all projects, he said the main concern was dam safety. Speaking of the project specifically, Kammeyer reminded the crowd that the TVA has invested almost $40 million in the dam project, comprised of two major components. The first component involves the penstock pipe, a large pipe carrying water from the reservoir into the turbine, thus creating electricity. According to Kammeyer and TVA Communications Consultant Bill Sitton, the work on the pipe involves installing a new inner lining in the pipe and further reinforcing the structure, which Kammeyer said went well. The second major part of the project involves reinforcing the down-stream side of the dam with a rock facing, an effort to meet certain seismic qualifications and prevent damage from large earthquakes. TVA had initially hired a reputable international company for the work, Kammeyer said. However, he noted, TVA was not pleased with their performance. As such, the company was removed from the project, compelling the agency to re-group.

“We’re still doing analysis,”

he said, outlining a tentative schedule for the remainder of the project. According to Kammeyer, testing will continue through July, additional testing will finish in August, and a conceptual design for the project is expected by November. At his point, he said, the project will go out for bid. In light of this tentative schedule, the project is expected to be completed late winter or early spring of 2013. Sitton and Kammeyer stressed, though, that this only a tentative schedule and that anything can happen between now and then.

Rather than continuing with reinforcing the down-stream side of the dam with stone, Kammeyer said TVA is considering a different method of meeting the seismic qualifications. He described it as nailing the soil into rock. “We’re going to…put large…pins…seven to eight inches in diameter through the soil (and) drive it into the rock,” he said, calling this method proved technology used in slope stabilities and freeways.

Later, when questions arose regarding water levels, Communication Consultant Bill Sitton explained that currently the level of the reservoir is 1673 (feet). However, he said they were given permission to raise it to 1675 (plus or minus), but said this would only be possible weather permitting.

“So,”

Sitton said,

“the goal is to get up to about 1675, keep it there, and maintain that (level) through the winter until we start pulling down.”

Subsequently, Sitton confirmed that the winter level is 1668. After hearing this, Mike Darnell asked why the level can’t stay at 1680.

“Doesn’t that level there give you enough water volume to do the things you need to do?”

Both Sitton and Kammeyer answered simply that the reason for the 1668 level and the lower levels is flood control.

“(But) we don’t have that kind of rain.”

Darnell said. Kammeyer, though, explained that these are federal regulations. When Darnell asked if these regulations can be changed, Kammeyer said, “no.” He went on to explain that the regulations are in place for safety reasons. Other members also asked questions, voicing similar criticisms about reservoir levels. Responding, Sitton and Kammeyer said they have other responsibilities down the river t consider as well.

Previously, Mr. Brickey explained that on June 28th, TVA experienced a 15.316 megawatt swing, shattering a previous record by 1000 megawatts. For context, Brickey explained that 1 megawatt can power 585 homes. Also, he noted that despite the recent rainfall, the Blue Ridge area, including the reservoir and tributaries, only increased by two inches. Brickey’s comment regarding the low contribution of rain supported Sitton’s caveat about the water level schedule, that the 1675 level was a goal, depending on weather. FYN will continue to follow the progress of the project.

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