Floating Cabin Regulation

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is publishing a final rule to amend its regulations that govern floating cabins located on the Tennessee River and its tributaries. The mooring of floating cabins on the TVA reservoir system has increased, and TVA has determined that this poses an unacceptable risk to navigation, safety, and the environment. Left unaddressed, floating cabins convert the public waters under TVA's management to private use. The amendments re-define nonnavigable houseboats and floating cabins using one term--``floating cabins''--and prohibit new floating cabins on TVA-managed reservoirs after December 16, 2016. The amendments also include limited mooring standards, limitations on expansions of floating cabins, and requirements for owners to register their floating cabins. Additional health, safety, and environmental standards for floating cabins will be addressed in a later rulemaking once TVA has had the opportunity to discuss such standards with various stakeholders. In addition, and separate from the updated rule amendments for floating cabins, these amendments contain minor changes to clarify when TVA will allow some water-use facilities (e.g., docks) to be as large as 1800 square feet.