The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is proposing to amend its regulations that govern floating cabins located on the Tennessee River and its tributaries. The TVA Act gives TVA wide-ranging authority to make rules and regulations necessary to improve navigation, protect natural resources and promote the general welfare of people of the Tennessee Valley. In implementing the requirements of Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, Pub. L. 114-322, section 5003, the proposed amendments would re-define nonnavigable houseboats and floating cabins as well as establish restrictions for new floating cabins on TVA-managed reservoirs. The proposed amendments would revise mooring standards, impose limitations on expansions of floating cabins, and establish requirements for owners to register their floating cabins.

Separate from the updated rule amendments for floating cabins, these proposed amendments contain a minor change to clarify when TVA will allow some water-use facilities (e.g., docks) to be as large as 1800 square feet.