[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 101 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12898]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 

Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Public 
Hearings for the Proposed Pinon Pine Power Project at Tracy Power 
Station, Nevada

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement 
(draft statement) and notice of public hearings on the draft.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (Department) announces the 
availability of the Pinon Pine Power Project Draft Statement (EIS-
0215), prepared to assess the environmental effects of the design, 
construction, and operation of the proposed Pinon Pine Integrated 
Gasification Combined Cycle Power Project, a 104-Megawatt-electric 
coal-fired power generating facility at Tracy Power Station, 17 miles 
east of Reno, Nevada. As one of the proposals selected under Round IV 
of the Clean Coal Technology Program, the Pinon Pine Power Project 
would demonstrate an innovative air-blown, Integrated Gasification 
Combined Cycle technology. This technology, when compared to 
conventional coal burning technologies, would result in a cost 
effective reduction in emissions of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen, and 
particles from a 104-Megawatt-electric coal-fired (800-ton-per-day) 
power plant. The proposed action is the cost-shared Federal funding of 
the project by the Department of approximately $135 million (about 50 
percent of the total cost of approximately $270 million). The document 
assesses the long-term reliability, maintainability, and environmental 
impacts of the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle technology at a 
utility scale and setting. The technologies to be demonstrated include 
a KRW Energy Systems Inc., pressurized, fluidized-bed gasifier with in-
bed limestone desulfurization and hot-gas clean-up processes, including 
an external regenerable desulfurization system using zinc-based 
sorbents and fine particle filters.

DATES: The Department invites comments on the Draft Statement from all 
interested parties. Written comments or suggestions regarding the 
adequacy, accuracy, and completeness of the Draft Statement will be 
considered in preparing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final 
Statement) and should be received by July 23, 1994. Written comments 
received after that date will be considered to the degree practicable.
    The Department will also hold three public hearings at which 
agencies, organizations, and the general public are invited to present 
oral comments or suggestions on the Draft Statement. Locations, dates, 
and times for the public hearings are provided in the sections of this 
notice entitled ``PUBLIC HEARINGS.'' Written and oral comments will be 
given equal weight and will be considered in preparing the Final 
Statement. Requests for copies of the Draft Statement and/or Final 
Statement or questions concerning the project, should be sent to Dr. 
Suellen A. Van Ooteghem at the address noted below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft Statement should be received 
by July 23, 1994, for incorporation into the public hearing record. 
Oral comments will be accepted at the public hearings. Written 
comments, requests to speak at the hearings, or questions concerning 
the Pinon Pine Power Project, should be directed to: Dr. Suellen A. Van 
Ooteghem, Environmental Project Manager, Morgantown Energy Technology 
Center, 3610 Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880, Telephone: 
(304) 284-5443.
    If you request to speak, please indicate at which hearing(s). 
Envelopes should be labeled ``Pinon Pine Power Project Draft EIS.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the 
Department's Environmental Impact Statement process and other matters 
related to the National Environmental Policy Act, please contact: Ms. 
Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Oversight (EH-25), U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585, Telephone: (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Need for the Proposed Action

    The Department proposes to provide cost-shared funding support for 
the design, construction, and operation of a 104-Megawatt-electric 
(gross) coal-fired power plant at Tracy, Nevada, to demonstrate 
technology. The Pinon Pine Power Project was proposed by Sierra Pacific 
Power Company and selected by the Department for negotiation of a 
Cooperative Agreement for Federal assistance by the Clean Coal 
Technology program. The Pinon Pine Power Project, when compared to 
conventional coal-fired power plant technologies, would demonstrate the 
cost effective reduction in emissions of sulfur dioxide, oxides of 
nitrogen, and particulate matter from a 104-Megawatt-electric coal-
fired power plant using innovative Integrated Gasification Combined-
Cycle and hot gas cleanup technology. Following a 42-month 
demonstration period anticipated to conclude in August 2000, the 
facility would enter commercial operation. The proposed Pinon Pine 
Power Project would be located at Sierra Pacific Power Company's 
existing Tracy Power Station, a natural gas- and oil-fired 411-
Megawatt-electric (estimate based on June 1994 projections) power 
generation facility located on a rural 724-acre plot approximately 17 
miles east of Reno, Nevada. The proposed new facility would be built 
adjacent to these facilities.
    On October 23, 1989, Public Law No. 101-121, ``Department of the 
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1990,'' was signed 
into law. This Act, among other things, appropriated funds for the 
design, construction, and operation of cost-shared, clean coal projects 
to demonstrate the feasibility of future commercial applications of 
technologies capable of replacing, retrofitting or repowering existing 
facilities.
    On January 17, 1991, the Department issued Program Opportunity 
Notice Number DE-PS01-91FE62271 for Clean Coal Technology IV, 
soliciting proposals to conduct cost-shared projects to demonstrate 
innovative, energy-efficient, and economically competitive clean coal 
technologies. The Pinon Pine Power Project was one of the nine projects 
selected from among the 33 proposals received.

Environmental Impact Statement Preparation

    The Draft Statement has been prepared in accordance with section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act, as implemented in 
regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508) and by the Department's Implementing Procedures (10 
CFR part 1021). In accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act, the Department determined that providing cost-shared funding for 
the Pinon Pine Power Project constitutes a major Federal action that 
may significantly affect the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, the Department has prepared a Draft Statement to assess the 
potential impacts of both the proposed action and reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed action on the human and natural 
environment.
    A notice of intent (notice) to prepare the Environmental Impact 
Statement and hold public scoping meetings in Nixon, Fernley, and Reno, 
Nevada, was published by the Department in the Federal Register on June 
30, 1992 (57 FR 29067). The Notice invited oral and written comments 
and suggestions on the proposed scope of the Environmental Impact 
Statement, including environmental issues and alternatives, and invited 
public participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process. 
Overall, 60 scoping comments were received that assisted in identifying 
major issues for subsequent in-depth analysis in the Draft Statement. 
As a result of the scoping process, an Environmental Impact Statement 
Implementation Plan was developed to define the scope and provide 
further guidance for preparing the Environmental Impact Statement.
    The Draft Statement considers the proposed action and the no-action 
alternative, which includes a scenario that reasonably could be 
expected to result as a consequence of the no-action alternative. 
Impacts to atmospheric resources, surface water, groundwater, 
biological resources (including threatened and endangered species), and 
socioeconomic resources (including environmental justice) from 
construction and operation of the proposed Pinon Pine Power Project 
have been analyzed.
    The Draft Statement provides an analysis of information prepared to 
evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed 
construction and operation of the Pinon Pine Power Project at the 
proposed site.

Floodplains Notification

    Pursuant to Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and the 
Department's Procedures for Compliance with Floodplains/Wetlands 
Environmental Review Requirements (10 CFR part 1022), the Department 
hereby provides notice that a new primary electric switchyard proposed 
as one component of the Pinon Pine Power Project would be constructed 
and operated in the 100-year floodplain as depicted on the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Map (Panel Number 
320033 0020B). Because of its proposed location in the 100-year 
floodplain, this switchyard could potentially impede the flow of 
floodwaters. However, there is neither vegetation present in the 
affected area nor wetlands or ecologically sensitive areas that would 
be involved. The electric switchyard, required to provide an electrical 
connection between the Pinon Pine Power Plant and Sierra Pacific Power 
Company's existing electrical system, would be approximately 75 square 
feet in size. The switchyard would be sited adjacent to and would 
expand the existing switchyard for the Tracy Station Plant. The 
switchyard would directly impact the floodplain because of site grading 
and filling and the permanent placement of switchyard equipment within 
the 100-year floodplain. However, impacts to the 100-year floodplain 
such as flood storage, flood-flow conveyance, and wildlife habitat are 
expected to be minimal due to the limited size and open structure of 
the switchyard. The potential environmental impacts of site selection 
on the floodplain area are discussed in chapters 4 and 9 of the Draft 
Statement. Comments regarding the effects of the proposed action on 
floodplains may be submitted to the Department in accordance with the 
procedures described below.

Comment Procedures

Availability of Draft Statement

    Copies of the Draft Statement are being distributed to 
organizations, environmental groups, and individuals known to be 
interested in or affected by the proposed project. Additional copies of 
either the main document or appendices to the main volume may be 
obtained by contacting the Department as provided in the section of 
this notice entitled ADDRESSES.
    Copies of the Draft Statement, including the appendix volume and 
major documents referenced in the Draft Statement, are available for 
inspection at the locations identified below:

(1) U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Reading Room, 
room 1E-190, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.
(2) U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown Energy Technology Center, 
3610 Collins Ferry Road, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880.
(3) Lyon County Fernley Branch Library, P.O. Box 647, 575 Silverlace 
Blvd., Fernley, NV 89408.
(4) Washoe County Public Library, Government Documents Section, 301 
South Center Street, Reno, NV 89502.
(5) Storey County Library, 95 South R Street, Virginia City, NV 89440.
(6) Sierra Pacific Power Company, 6100 Neil Road, Reno, NV 89511.

Written Comments

    Interested parties are invited to provide comments on the content 
of the Draft Statement to the Department as indicated in the section of 
this notice entitled ADDRESSES. Envelopes should be labeled ``Pinon 
Pine Power Project Draft EIS.'' Comments should be received no later 
than July 23, 1994, the close of the public comment period, to ensure 
consideration in preparing the Final Statement. Comments received after 
July 23, 1994, will be considered to the extent practicable.

Public Hearings

Procedures

    The public is invited to provide comments in person on the Draft 
Statement to the Department at the scheduled public hearings. Advance 
registration for presentation of oral comments at the hearings will be 
accepted up to one week prior to the hearing date by telephone or by 
mail at the office listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Envelopes 
should be labeled ``Pinon Pine Power Project Draft EIS.'' Requests to 
speak at a specific time will be honored if possible. Registrants are 
allowed only to register themselves to speak and must confirm the time 
they are scheduled to speak at the registration desk the day of the 
hearing. Persons who have not registered in advance may register to 
speak when they arrive at the hearings to the extent that time is 
available. To ensure that as many persons as possible have the 
opportunity to present comments, 5 minutes will be allotted to each 
speaker. Persons presenting comments at the hearings are requested to 
provide the Department with written copies of their comments at the 
hearing, if possible.

Hearing Schedules and Locations

    Public hearings will be held at the following locations, times, and 
dates:

1. Date: June 21, 1994
    Time: 6:30 p.m.
    Place: Pyramid Lake Paiute, Indian Tribal Council Chambers, Nixon, 
Nevada 89424
2. Date: June 22, 1994
    Time: 7:00 p.m.
    Place: Rainbow Bend Country Club, 500 Blue Declair, Rainbow Bend, 
Nevada 89434
3. Date: June 23, 1994
    Time: 7:00 p.m.
    Place: Alumni Lounge, Jot Travis Student Union, University of 
Nevada, Reno Campus, Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89557.

Conduct of Hearings

    The Department's rules and procedures for the orderly conduct of 
the hearings will be announced by the presiding officer at the start of 
the hearings. The hearings will not be of an adjudicatory or 
evidentiary nature. Speakers will not be cross-examined, although the 
presiding officer and the Department of Energy hearing panel members 
may ask clarifying questions. The Department of Energy hearing panel 
members will respond to comments and questions from the public. In 
addition, the Department of Energy's representatives will be available 
to discuss the project in informal conversations. A transcript of the 
hearings will be prepared, and the entire record of each hearing, 
including the transcript, will be placed on file by the Department for 
inspection at the public locations given above in the COMMENT 
PROCEDURES section.

    Signed in Washington DC, this 20th day of May 1994, for the 
United States Department of Energy.
Peter N. Brush,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 94-12898 Filed 5-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P