[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14743-14747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6702]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FERC Docket No. CP95-35-000; PRPB Docket No. 94-62-1219-JPU]
EcoElectrica, L.P.; Notice of Intent to Prepare a Joint Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Preliminary Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed EcoElectrica LNG Import Terminal and
Cogeneration Project in Guayanilla Bay, Puerto Rico; Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Scoping Meetings
March 14, 1995.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare a joint environmental impact statement (EIS)
with the Puerto Rico Planning Board (PRPB or Board). The document will
discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of
facilities proposed for EcoElectrica L.P. (EcoElectrica) Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) Import Facility and Cogeneration Project in
Guayanilla Bay, Puerto Rico. The FERC and the PRPB will use this joint
EIS in their decision-making process (whether or not to authorize the
proposed project).\1\
\1\EcoElectrica filed an application with the Commission on
October 25, 1994 pursuant to Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act and
Parts 153 and 380 of the Commission's regulations. The action
involves authorization of a place of import and the construction and
operation of facilities at this place of import. On November 23,
1994, the Land Use Consultation was filed with the PRPB pursuant to
Law 75 of June 24, 1975.
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The PRPB will be the lead agency for the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico and the FERC will be the lead Federal agency in the preparation of
this joint EIS. The joint document will avoid duplication of
environmental analyses, and satisfy the requirements of Puerto Rico's
law requiring an EIS under the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
(PREQB) Regulations (Article 4[c] of Law No. 9) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Summary of the Proposed Project
EcoElectrica is seeking approval for a 36-acre site in Guayanilla
Bay near Ponce, Puerto Rico, to import LNG for power generation. The
facilities that require Commission approval (``jurisdictional''
facilities) include the construction and operation of the LNG
facilities. This would consist of a marine unloading facility, two LNG
storage tanks with individual capacities of up to 1,000,000 barrels, a
vaporization system, and a natural gas accumulator pipeline.
In addition, EcoElectrica proposes to construct a ``non-
jurisdictional'' cogeneration facility that will use the imported LNG
as a fuel source for power [[Page 14744]] generation. The power plant
facility would consist of two gas turbines operating on natural gas and
one steam turbine with a net station output of 461 megawatts (MW) at
230 kilovolts (kV). The gas turbines could also use propane (LPG) as a
secondary fuel and high grade fuel oil as an emergency fuel.
The electricity generated by EcoElectrica's cogeneration facility
would be purchased by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA),
the government-created public utility that supplies nearly all of the
electric power consumed in Puerto Rico. PREPA has identified a need for
additional electric generating capacity of 1,200 MW by the year 2000 to
meet future demand growth, enhance system reliability and to diversify
the fuel sources that generate electricity.
EcoElectrica also proposes to construct a desalination facility
that would generate up to 4,000,000 gallons of freshwater per day.
Freshwater uses at the power plant could require up to 1,000,000
gallons per day. The surplus capacity would be sold for public use.
Other facilities necessary for the operation of the cogeneration
facility include a 2.3-mile long, 230-kV transmission line connecting
the plant substation to an existing PREPA substation; a 3.5-mile long,
10-inch diameter pipeline to supply LPG to the facility; and a water
pipeline for connecting into an existing offsite water supply or to
outside delivery systems.
Summary of the Proposed Facilities
The general location of the proposed facilities for the
EcoElectrica LNG/Cogeneration Project is shown in figure 1. The
proposed LNG import terminal, cogeneration power plant, and
desalination plant will be located in Penuelas, about 9 miles west of
the City of Ponce on the south coast of Puerto Rico. The proposed 36-
acre site is at the end of a peninsula presently owned by Union Carbide
Caribe, Inc. (Union Carbide). The site is bordered on the north by
Union Carbide's existing fuel storage tank farm operations and on the
east, west, and south by Tallaboa and Guayanilla Bays (see figure 2).
The site currently contains a decommissioned naptha storage tank and
ring foundation for a demolished storage tank.
Major facilities of the proposed project can be divided between LNG
import facilities and cogeneration/desalination facilities.
LNG Import Facilities
The LNG import facilities include a ship unloading system, two LNG
storage tanks, and LNG vaporization and vapor handling systems. The
proposed project facilities would be designed, constructed, and
maintained to comply with the Department of Transportation (DOT)
Federal Safety Standards for Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities (49 Code
of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 193). The facilities constructed at
the site would also meet the National Fire Protection Association 59A
LNG standards. The marine cargo transfer system and any appurtenances
located between the vessel and the last valve located immediately
before a storage tank will comply with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
regulations in 33 CFR Part 127 and Executive Order 10173.
Liquefied natural gas would be imported to Puerto Rico for use in
the power plant portion of the project. No firm supply of LNG has been
identified at this time. EcoElectrica is considering potential LNG
suppliers from Trinidad and Nigeria. It is anticipated that the project
would import up to 130 million MMBtu per year, requiring between 10 and
60 LNG tanker unloadings annually.
The LNG tankers that would be used to transport the LNG would be
the 125,000 cubic meter class and would use any of six Coast Guard
approved containment systems. Any LNG carrier used for the project
would be built in strict accordance with all current regulatory and
classification society requirements.
The ship unloading system would consist of unloading facilities and
a pier. The unloading facilities are designed to handle LNG ships with
a capacity of up to 135,000 cubic meters with a draft of up to 40 feet.
Four breasting and mooring dolphins are proposed for securing the LNG
ships to the pier's berth. The tanker berth would be roughly parallel
to the shore in 50 feet of water. The unloading platform would be a
two-level structure with a 40-foot wide by 100-foot long lower level
and a 20-foot wide by 76-foot long upper level. The pier is proposed to
be 27 feet wide and 1,800 feet long. It would be constructed on 20- to
30-inch diameter steel pipe piles, or prestressed concrete tubes. The
pile bents are expected to be constructed on 70-foot spacings. Pier
framing, roadway, and spill impoundment system contained within the
pier would be constructed of reinforced and prestressed concrete.
On-board pumps would deliver the LNG to the terminal. Four
articulated marine unloading arms would be installed on the berth for
this purpose. Three of the arms would be used to receive LNG from the
ship, and one would return natural gas vapor to the ship. Fire fighting
and fire and leak detection systems would be installed on the pier to
comply with 33 CFR Part 127. Potential LNG spills from piping at the
unloading platform, on the piping pier, and onshore would be impounded
in concrete trenches located below the piping. The impoundment trenches
would drain to a single impoundment basin located onshore near the end
of the pier.
LNG would be stored in two double-containment insulated tanks. The
tanks would be 166 feet in height and 254 feet in diameter with an
individual capacity to store up to 1,000,000 barrels of LNG each at a
temperature of minus 260 deg.F and a pressure of 2.0 pounds per square
inch gauge (psig). Each storage tank would consist of an inner tank
constructed of 9 percent nickel steel, and an outer tank constructed of
carbon steel. Outer walls would be designed to contain the product
vapors and protect the insulation systems from moisture. Insulation
would consist of perlite installed between the inner and outer tank
walls. Each LNG tank would be surrounded by a concrete wall capable of
containing 110 percent of the tank's LNG contents. This method of
construction would ensure spill containment even if there were a
complete rupture of the double walled metal tanks.
LNG from the storage tanks would be pressurized, vaporized, and
heated so that natural gas can be delivered to the power plant turbines
at the required pressure, temperature, and flow. Pumps in the LNG tanks
would transfer and pressurize the LNG to between two and six 95 million
cubic feet per day vaporizers. Two shell and tube vaporizers would use
a water-ethylene glycol solution heated by the air intakes of the gas
turbines. Four open rack vaporizers would use warm seawater to provide
the heat required for vaporization. These are two independent systems.
Cogeneration Facilities
The cogeneration facilities can be subdivided into three distinct
aspects: power plant facilities, cooling water systems, and
desalination facilities. All facilities will meet all applicable
Federal and Commonwealth laws. The cogeneration facilities are ``non-
jurisdictional'' from the FERC perspective, and will not have any
permitting authority for the ``non-jurisdictional'' facilities. The
PRPB will have a primary role in assuring that all aspects of the
cogeneration facilities meet the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico laws and
regulations, including environmental regulations. Since both agencies
require a NEPA document, this joint EIS will serve the needs of both
agencies. [[Page 14745]]
The power plant would be located on about 11 acres of the 36-acre
site (see figure 2). The plant would have a net station output of about
461 MW at 230 kV when operating on natural gas under base load
conditions. The plant would consist of two gas combustion turbines
operating principally on natural gas and one steam turbine. The
turbines could also be operated on LPG as a secondary fuel supply and
high grade fuel oil as an emergency source. The LPG would be stored at
a nearby location and transported to the facility by a proposed 10-inch
diameter pipeline. Fuel oil would be stored on the site in a storage
tank.
The power plant facility would consist of a building to house the
steam turbine generator, condenser, control room, electrical room,
battery room, maintenance area, offices, and other activities.
Administrative and storage buildings would also be constructed on the
site. These buildings would serve both the LNG import terminal and
power plant facilities. A perimeter security system and fire
protection/detection system would be monitored both from the
administrative building and the power plant control room.
The power plant facility would also include a substation for the
transfer of electricity generated by the plant to the PREPA system. The
substation would be designed to inter-tie the EcoElectrica power plant
facility to the PREPA circuits. The substation system would also be
used to supply power to the LNG facility's electrical equipment.
A cooling water system would be constructed at the facility to
provide for power plant cooling and desalinated water production.
EcoElectrica has proposed to use a closed cycle seawater cooling tower
(SWCT) system. Other methods of cooling would be analyzed as possible
alternatives.
The SWCT system would consist of 10 cells. Each cell would be 50
feet in length and 50 feet in width. The overall site area would
encompass 100 feet by 250 feet, with a tower 55 feet high from grade to
the top of the fan stack. Water would be obtained from Guayanilla Bay
from an intake pipeline placed under the LNG pier. About 13,000 gallons
per minute of the SWCT blowdown would be mixed with other treated site
water discharge for return to Guayanilla Bay through an offshore
diffuser or discharged into Tallaboa Bay via a near-shore outfall
structure. Water temperatures of the outfall would not exceed
91.4 deg.F under any operating scenario.
EcoElectrica has also proposed construction of a desalination plant
to provide freshwater for power plant operation and to supply potable
water for sale to other users. Freshwater uses at the power plant would
include potable water for internal consumption, utility water, and
after further treatment, high quality boiler feedwater totaling up to
1,000,000 gallons per day. The maximum freshwater production rate
proposed for the desalination plant is expected to be up to 4,000,000
gallons per day. The surplus capacity would be sold for public use.
A Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) distillation technology is proposed to be
used for desalination. MSF distillation plants use thermal energy,
generally supplied in the form of low pressure steam to desalinate
seawater. The combined cycle power plant facility would supply
sufficient amounts of steam at suitable temperatures and pressures to
drive the desalination process.
Offsite Facilities
Several offsite facilities are associated with the project. These
include an electric transmission line, a natural gas accumulator
pipeline, an LPG pipeline, a potable water supply line and new access
roads (see figure 2 for locations of these facilities).
Electric output from the power plant would be supplied to the PREPA
power grid. A 2.3-mile long, 230-kV transmission line would be
constructed between the power plant substation and the existing PREPA
substation. The line would be constructed on steel structures in a 100-
foot wide right-of-way. Existing easements for the transmission
corridor would be used whenever possible.
LPG would be used as the primary fuel during the construction of
the LNG import facility, and as a backup fuel after the LNG facility is
operational. LPG would be supplied to the power plant through a 10-inch
diameter pipeline extending about 3.5 miles from the existing ProCaribe
LPG terminal to the power plant (see figure 2). The LPG supply line
would follow previously permitted pipeline routes and would use
existing pipe racks wherever possible.
Normally, a natural gas accumulator vessel would be incorporated
into the power plant facility infrastructure. It is used to ensure that
natural gas volumes are available to prevent an instantaneous
``emptying'' or ``voiding'' of the supply line during startup of the
plant and to prevent over-pressurization of the line after a shutdown.
Instead, EcoElectrica has proposed to use a pipeline ``stub'' rather
than a vessel that would be built to the northern edge of the facility
along the LPG pipeline right-of-way. This line would serve both as the
accumulator line for the power plant and potentially as a feed for
future natural gas refueling efforts should these markets develop.
EcoElectrica is not seeking approval for additional sales to sources
outside this proposed action.
A water pipeline is also proposed for construction. Surplus
freshwater would be marketed to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer
Authority (PRASA) or to other municipal, commercial, or retain
customers. An exact alignment for connection to offsite water supplies
or delivery systems outside the easements acquired from the present
owner (Union Carbide) has not been obtained. Those easements and
environmental documentation would be the responsibility of the PRASA or
other users.
Access roads on the Union Carbide property and the proposed site
would be developed or upgraded to bring workers and construction
materials from route PR-127 and the existing Union Carbide dock (see
figure 2). Roads constructed or upgraded would remain active during
operation of the facility for materials' deliveries and worker access.
Construction
The LNG import facility and cogeneration facilities at Guayanilla
Bay would be constructed by EcoElectrica using conventional
construction procedures and techniques. Two design and construction
schedules have been developed: one for the cogeneration facilities and
another for the LNG import facilities.
The power plant and desalination facilities would be designed and
constructed over a 18 to 24-month period. Site preparation and levee
construction would begin six months after the start of basic
engineering design. Preparation of the site would require raising the
base elevation of the existing site interior (about 5 feet above mean
sea level [msl]) to about 10 feet above msl. Increasing the existing
perimeter height of the levee from 10 feet to between 12 and 16 feet
above msl would also be done. The interior of the site would be filled
with imported soils and caliche. The combined levee construction and
filling of the site interior would require about 175,000 cubic yards of
materials that would be obtained locally from existing sources and
transported to the site.
The southeast quadrant of the proposed site would be used for a
construction material laydown area and the location of temporary
offices. A permanent access road and temporary construction worker
parking area would be located north of the laydown area. An existing
construction off-loading [[Page 14746]] dock would be used during
construction (see figure 2).
Foundation construction would begin about six months after site
preparation activities are begun. Construction of the power plant and
desalination facilities would be complete in about one year from the
start of foundation construction. Startup of the facility is
anticipated two years after the start of basic engineering. Commercial
operation would begin after a one-month startup and commissioning
period.
The power plant structure would be about 75 feet high and
constructed of a steel frame with insulated metal siding and roofing.
The structures will be designed following all Federal, Commonwealth,
and local building codes.
Construction of the proposed LNG facilities would follow a similar
schedule. From basic engineering design to commercial operation would
take about 24 to 30 months. Foundation installation on the LNG facility
would begin about six months after the start of power plant
foundations.
Marine terminal construction would begin four months after the
start of foundation construction. The pier would connect the shore
facilities with the unloading platform.
LNG tank construction would begin one month after the start of the
marine terminal construction. The tanks would be constructed on
insulated concrete pads. The tanks would be designed and constructed
following all requirements of American Petroleum Institute (API) 620
and 49 CFR Part 193. Completion of all LNG facilities is anticipated
about 18 months after initial foundation work. Commercial operation of
the LNG facility is expected to start about one year after the start of
commercial operation of the cogeneration facilities.
The EIS Process
The NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the
environmental impacts that could result from a major Federal action
whenever it considers the approval of a place of import for natural
gas. The PRPB, as a Commonwealth Agency with authority over location
approval and land use control, is required to consider the same
potential impacts within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under PREQB
regulations under Article 4(c) of Law No. 9. The joint EIS we are
preparing will give both the PRPB and the Commission the information we
need to do that.
NEPA also requires us to discover and address public concerns about
proposals. We call this ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the joint EIS on the important
environmental issues, and to separate those issues that are
insignificant and do not require detailed study. By the Notice of
Intent, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the
issues it will address in the joint EIS. All comments received are
considered during the preparation of the EIS. State and local
government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents
of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
The joint EIS will discuss impacts that could occur from the
construction and operation of the proposed project. These impacts may
include, but are not limited to:
Geology and Soils
--Seismology and soil liquefaction
--Erosion control
--Right-of-way restoration
--Hazardous waste sites
--Seismic criteria
Water Resources
--Site-specific impacts on surface and groundwater
--Potential introduction of non-indigenous species and diseases from
tanker ballast water
--Effect on potable water supplies
--Effect in wetland hydrology
--Effect on construction in areas with shallow, contaminated
groundwater
--Effects of water discharge on marine water quality and ambient
temperature
Biological Resources
--Effect of plant construction and operation on threatened and
endangered species
--Effect of increased tanker traffic and marine construction traffic on
manatees along the route
--Effects of construction of terminal on marine life in Guayanilla and
Tallaboa Bays
Cultural Resources
--Effect on historic and prehistoric sites
--Effect on underwater cultural resources
--Native American and tribal concerns
Socioeconomics
--Impact of a peak work force of 400 on surrounding area
--Long-term effects of increased employment and taxes on local economy
Air Quality and Noise
--Air quality and noise impacts associated with LNG and congeneration
facilities during operations
--Air quality and noise impacts associated with construction
Marine Transportation
--Effects of increased marine traffic on existing commercial and
recreational marine traffic
--Probability of increased accident risk and potential for release of
LNG or other hazardous materials
Public Safety
--Compliance with 49 CFR 193 for exclusion zones (thermal and vapor gas
dispersion) siting criteria, and seismic criteria
--Consequences of a major spill, both on land and marine
--Cryogenic design and technical review
Land Use
--Impact on industrial areas
--Effect of rights-of-way and aboveground facilities on visual
aesthetics in the region
--Consistency with local land use plans
--Impact on homes
Cumulative Impacts
--Identification of related projects
--Analysis of cumulative impacts and mitigation measures
We will also evaluate possible site and technology alternatives to
the project and recommend specific mitigation measures to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Federal and Commonwealth agencies are being asked to indicate
whether they wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the joint
EIS. These agencies are listed in appendix A and may choose to
participate once they have evaluated the proposed project and their
agencies' responsibilities.\2\
\2\The appendices and figures referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from
FERC's Public Reference Branch, Room 3104, 941 North Capitol Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20426 or call (202) 208-1371. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Our independent analysis of the issues will result in the
publication of a Draft/Preliminary EIS (the term Preliminary EIS is a
specific milestone in the Puerto Rico environmental documentation
procedures). This document will be mailed to Federal, state, and local
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected
landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official
service list for these proceedings. A 45-day comment period will be
allotted for the review of the Draft/Preliminary EIS. We will consider
all comments on the Draft/Preliminary EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. The final EIS will include our
response to each comment received. [[Page 14747]]
Public Participation and Scoping Meetings
You can make a difference by sending a letter with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on the
potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to the
proposal (including alternative sites), and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure that your
comments are received and properly recorded:
Address your letters to:
Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825
North Capitol St., NE., Washington, DC 20426
Luis Frias, Secretary, Puerto Rico Planning Board, P.O. Box 41119,
Santurce, PR 00940-1119
Reference Docket No. CP95-35-000 (FERC)
Reference Docket No. 94-62-1219-JPU (PRPB)
Send a copy of your letter to the following individuals:
Mr. Chris Zerby, FERC EIS Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE, Room 7312, Washington, DC 20426
Mrs. Maria Gordillo, PRPB EIS Project Manager, Puerto Rico Planning
Board, P.O. Box 41119, Santurce, Puerto Rico 00940-1119
Mail your comments so that they are received in
Washington, D.C. or Santurce, PR on or before April 17, 1995.
Beside seeking your written comments, we invite you to attend any
of the joint public scoping meetings the FERC and the PRPB will
conduct. The locations and times for these meetings are listed below.
Requests to hold additional public scoping meetings will be considered.
The public meetings will be designed to give you more detailed
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the
proposed project. Those wanting to speak at the meetings can call the
EIS Project Manager to pre-register their names on the speaker list.
Those people on the speaker list before the date of the meeting will be
allowed to speak first. A second speaker list will be developed at each
meeting. Priority will be given to people representing groups. A
transcript of each meeting will be made so that your comments will be
accurately recorded. This transcript will be available in both Spanish
and English.
Schedule for Joint EIS Public Scoping Meetings
April 18, 1995 (5:00-7:00 pm)
Puerto Rico Planning Board, Minillas Governmental Center, De Diego
Avenue, Stop 22, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940
April 19, 1995 (5:00-7:00 pm)
City Hall, Penuelas, Puerto Rico
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EIS process, you may want to
become an official party to the proceedings or an ``intervenor.'' Among
other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of case-
related FERC documents and filings by other intervenors. Likewise, each
intervenor must provide copies of its filings to all other parties. If
you want to become an intervenor, you must file a Motion To Intervene
according to Rule 214 of FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.214) which is attached as appendix B.
The date for filing of timely motions to intervene in this
proceeding has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late
interventions must show good cause, as required by section
385.214(b)(3), why this time limitation should be waived. Environmental
issues have been viewed as good cause for late intervention. You do not
need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
This notice is being sent to all potential interested parties to
solicit focused comments regarding environmental considerations related
to the proposed project. As details of the project become established,
representatives of EcoElectrica will directly contact communities, and
public agencies concerning any other matters, including acquisition of
permits and rights-of-way.
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
keep informed and receive copies of the Draft/Preliminary and Final
EIS, please return the Information Request (appendix C). If you do not
return the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. Chris Zerby, FERC Project Manager, at (202) 208-0111. Information
concerning the involvement of the Puerto Rico Planning Board can be
obtained from Mrs. Maria Gordillo, PRPB Project Manager, at (809) 727-
4444.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-6702 Filed 3-17-95; 8:45 am]
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