[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 105 (Friday, June 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30572-30574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10563]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the FutureGen Project

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
of the document, Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the FutureGen 
Project (DOE/EIS-0394D), for public comment. The draft environmental 
impact statement (EIS) analyzes the potential environmental 
consequences of DOE's proposed action to provide federal funding for 
the FutureGen Project. The Project would include the planning, design, 
construction and operation of the FutureGen facility, a prototype 
electric power and hydrogen gas generating plant that employs coal 
gasification technology integrated with combined-cycle electricity 
generation and the capture and geologic sequestration of the carbon 
dioxide (CO2) emissions. The project would also include a 
research platform, which would be a principal feature of the prototype 
plant. The proposed action would be undertaken by a private sector, 
non-profit consortium of industrial participants known as the FutureGen 
Alliance, Inc., (the Alliance). The Alliance includes some of the 
largest coal producers and electricity generators in the world. Under a 
Cooperative Agreement between DOE and the Alliance, the Alliance would 
be primarily responsible for implementing the FutureGen Project, while 
DOE would guide the Alliance at a programmatic level to ensure the 
FutureGen Project's objectives are met.
    The Department prepared the draft EIS in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality

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(CEQ) regulations that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508), and DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 
1021).
    DOE identified four reasonable alternative sites for analysis in 
the EIS. Based on the EIS, DOE will determine which sites, if any, are 
acceptable to DOE to host the FutureGen Project. The four sites 
currently being considered for the FutureGen Project are: Mattoon, 
Illinois; Tuscola, Illinois; Jewett, Texas; and Odessa, Texas. The 
Project would incorporate cutting-edge research, as well as help 
develop promising new energy-related technologies at a commercial 
scale. Performance and economic test results from the FutureGen Project 
would be shared among all participants, industry, the environmental 
community, and the public.
    The proposed power plant would be a 275-megawatt (MW) output 
Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) system combined with 
CO2 capture and geologic storage at a rate of at least 1.1 
million tons of CO2 per year. The research facilities and 
power plant would be constructed at one of the four alternative sites 
identified above. The potential environmental impacts of locating and 
operating the FutureGen Project at each of the alternative sites are 
evaluated in the draft EIS. The draft EIS also analyzed the No-Action 
Alternative, under which DOE would not share in the cost for 
constructing and operating the FutureGen Project. Without DOE funding, 
neither the Alliance nor U.S. industry would likely undertake the 
commercial scale integration of CO2 capture and geologic 
sequestration in deep saline reservoirs with a coal-fueled power plant 
in a comparable timeframe.

DATES: DOE invites the public to comment on the draft EIS during the 
public comment period, which ends July 16, 2007. DOE will consider all 
comments postmarked or received during the public comment period in 
preparing the final EIS, and will consider late comments to the extent 
practicable.
    DOE will conduct public hearings near each of the four candidate 
sites to obtain comments on the draft EIS. The meeting schedule is: 
June 19, 2007 in Midland, Texas; June 21, 2007 in Buffalo, Texas; June 
26, 2007 in Mattoon, Illinois; and June 28, 2007 in Tuscola, Illinois. 
Informational sessions will be held at each location from 4 p.m. to 7 
p.m., preceding the formal presentations and formal comment period from 
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for details 
on the meeting process and locations.

ADDRESSES: Requests for information about this draft EIS and requests 
to receive a copy of the draft EIS should be directed to: Mr. Mark L. 
McKoy, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, National 
Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880, 
Attn: FutureGen Project EIS. Mr. McKoy can also be contacted by 
telephone at (304) 285-4262, toll free at 1-800-432-8330 (extension 
4262), fax 304-285-4403, or e-mail [email protected]. 
Additional information about the draft EIS may also be requested or 
messages recorded by calling the FutureGen telephone line at (304) 285-
4262, or toll free at (800) 432-8330 (extension 4262). The draft EIS 
will be available via the Internet at http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/. 
Copies of the draft EIS are also available for public review at the 
locations listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
Notice.
    Written comments on the draft EIS can be mailed to Mr. Mark L. 
McKoy, NEPA Document Manager, at the address noted above. Written 
comments may also be submitted by fax to: (304) 285-4403; or submitted 
electronically to: [email protected]. In addition to providing 
oral comments during the public hearings, oral comments on the draft 
EIS may be recorded by calling the FutureGen telephone line at (304) 
285-4262, or toll free at (800) 432-8330 (extension 4262).
    For Additional Information: For further information on the proposed 
project or the draft EIS, contact Mr. Mark L. McKoy as directed above. 
For general information regarding the DOE NEPA process, please contact: 
Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance 
(GC-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0119, Telephone: (202) 586-4600, or leave a 
message at (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    President Bush proposed on February 27, 2003, that the United 
States undertake a $1 billion, 10-year project to build the world's 
first coal-fueled plant to produce electricity and hydrogen with near-
zero emissions. In response to this announcement, the DOE developed 
plans for the FutureGen Project, which would establish the technical 
and economic feasibility of producing electricity and hydrogen from 
coal--a low-cost and abundant energy resource--while capturing and 
geologically storing the CO2 generated in the process.
    DOE would implement the FutureGen Project through a Cooperative 
Agreement that provides financial assistance to the FutureGen Alliance, 
Inc., a non-profit corporation that represents a global coalition of 
coal and energy companies. The Alliance members are: American Electric 
Power Company, Inc. (Columbus, OH); Anglo American, LLC (London, UK); 
BHP Billiton Limited (Melbourne, Australia); China Huaneng Group 
(Beijing, China); CONSOL Energy, Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA); E.ON U.S. LLC 
(Louisville, KY); Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc. (Linthicum Heights, 
MD); Peabody Energy Corporation (St. Louis, MO); PPL Corporation 
(Allentown, PA); Rio Tinto Energy America (Gillette, WY); Southern 
Company (Atlanta, GA); and Xstrata Coal (Sydney, Australia). Several 
foreign governments have entered into discussions with DOE regarding 
possible contributions.

Description of Alternatives

    DOE analyzed four alternative sites and the No Action Alternative. 
Under the No Action Alternative DOE would not share in the cost for 
constructing and operating the FutureGen Project. Without DOE funding, 
neither the Alliance nor U.S. industry would likely undertake the 
commercial scale integration of CO2 capture and geologic 
sequestration in deep saline reservoirs with a coal-fueled power plant 
in a comparable timeframe.
    Under the proposed action, DOE would provide financial assistance 
to the Alliance to plan, design, construct, and operate the FutureGen 
Project. DOE has identified four potential sites and, based on the EIS, 
will determine which sites, if any, are acceptable to DOE to host the 
FutureGen Project. The four sites currently being considered as 
reasonable alternatives for the FutureGen Project are: Mattoon, 
Illinois; Tuscola, Illinois; Jewett, Texas; and Odessa, Texas. The 
FutureGen Project would include a coal-fueled electric power and 
hydrogen production plant. The power plant would be a 275-megawatt (MW) 
output Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) system combined 
with CO2 capture and geologic storage at a rate of at least 
1.1 million tons of CO2 per year.
    The draft EIS analyzes the environmental consequences that may 
result from the proposed action at each of the four candidate sites. 
Potential impacts identified during the scoping process and analyzed in 
the draft EIS relate to: Air quality; climate and meteorology; geology; 
physiography and

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soils; groundwater; surface water; wetlands and floodplains; biological 
resources; cultural resources; land use; aesthetics; transportation and 
traffic noise and vibration; utility systems; materials and waste 
management; human health, safety, and accidents; community services; 
socioeconomics; and environmental justice.

Availability of the Draft EIS

    Copies of the draft EIS have been distributed to members of 
Congress, Federal, State, and local officials, and agencies, 
organizations, and individuals who may be interested or affected. The 
draft EIS will be available on the Internet at: http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/. Additional copies can also be requested by contacting the NEPA 
Document Manager, as indicated above under ADDRESSES. Copies of the 
draft EIS are also available for public review at the locations listed 
below.
    Mattoon Public Library, 1600 Charleston Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938.
    Tuscola Public Library, 112 East Sale Street, Tuscola, IL 61953.
    Fairfield City Library (near Jewett), 350 W. Main Street, 
Fairfield, TX 75480.
    University of Texas of the Permian Basin, J. Conrad Dunagan 
Library, Main Floor, 4901 E. University Avenue, Odessa, TX 79762-0001.
    Additional information about the FutureGen Project can be found at 
these web sites: http://www.doe.gov; http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/; or http://www.futuregenalliance.org.

Public Meetings

    DOE will conduct public hearings near each of the four candidate 
sites to obtain comments on the draft EIS. Requests to speak at the 
public hearings can be made by calling or writing to the NEPA Document 
Manager (see ADDRESSES). Requests to speak that have not been submitted 
prior to the hearing will be accepted in the order in which they are 
received during the hearing. Speakers are encouraged to provide a 
written version of their oral comments or supplementary materials for 
the record. Each speaker will be allowed approximately five minutes to 
present comments. Those speakers who want more than five minutes should 
indicate the length of time desired in their request. Depending on the 
number of speakers, DOE may need to limit all speakers to five minutes 
initially and provide additional opportunities as time permits. 
Comments will be recorded by a court reporter and will become part of 
the public record. Oral and written comments will be given equal 
consideration.
    Each hearing will begin with an information session at 
approximately 4 p.m., followed by formal presentations and a formal 
comment session beginning at approximately 7 p.m. DOE will begin each 
meeting's formal session with an overview of the proposed FutureGen 
Project, followed by oral statements by the scheduled speakers. 
Speakers may be asked questions to help ensure that DOE fully 
understands the comments. A presiding officer will establish the order 
of speakers and provide any additional procedures necessary to conduct 
the meetings.
    All meetings will be accessible to people with disabilities. Any 
individual with a disability requiring special assistance, such as a 
sign language interpreter, or a translator, should contact Mr. Mark 
McKoy, the NEPA Document Manager, (See ADDRESSES) at least 48 hours in 
advance of the meeting so that arrangements can be made.

Meeting Schedule

Texas--Odessa Site.
Date: June 19, 2007.
Place: Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED) Building, 
1400 North FM 1788, Midland, TX 79707.

Texas--Jewett Site.
Date: June 21, 2007.
Place: Buffalo Civic Center, 941 North Hill Street, Buffalo, TX 75831 
(Located near the intersection of US-79 and I-45).

Illinois--Mattoon Site.
Date: June 26, 2007.
Place: Riddle Elementary School, 4201 Western Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938 
(Located at the corner of Western Avenue and 43rd Street [CR 300E]).

Illinois--Tuscola Site.
Date: June 28, 2007.
Place: Tuscola Community Building, 122 W. Central Avenue, Tuscola, IL 
61953. (From I-57, take exit 212 to U.S. Hwy 36 and continue to the 
intersection of North Central Ave. and South Main Street).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 25, 2007.
Mark J. Matarrese,
Director, Office of Environment, Security, Safety and Health, Office of 
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. E7-10563 Filed 5-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P