[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27991-27992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10035]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon Project, Columbia County, Oregon

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps), 
has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit 
(Corps number NWP-2020-383) from NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon, LLC to 
construct a facility to produce renewable fuels. The Corps, as the lead 
agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has 
determined the proposed project may significantly affect the quality of 
the human environment and will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS). The Corps' action will be to issue, issue with 
modifications, or deny a DA permit for the proposed project. The EIS 
will assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts 
of the proposed project.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the proposed EIS scope should be 
submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Attn: 
Ms. Kate Mott, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Individuals 
who would like to provide comments electronically should submit 
comments by email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this project or 
to be included on the mailing list for future updates and meeting 
announcements, contact Ms. Kate Mott at the Corps by telephone at (503) 
808-4041, by email at [email protected], or by mail at the mailing 
address provided above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps intends to prepare an EIS for the 
proposed NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon project. The proposed project 
requires authorization from the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) for the discharge of dredged or fill 
material into waters of the United States. As part of the DA permit 
application process, the Corps issued a public notice on November 5, 
2021. The purpose of the public notice was to initiate an early public 
scoping process to solicit comments and information from the public to 
identify relevant issues and concerns associated with the proposed 
project. All comments received to date, including those provided for 
review during the public notice comment period, will be considered by 
the Corps during preparation of the EIS.
    1. Proposed Action. The project requiring an EIS involves the 
construction of the proposed NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon facility. The 
purpose of the project is to produce renewable fuels for markets on the 
west

[[Page 27992]]

coast of the United States to meet the demand for fuels that are 
mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard Program or other state mandates 
that require low-carbon fuels. The project would permanently fill 
117.64 acres of wetlands and 1.79 acres of other waterways (ditches and 
slough) to construct a renewable fuels facility and ancillary 
components. The project would temporarily fill 32.03 acres of wetlands 
and 0.02 acres of waterways for project construction and a staging 
area.
    The proposed project facility would be capable of producing 50,000 
barrels per day of renewable diesel and other renewable fuel products. 
The production process would produce renewable fuels from a range of 
feedstocks such as various vegetable oils, used cooking oil, animal 
tallow, and inedible corn oil. The proposed facility and ancillary 
components constructed in wetlands/waterways would include: Main access 
road; natural gas pipeline; rail spur, ladder tracks, and rail spur 
access road; four new pipelines to connect with pipelines to an 
existing wharf; ten large product and feedstock tanks (125,000 to 
225,000 barrels each); eleven smaller feedstock and process tanks 
(10,000 to 50,000 barrels each); pre-treatment plant; hydrogen 
facility; EcofiningTM units; storm and process water system; 
office/administration buildings/laboratory; and site landscaping and 
fencing.
    The facility would be constructed by grading and filling the site. 
The overall final grade would be approximately 3 ft. above the existing 
grade. Fill material would consist of soil and aggregate imported from 
a local source. Facility components would be supported with pile 
foundations by installing approximately 15,200, 16-inch steel piles 
that are 90 ft. long (each) driven by a vibratory hammer. Facility 
components would also be supported with ground improvement foundations 
by wet soil mixing known as the Deep Mixing Method to construct 
concrete piles. Typical construction methods would be utilized for the 
stripping, grading, road construction, installation of underground 
utilities, stormwater, and processed water systems.
    The project would rely on transportation by water, railroad and 
road to receive materials used in production (feedstock oils, tallows, 
bleaching earth) and to ship renewable fuels produced from the 
facility. The project would require unloading up to 118 barges per year 
(approximately 10 per month) to receive feedstock materials and require 
loading up to 58 ocean going vessels per year (approximately 5 per 
month) to transport renewable diesel produced from the facility to 
market. The project would require loading and unloading up to 208 
trains per year (approximately 17 per month) to receive materials used 
in production (feedstock and bleaching earth) and to transport 
renewable diesel produced from the facility to market. The project 
would also require loading up to 720 trucks per year (approximately 60 
per month) to transport renewable diesel produced from the facility to 
market.
    The project includes a proposed compensatory mitigation site. The 
compensatory mitigation would enhance 471.08 acres of wetlands that are 
currently used for agriculture and silviculture.
    2. Location. The project site is located at the Port Westward 
Industrial Park near Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon. The site is 
in Section 22, Township 8 North, Range 4 West at Latitude and 
Longitude: 46.167233[deg], -123.16195[deg].
    3. Alternatives. The EIS will address an array of alternatives. 
Alternatives may include, but are not limited to, no action, 
alternative sites, and alternative facility designs. Mitigation 
measures could include, but are not limited to, avoidance and 
minimization, enhancement, restoration or establishment of wetlands.
    4. Scoping Process. The scoping period will continue for 30 days 
from the date of this Notice of Intent. During the scoping period, the 
Corps invites federal, state, and local agencies, Native American 
Tribes, other interested parties, and the general public to participate 
in the scoping process. The purpose of the scoping process is to 
provide information to the public, serve as a mechanism to solicit 
agency and public input on alternatives, identify significant issues to 
be analyzed in the EIS, and ensure full and open participation in 
scoping for the draft EIS. Scoping comments may be submitted by 
conventional mail or email. All comments must include the Corps number 
NWP-2020-383. In order to be accepted, email comments must originate 
from the author's email account. All comments received will become part 
of the administrative record and are subject to public release under 
the Freedom of Information Act including any personally identifiable 
information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses. Additional 
information on the project and scoping process are available on the 
Corps' website listed below.
    5. Scoping Meetings. The Corps will conduct virtual public scoping 
meetings during the 30-day scoping period in which agencies, 
organizations, and members of the general public are invited to present 
comments or suggestions with regard to the range of actions, 
alternatives, and potential impacts to be considered in the EIS. The 
specific dates and times of the meetings will be published in press 
releases, special public notices and on the Corps' project website 
(https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/). At the Corps' 
website under Regulatory Pages, select Environmental Impact Statements.
    5. Availability of the Draft EIS. The draft EIS is estimated to be 
available for public review and comment in early 2023. At that time, a 
45-day public review period will be provided for public review and 
comment on the draft EIS.

    Approved by:
Frances E. Coffey,
Director, Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-10035 Filed 5-9-22; 8:45 am]
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