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

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]

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