Environmental statements; availability, etc.: JEA Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor Project, FL,

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Federal Register: August 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 164)NoticesPage 46363-46364From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr25au99-64

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed JEA Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor Project at Jacksonville, Florida

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability for public review and comment of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the JEA Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor Project (DOE/EIS- 0289), at Jacksonville, Florida. The Draft EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR part 1021). The Draft EIS analyzes the environmental impacts that could result from a proposal under DOE's Clean Coal Technology Program to construct and operate a nearly 300 megawatt-electric, coal-and petroleum coke-fired, circulating fluidized bed combustor and boiler to repower an existing steam turbine at JEA's Northside Generating Station. DOE's proposed action is to provide cost-shared funding of approximately $73.1 million (about 24 percent of the estimated total cost of $309 million) for construction of the combustor and boiler and for a 24-month period of demonstration testing of the technology.

The proposed project would demonstrate technology that is capable of cost-effectively reducing nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate emissions, while producing power more efficiently and at less cost than conventional coal combustion technologies. Information and experience developed from this project could provide the basis for demonstrating the potential of utility scale, circulating fluidized bed technology as a practical alternative to conventional coal-fired power plant technologies.

DATES: DOE invites the public to comment on the Draft JEA EIS. Comments should be submitted by October 15, 1999 (see ADDRESSES section for more details) to ensure

[Page 46364]consideration. DOE will consider comments submitted after October 15, 1999, to the extent practicable. A public hearing on the Draft JEA EIS will be held as follows: Florida Community College at Jacksonville, North Campus, Thursday, September 16, 1999, Times: 12 pm to 3 pm (Information Session) and 6 pm to 9 pm (Public Hearing).

The hearing will provide an opportunity for information exchange and discussion among DOE and the public, as well as opportunities for the public to present oral or written comments.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, fax, telephone, or electronically to: Ms. Lisa Hollingsworth, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880, Telephone: 304-285-4992; Fax 304-285-4403, leave a message at 1-800-276-9851, lisa.hollingsworth@fetc.doe.gov.

Requests for copies of the Draft JEA EIS or other information regarding this environmental analysis should be addressed to Ms. Hollingsworth at the address above. The Draft EIS will be available under the DOE NEPA Analysis link from the DOE NEPA Web Site at http:// tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the proposed project or the environmental impact statement, please contact Ms. Hollingsworth as directed above. For general information on the Department's NEPA process, please contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance, EH-42, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Ms. Borgstrom may be contacted by calling 202-586-4600 or by leaving a message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On November 13, 1997, the Department published a Notice of Intent (62 FR 60889) to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed JEA Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor Project, in Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida. The purpose of the Notice of Intent was to inform the public of the proposed scope of the EIS, to solicit public input, and to announce a public scoping meeting that was held on December 3, 1997, in Jacksonville, FL. The Notice invited comments and suggestions on the proposed scope of the environmental impact statement, including environmental issues and alternatives, and invited public participation in the NEPA process. Comments and feedback received during the public scoping process were used in preparing the Draft EIS. The scoping period closed on December 31, 1997.

Alternatives Considered

The Draft EIS evaluates a proposed action and a no-action alternative. DOE's proposed action is to provide JEA with cost-shared funding of approximately $73.1 million (24 percent of the estimated total cost of $309 million) for the construction and operation of a combustor and boiler to repower a steam turbine and generator that have been out of service since 1983 at JEA's Northside Generating Station. In analyzing the proposed action (the preferred alternative), the Draft EIS also evaluates JEA's plans to repower a second, currently operating, steam turbine without cost-shared funding from DOE.

In addition to analyzing the environmental impacts of the proposed action, the Draft EIS analyzes the potential impacts of a No-Action Alternative. Under the No-Action Alternative, the Draft EIS analyzes three scenarios that JEA could pursue in the absence of DOE funding. The scenarios considered are: (1) JEA would construct the proposed project without DOE funding; (2) JEA would construct a new gas-fired combined cycle facility at Northside Generating Station or another location; and (3) JEA would purchase electricity from other utilities to meet JEA's projected demand. The Draft EIS compares the environmental impacts that could be expected to occur from repowering the two steam turbines with new circulating fluidized bed combustors under the proposed action with the impacts that would be likely from each of the three scenarios under the No-Action Alternative.

The Draft EIS focuses on impacts from construction and operation of the proposed project on: Human health, air quality, surface water, groundwater, ecological resources, socioeconomic resources, environmental justice, noise, and traffic. In addition, impacts on land use, floodplains, wetlands, waste management, and cultural resources are considered.

Availability of the Draft EIS

DOE has distributed copies of the Draft EIS to appropriate Members of Congress, State and local government officials in Florida, Federal agencies, and other interested parties. Copies of the document may be obtained by contacting DOE as provided in the section of this notice entitled, ADDRESSES. Copies of the Draft EIS are also available for inspection at the locations identified below:

  (1) U.S. Department of Energy, Freedom of Information Reading Room, 1E- 190, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. (2) U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, 3610 Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880. (3) U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940. (4) Highlands Branch Library, 1826 Dunn Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32218.

After the public comment period ends on October 15, 1999, DOE will consider all comments received, revise the Draft EIS as appropriate, and issue a Final EIS. DOE will consider the Final EIS, along with other information, such as economic and technical factors, in deciding whether or not to provide funding for the construction and operation of the proposed coal-fired, circulating fluidized bed combustor and boiler.

Issued in Washington, DC, this 19th day of August 1999. Robert S. Kripowicz, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.

FR Doc. 99-22007Filed8-24-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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