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Home My WebLink About20040343.tiff . . Department of Energy T 1 r�,' Golden Field Office 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 January 8. 2004 TO: Distribution List Attached SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment (EA) of a Thermal Conversion Process (TCP) Commercial Demonstration Plant in Weld County. Colorado The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), will be preparing an environmental assessment (EA) of a Thermal Conversion Process Commercial (TCP) Demonstration Plant in Weld County. Colorado. DOE is proposing to fund a portion of the project through the Society for Environmental and Energy Research (SEER), a non-profit organization for research, development and training related to energy markets. DOE would contribute funds toward the plant's construction. A detailed description of the site and the Proposed Action are included in the attachment to this letter. DOE is the lead agency for this EA, and other federal. state. and local agencies are invited to participate in the environmental documentation process. DOE is requesting public input on the proposed NEPA process. proposed actions and alternatives. and the environmental issues to be addressed in the EA. DOE plans to distribute the draft EA for public review and comment by March 2004. This letter and the draft EA. when it is available. will be posted on the DOE Golden Field Office electronic public reading room at http://www.golden.doe.gov. Please direct your written and oral comments to: Joyce Beck NEPA Document Manager DOE Golden Field Office 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden. CO 80401-3393 1-800-644-6735, ext. 4774 (303) 275- 4788 (fax) joyce.beck,'2 go.doe.goy Go/den -- . Energy for a Brighter Tomorrow /may Through exceptional service, collaboration, and innovation. �-E.'rnMuthrti tool Federal Recyc'.me Program Pruned)on Recycled Paper 2004-0343 1rnCJ n/ alL� r C, Please provide your input on or before February 10, 2004. We look forward to hearing from you. • Sincerely, Steven P. Blazek NEPA Compliance Officer Enclosure cc/w address list: Brian Kennedy NEPA Project Manager SAIC • t r Attachment ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) OF A THERMAL CONVERSION PROCESS (TCP) COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION PLANT IN WELD COUNTY, COLORADO PROPOSED ACTION Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC plans to construct and operate a prototype commercial-scale demonstration plant that would convert agricultural residuals and low-value organic streams into fuels, oils, gases, and carbons, with no hazardous emissions into the environment. The plant would be located in unincorporated Weld County, Colorado, in proximity to ConAgra agricultural processing plants and other agricultural operations. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to provide partial funding for the demonstration plant through an award to the Society for Environmental and Energy Research (SEER), a non-profit research, development, and training organization serving energy markets. SITE BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION The proposed site for the thermal conversion process (TCP) commercial demonstration plant is located north of County Road (CR) 24, east of CR 39 and west of CR 41, approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Greeley, CO. Access to the project site is via a dirt road off of CR 24. which is unpaved. The legal description of the project site is the Southwest '/4 of Section 32, Township 3 North, Range 65 West, Parcel Number 121332000004. The project site is owned by ConAgra, Inc. and involves approximately 314 acres of undeveloped land, of which about 40 acres would be needed for the proposed TCP plant and associated components. PURPOSE AND NEED In accordance with the Department of Energy (DOE) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations, DOE is required to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of DOE facilities, operations, and related funding decisions. Based on action by the U.S. Congress. DOE has funding available to support SEER's participation in the proposed TCP demonstration project. Congress has acknowledged the merit of this project by providing specific funding through DOE. The decision to use federal funds in support of SEER's commercial demonstration project requires DOE to address NEPA requirements and related environmental documentation and permitting requirements. In compliance with the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321) and DOE's implementing regulations (10 CFR section 1021.330) and procedures, this EA examines the potential environmental impacts of DOE's decision to support the TCP project in Weld County, Colorado, including construction and operation of the plant and a No Action Alternative. PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES At this time. the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative are the only alternatives addressed in the EA. The Proposed Action alternative involves construction of the TCP plant. The No Action Alternative would involve a DOE decision not to provide funding for the TCP project on the proposed site or anywhere else. For NEPA compliance purposes and to create a meaningful No Action scenario and baseline conditions, it has been assumed that the TCP plant 1 would not be constructed without DOE funding. However, it is possible that the applicant could proceed without DOE funding. If the applicant (SEER) proceeds without DOE or other federal funding, the requirement for the project to comply with NEPA would be removed. A privately funded project scenario would be identical, or at least similar to, the proposed action. This scenario is not addressed in this EA. ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED The proposed EA will address primary, direct, indirect, secondary and cumulative impacts of the Proposed Action and alternatives. Beneficial and adverse, on-site and off-site, construction, demolition, and operation and maintenance impacts will be discussed, as appropriate. The environmental topics to be discussed in the EA include: Land Use, Planning, Socioeconomics and Public Policy Traffic and Circulation Air Quality and Noise Visual Quality/Aesthetics • Hazardous Wastes Water Resources Soils and Geology Biological Resources Cultural Resources Waste Management Public Facilities, Services and Utilities Energy SCHEDULE The schedule for key milestones to complete the NEPA review process is: Close of Scoping Period February 10, 2004 Public Distribution of the Draft EA March 2004 This letter and the draft EA, when it is available, will be posted on the DOE Golden Field Office electronic public reading room at http://www.golden.doe.gov. Please direct written and oral comments to: Joyce Beck NEPA Document Manager DOE Golden Field Office 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, CO 80401-3393 1-800-644-6735, ext. 4774 (303) 275- 4788 (fax) joyce.beck@go.doe.gov FIGURES Figure 1 - Regional Setting Figure 2 - Project Site 1 Weld County TCP EA Preliminary Scoping List CO State Board of Land Comm. Mr. Mark Wallace Ms. Monica Daniels-Mika 1313 Sherman Street, Rm 620 Weld County Weld County Denver. CO 80203 Environmental Health Dept. PlaZoning_and Zoning 1555 N. 171h Ave. 1555 N. 17'x' Ave. Greeley, CO 80631 Greeley. CO 80631 Ms. Linda Coulter Mr. Hal Simpson Mr. Terry McKee Colorado Dept. of Agriculture Division of Water Resources Dept. of Army. Corps of 700 Kipling Street, Suite 4000 1313 Sherman Street, Rm, 818 Engineers Lakewood, CO 80215 Denver,CO 80203 Omaha District 9307 State Highway 121 Littleton. CO 80123 Ms. Carol Campbell Mr. Brad Schol Ms. Georgianna Contieuglia Dir. Ecosystem Protection City of Longmont SHPO US EPA—Region VIII Planning Division Colorado Historical Society 999 18" Street. Suite 500 408 Third Ave. 1300 Broadway Denver, CO 80202-2405 Longmont. CO 80501 Denver. CO 80203 Colorado Department of Public Patina Oil & Gas Corporation Mr. Steve Moreno Health R Environment do Logan 8 Firmine. Inc. Weld County Clerk& Recorder Attn: Bradley A. Simmons 333 W. Hampden Ave., #740 P.O. Box 459 4300 Cherry Creek Drive. South Englewood. CO 80110 Greeley, CO 80632 Denver, CO 80246-1530 Mr. Perry Olson Duke Energy Field Services, Inc. Greeley/Weld Chamber of Colorado Division of Wildlife P.O. Box 1642 Commerce 6060 Broadway Houston, TX 77251-1642 902 7i' Avenue Denver. CO 80216 Greeley. CO 80631 Mr. Curt Eckhart Mile High Turkey Hatchery. Inc. Beebe Draw Land Co.. LTD Region 6 Office c/o ConAgra. Inc. 1551 Larimer. Suite 2706 CDOT Attn: Mike Walters Denver, CO 80202 • 2000 South Holly Street 1 ConAgra Dr.,CC362 Denver. CO 80222 Omaha.NE 68102-5001 Office of Governor Bill Owens Tony, Dave, & Todd Finley Platteville Public Library Attn: Joe Lambert 12750 WCR 4 504 Marion Ave. State of Colorado Brighton. CO 80601 Platteville. CO 80651 136 State Capitol Denycr. CO 80203 Mr. LeRoy W. Carlson Richard Pachla Farr Branch Library US Fish and Wildlife Service c/o Harold Hudson 1939 61" Ave. Colorado Field Office 12750 County Road 4 Greeley, CO 80634 P.O. Box 25486 Brighton. CO 80601 Denver. CO 80225-0207 Colorado Single Point of Gerrity Oil K Gas Corp. Platteville Town Hall Contact c/o Logan& Firmine. Inc. 400 Grand Ave. Division of Local Government 333 W. Hampden Ave., Suite Platteville. CO S0651 1313 Sherman Street. Rm 521 740 Denver, CO 80203 Englewood, CO 80110 Mr. Glen Anderson John Hochmiller Dennis Lundin and Kathy Carter Colorado Association of Soil P.O. Box 600 4605 E.Taylor Rd. Conservation Districts Hudson, CO 80642 Denair. CA 95316-9715 3000 Youngfield, Suite 163 Lakewood,CO 80215 City of Greeley Jarrald & Faye Jamison U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Planning and Zoning Division 15721 County Road 10 Ecological Services 1 100 l0"' Street. Suite 202 Fort Lupton, CO 80621 Attn: Bob Dach Greeley, CO 80631 134 Union Blvd.. Suite 645 Lakewood, CO 80228 Thermal Convervison Process (TCP)Technology Commercial Demonstration -Weld County, CO Figure 1 - Regional Setting OP Weld County _ j 85 71 Colorado L . Eaton Wndsor r N Johnnsstown- 34 Milliken Proposed TCP Boulder Commercial Demonstration Site �z g m t n t County 7 - I �• Legend ¢�r BrightonIP Boulder 287 Dacono interstate _ State Highway •' a ayette- ^Yi 93 ��A PS v i l l e , Cities j 0 3.5 7 14 21 28 Q County Boundaries Miles January 2004 Thermal Conversion Process (TCP) Technology Commercial Demonstration -Weld County, CO Figure 2 - Project Site Existing Natural Gas Line (Greeley Gas Co.) Weld County Rd 28 • Mlle Hlgh Turkey Co. Auto Junk To Morwai Dairy Yard O 1 V C O U Approximate Location of Tire Project Site Mountain (40 Acres) � Weld Coun Rrl 26 1 I, • Existing 480 Volt Power Line (United Power) Prevailing O Winds A Weld County Rd 24 + Legend Roads 0 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 ConAgra Foods Property Miles January 2004 Hello