[Federal Register: July 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 133)]
[Notices]
[Page 45961-45963]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy02-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
BP Cherry Point Cogeneration Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
[[Page 45962]]
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare a joint
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/State Environmental Policy Act
(SEPA) EIS in cooperation with the State of Washington Energy Facility
Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for a proposed new cogeneration plant
and its electrical interconnection with the Federal Columbia River
Transmission System. The scope of the EIS will include construction and
operation of the proposed power plant, a new 1-mile, 230-kilovolt (kV)
transmission line, and ancillary facilities. BPA is the lead Federal
agency under NEPA and EFSEC is the lead Washington State agency under
SEPA.
DATES: All interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of
the proposed EIS. An open house and public scoping meeting was held on
July 9, 2002, at the Blaine High School Performing Arts Center, 965 H
Street, Blaine, Washington. All comments subsequent to the open house
should be received by August 9, 2002.
ADDRESSES: To be placed on the project mailing list, including
notification of meetings, call toll-free 1-800-622-4520, name this
project, BP Cherry Point Cogeneration Project, and leave your complete
name and address.
To comment, call toll-free 1-800-622-4519; send an e-mail to the
BPA Internet address comment@bpa.gov; or send a letter to
Communications, Bonneville Power Administration--KC-7, P.O. Box 12999,
Portland, Oregon, 97212.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas C. McKinney, Bonneville Power
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621;
toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-4749; or
e-mail tcmckinney@bpa.gov. Additional information can be found at BPA's
web site: http://www.efw.bpa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BP Cherry Point Cogeneration Project is
a 720-megawatt (MW) generating station proposed by BP West Coast
Products, LLC (BP). The project site is in Whatcom County, Washington,
near the community of Birch Bay. BP has requested an interconnection
and other transmission services that would allow firm power delivery to
the wholesale power market. BPA proposes to execute agreements with BP
to provide the interconnection and firm power transmission.
The EIS will evaluate the environmental consequences of the
proposed project, including:
Construction and operation of the powerplant;
Approximate 1400 ft-long extension of an existing natural
gas pipeline on BP property;
Existing water supply for the BP refinery that would be
utilized for the cogeneration facility;
Wastewater disposal through the existing refinery waste
water treatment system;
Construction and operation by BP of an electrical
interconnection consisting of a new 1-mile 230-kilovolt double-circuit,
wood pole transmission line from the powerplant switchyard looping into
Bonneville's existing 230-kV Custer-Intalco No.1 transmission line, and
minor modifications to Bonneville's existing Custer and Intalco
Substations.
Interconnection agreement that BPA proposes with BP; and
Firm transmission agreement that BPA proposes with BP.
Proposed Action. The BP Cherry Point Cogeneration Project is an
approximate 720 MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle combustion turbine
cogeneration facility on approximately 33 acres of land adjacent to and
northeast of the BP refinery. The plant would be configured with three
combustion turbines each driving an electric generator. Each of the gas
turbine trains would be equipped with a heat recovery steam generator
and duct firing capability to augment steam production. Steam would be
produced at high pressure in the heat recovery steam generators and
sent to one steam turbine driven electric generator with extraction and
condensing capability. The refinery would also serve as a ``steam
host'' for a portion of the steam produced by the combustion turbine.
Natural gas would be supplied through an existing company owned
proprietary natural gas pipeline running from Canada to the refinery.
If additional gas is needed it would be obtained from a third party.
The electrical interconnection would occur approximately one mile
east of the refinery on BPA's existing 230-kV transmission line
connecting BPA's Custer and Intalco Substations. The entire project,
including the new transmission line would be on refinery owned
property, and would be entirely contained in a Major Industrial Urban
Growth Area/Port Industrial as defined in the Whatcom County
Comprehensive Plan, issued May 20, 1997. The area is zoned Heavy Impact
Industrial.
Process to Date. BPA is the lead Federal agency for the joint NEPA/
SEPA EIS, and EFSEC is the lead Washington State agency. In February
2001, BP requested BPA transmission services. On March 12, 2001, BP
requested EFSEC to initiate a Potential Site Study for the BP Cherry
Point Cogeneration Project. On May 2, 2001, EFSEC held an open house
meeting to introduce the BP Cherry Point Cogeneration Project to
interested parties in Whatcom County and the surrounding area. On
September 28, 2001, EFSEC published the Potential Site Study. On June
10, 2002, BP submitted to EFSEC an Application for Site Certification.
Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. Alternatives thus far
identified for evaluation in the EIS are (1) the proposed action, and
(2) no action. Other alternatives may be identified through the scoping
process.
Identification of Environmental Issues. The lead agencies have
determined that this proposal may have a significant adverse impact on
the environment. EFSEC will prepare an EIS consistent with its
responsibilities under Chapter 80.50 and 43.21C (2)(c) of the Revised
Code of Washington and Chapter 463-47 and 197-11 of the Washington
Administrative Code. BPA will prepare an EIS pursuant to NEPA and the
Council of Environmental Quality and DOE NEPA regulations. Therefore,
BPA and EFSEC intend to prepare a joint NEPA/SEPA EIS addressing both
the powerplant and the associated electric power interconnection and
transmission facilities. The principal issues identified thus far for
consideration in the Draft EIS are (1) air quality impacts, (2) socio-
economic impacts including transportation impacts, and (3) wetlands and
wildlife habitat impacts.
These issues, together with any additional significant issues
identified through the scoping process, will be addressed in the Draft
EIS. BPA will also use the EIS and NEPA process to address historic
preservation and cultural resource issues under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act.
Receiving comments from interested parties will assure that EFSEC
and BPA address in the EIS the full range of issues and potentially
significant impacts related to the proposed project. When completed,
the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment. EFSEC and BPA
will hold at least one public comment meeting on the Draft EIS. EFSEC
and BPA will consider comments received on the Draft EIS and respond to
comments in the Final EIS.
[[Page 45963]]
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on June 18, 2002
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-17420 Filed 7-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P