Notice of Availability of the Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gilberton Coal-to-Clean Fuels and Power Project, 1710-1711 [E7-409]

Download as PDF 1710 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 9 / Tuesday, January 16, 2007 / Notices Dated: December 19, 2006. M. A. Harvison, Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 07–115 Filed 1–12–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–M DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Notice of Availability of the Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gilberton Coal-to-Clean Fuels and Power Project Department of Energy. Notice of availability. AGENCY: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability for public comment of a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gilberton Coal-toClean Fuels and Power Project (DOE/ EIS–0357D–S1), prepared in response to comments on the original Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued in December 2005. This Supplement corrects information regarding carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the proposed Gilberton plant, provides information on the feasibility of carbon sequestration for the CO2 emissions from the Gilberton plant, and presents additional information regarding CO2-related cumulative impacts. It should be noted that the Supplement contains only those sections affected by comments related to CO2 emissions and sequestration, and DOE is inviting comments only on those sections. Comments on the original Draft EIS need not be resubmitted. DATES: DOE invites the public to comment on the Supplement to the Draft EIS during the public comment period, which ends February 27, 2007. DOE will consider all comments postmarked or received during the public comment period in preparing the Final EIS, and will consider late comments to the extent practicable. DOE will consider and respond to all comments submitted on the original Draft EIS in preparing the Final EIS. ADDRESSES: Requests for information about this Supplement to the Draft EIS or to receive a copy of the Supplement or the Draft EIS should be directed to: Janice L. Bell, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, M/S 58–247A, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. Additional information about the Supplement or the Draft EIS may also be requested by VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:23 Jan 12, 2007 Jkt 211001 telephone at: (412) 386–4512, or toll-free at: 1–866–576–8240. The Supplement to the Draft EIS will be available at https://www.eh.doe.gov/ nepa. The original Draft EIS is available at the same Internet address. Copies of the Supplement to the Draft EIS are also available for review at the locations listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this Notice. Written comments on the Supplement to the Draft EIS can be mailed to Janice L. Bell, NEPA Document Manager, at the address noted above. Written comments may also be submitted by fax to: (412) 386–4806, or submitted electronically to: jbell@netl.doe.gov. In addition, oral comments on the Supplement to the Draft EIS can be provided by calling the toll-free telephone number: 1–866–576– 8240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding the DOE NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC–20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586–4600, or leave a message at: (800) 472–2756. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Department prepared this Supplement to the Draft EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), and the DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 1021). In the original Draft EIS, issued in December 2005, DOE’s proposed action (and preferred alternative) is to provide cost-shared funding to design, construct, and operate a new plant to demonstrate coproduction of 41 MW of electricity, steam, and over 5,000 barrels-per-day of ultra-clean liquid hydrocarbon products (primarily diesel fuel and naphtha). The demonstration plant would use a gasifier to convert coal waste to synthesis gas, which would be conveyed to Fischer-Tropsch (F–T) liquefaction facilities for production of liquid fuels and to a combined-cycle power plant. The demonstration facilities, to be constructed in Gilberton, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, would process up to 4,700 tons per day of coal waste (anthracite culm). The potential environmental impacts of this action are evaluated in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS also analyzed the No Action Alternative, PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 under which DOE would not provide cost-shared funding to demonstrate the commercial-scale integration of coal gasification and F–T synthesis technology to produce electricity, steam and liquid fuels. Under the No-Action Alternative, it is reasonably foreseeable that no new activity would occur. Among the public comments received on the Draft EIS were those from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) regarding how the Draft EIS addressed CO2 emissions. The NRDC comments expressed concern about the potential impacts on global warming and questioned the accuracy of the annual rate of CO2 emissions reported in the Draft EIS. The comments also requested DOE to enhance the analysis of potential CO2-related cumulative impacts, further explore the feasibility of CO2 sequestration, and provide a public comment opportunity on the revised sections of the EIS. DOE also received similar comments on CO2 emissions and carbon sequestration from other organizations and individuals: the Coalition of Concerned Coal Region Citizens; the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Law Center; the Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future; Mike Ewall; Edward and Helen Sluzis; and James Kotcon. In considering the comments received on the Draft EIS, DOE determined that the annual rate of CO2 emissions reported in the Draft EIS included only the quantity of CO2 that would be emitted directly. The reported quantity did not include a larger quantity of CO2 in a concentrated stream exiting the gas cleanup system. While it was previously anticipated that the concentrated CO2 stream would be sold as a byproduct, the industrial participant has informed DOE that the commercial sale of the CO2 would not occur in the foreseeable future. Therefore, all of the CO2 would be emitted to the atmosphere. DOE has prepared the Supplement to clarify the total emissions rate accordingly. DOE has also enhanced the discussion of cumulative impacts and the feasibility of carbon sequestration. Availability of the Supplement to the Draft EIS Copies of this Supplement to the Draft EIS have been distributed to Members of Congress, Federal, State, and local officials, and agencies, organizations and individuals who may be interested or affected. To obtain copies of the Supplement and the original Draft EIS, see ADDRESSES above. The Supplement and the Draft EIS are also available in the public reading rooms of the following public libraries: Frackville Free Public Library, 56 N. Lehigh E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 9 / Tuesday, January 16, 2007 / Notices Avenue, Frackville, PA 17931; Mahanoy City Public Library, 17–19 West Mahanoy Avenue, Mahanoy City, PA 17948; and the Pottsville Free Library, 215 West Market Street, Pottsville, PA 17901. It should be noted that the Supplement contains only those sections affected by comments related to CO2 emissions and sequestration, and DOE is inviting comments only on those sections. Comments on the original Draft EIS need not be resubmitted. Issued in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2007. Mark J. Matarrese, Director, Office of Environment, Security, Safety and Health, Office of Fossil Energy. [FR Doc. E7–409 Filed 1–12–07; 8:45 am] Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Protest Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on January 23, 2007. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–438 Filed 1–12–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission BILLING CODE 6450–01–P [Docket No. ER07–232–000] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Aragonne Wind, LLC; Notice of Issuance of Order Federal Energy Regulatory Commission January 8, 2007. [Docket No. PR06–18–002] Acadian Gas Pipeline System; Notice of Compliance Filing sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES January 8, 2007. Take notice that on December 20, 2006, Acadian Gas Pipeline System filed a revised Statement of Operating Conditions in compliance with the Commission’s letter order issued on December 6, 2006, in Docket Nos. PR06– 18–000 and PR06–18–001. Any person desiring to protest this filing must file in accordance with Rule 211 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Protests to this filing will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Such protests must be filed on or before the date as indicated below. Anyone filing a protest must serve a copy of that document on all the parties to the proceeding. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests in lieu of paper using the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. This filing is accessible on-line at https://www.ferc.gov, using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for review in the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:23 Jan 12, 2007 Jkt 211001 Aragonne Wind, LLC (Aragonne) filed an application for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate schedule. The proposed market-based rate schedule provides for the sale of energy and capacity at market-based rates. Aragonne also requested waivers of various Commission regulations. In particular, Aragonne requested that the Commission grant blanket approval under 18 CFR part 34 of all future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability by Aragonne. On December 27, 2006, pursuant to delegated authority, the Director, Division of Tariffs and Market Development—West, granted the requests for blanket approval under Part 34. The Director’s order also stated that the Commission would publish a separate notice in the Federal Register establishing a period of time for the filing of protests. Accordingly, any person desiring to be heard or to protest the blanket approvals of issuances of securities or assumptions of liability by Aragonne should file a motion to intervene or protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. 18 CFR 385.211, 385.214 (2004). Notice is hereby given that the deadline for filing motions to intervene or protest is January 26, 2007. Absent a request to be heard in opposition by the deadline above, Aragonne is authorized to issue securities and assume obligations or liabilities as a guarantor, indorser, PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1711 surety, or otherwise in respect of any security of another person; provided that such issuance or assumption is for some lawful object within the corporate purposes of Aragonne, compatible with the public interest, and is reasonably necessary or appropriate for such purposes. The Commission reserves the right to require a further showing that neither public nor private interests will be adversely affected by continued approvals of Aragonne’s issuance of securities or assumptions of liability. Copies of the full text of the Director’s Order are available from the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. The Order may also be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.ferc.gov, using the eLibrary link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number filed to access the document. Comments, protests, and interventions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Web site under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–432 Filed 1–12–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER07–254–000] Casselman Windpower, LLC; Notice of Issuance of Order January 8, 2007. Casselman Windpower, LLC (Casselman) filed an application for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate schedule. The proposed market-based rate schedule provides for the sale of energy, capacity and ancillary at market-based rates. Casselman also requested waivers of various Commission regulations. In particular, Casselman requested that the Commission grant blanket approval under 18 CFR part 34 of all future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability by Casselman. On December 29, 2006, pursuant to delegated authority, the Director, Division of Tariffs and Market Development—West, granted the requests for blanket approval under part 34. The Director’s order also stated that the Commission would publish a E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1710-1711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-409]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of the Supplement to the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Gilberton Coal-to-Clean Fuels 
and Power Project

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
for public comment of a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Gilberton Coal-to-Clean Fuels and Power Project (DOE/
EIS-0357D-S1), prepared in response to comments on the original Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued in December 2005. This 
Supplement corrects information regarding carbon dioxide 
(CO2) emissions from the proposed Gilberton plant, provides 
information on the feasibility of carbon sequestration for the 
CO2 emissions from the Gilberton plant, and presents 
additional information regarding CO2-related cumulative 
impacts.
    It should be noted that the Supplement contains only those sections 
affected by comments related to CO2 emissions and 
sequestration, and DOE is inviting comments only on those sections. 
Comments on the original Draft EIS need not be resubmitted.

DATES: DOE invites the public to comment on the Supplement to the Draft 
EIS during the public comment period, which ends February 27, 2007. DOE 
will consider all comments postmarked or received during the public 
comment period in preparing the Final EIS, and will consider late 
comments to the extent practicable. DOE will consider and respond to 
all comments submitted on the original Draft EIS in preparing the Final 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: Requests for information about this Supplement to the Draft 
EIS or to receive a copy of the Supplement or the Draft EIS should be 
directed to: Janice L. Bell, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, M/S 58-247A, P.O. Box 
10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. Additional information about the 
Supplement or the Draft EIS may also be requested by telephone at: 
(412) 386-4512, or toll-free at: 1-866-576-8240.
    The Supplement to the Draft EIS will be available at https://
www.eh.doe.gov/nepa. The original Draft EIS is available at the same 
Internet address. Copies of the Supplement to the Draft EIS are also 
available for review at the locations listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this Notice. Written comments on the Supplement 
to the Draft EIS can be mailed to Janice L. Bell, NEPA Document 
Manager, at the address noted above. Written comments may also be 
submitted by fax to: (412) 386-4806, or submitted electronically to: 
jbell@netl.doe.gov. In addition, oral comments on the Supplement to the 
Draft EIS can be provided by calling the toll-free telephone number: 1-
866-576-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding the 
DOE NEPA process, please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, 
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-20), U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: 
(202) 586-4600, or leave a message at: (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department prepared this Supplement to the Draft EIS in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations that implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), and the DOE procedures implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 
1021).
    In the original Draft EIS, issued in December 2005, DOE's proposed 
action (and preferred alternative) is to provide cost-shared funding to 
design, construct, and operate a new plant to demonstrate coproduction 
of 41 MW of electricity, steam, and over 5,000 barrels-per-day of 
ultra-clean liquid hydrocarbon products (primarily diesel fuel and 
naphtha). The demonstration plant would use a gasifier to convert coal 
waste to synthesis gas, which would be conveyed to Fischer-Tropsch (F-
T) liquefaction facilities for production of liquid fuels and to a 
combined-cycle power plant. The demonstration facilities, to be 
constructed in Gilberton, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, would 
process up to 4,700 tons per day of coal waste (anthracite culm). The 
potential environmental impacts of this action are evaluated in the 
Draft EIS. The Draft EIS also analyzed the No Action Alternative, under 
which DOE would not provide cost-shared funding to demonstrate the 
commercial-scale integration of coal gasification and F-T synthesis 
technology to produce electricity, steam and liquid fuels. Under the 
No-Action Alternative, it is reasonably foreseeable that no new 
activity would occur.
    Among the public comments received on the Draft EIS were those from 
the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) regarding how the Draft 
EIS addressed CO2 emissions. The NRDC comments expressed 
concern about the potential impacts on global warming and questioned 
the accuracy of the annual rate of CO2 emissions reported in 
the Draft EIS. The comments also requested DOE to enhance the analysis 
of potential CO2-related cumulative impacts, further explore 
the feasibility of CO2 sequestration, and provide a public 
comment opportunity on the revised sections of the EIS. DOE also 
received similar comments on CO2 emissions and carbon 
sequestration from other organizations and individuals: the Coalition 
of Concerned Coal Region Citizens; the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Law 
Center; the Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future; Mike Ewall; Edward and 
Helen Sluzis; and James Kotcon.
    In considering the comments received on the Draft EIS, DOE 
determined that the annual rate of CO2 emissions reported in 
the Draft EIS included only the quantity of CO2 that would 
be emitted directly. The reported quantity did not include a larger 
quantity of CO2 in a concentrated stream exiting the gas 
cleanup system. While it was previously anticipated that the 
concentrated CO2 stream would be sold as a byproduct, the 
industrial participant has informed DOE that the commercial sale of the 
CO2 would not occur in the foreseeable future. Therefore, 
all of the CO2 would be emitted to the atmosphere. DOE has 
prepared the Supplement to clarify the total emissions rate 
accordingly. DOE has also enhanced the discussion of cumulative impacts 
and the feasibility of carbon sequestration.

Availability of the Supplement to the Draft EIS

    Copies of this Supplement to the Draft EIS have been distributed to 
Members of Congress, Federal, State, and local officials, and agencies, 
organizations and individuals who may be interested or affected. To 
obtain copies of the Supplement and the original Draft EIS, see 
ADDRESSES above. The Supplement and the Draft EIS are also available in 
the public reading rooms of the following public libraries: Frackville 
Free Public Library, 56 N. Lehigh

[[Page 1711]]

Avenue, Frackville, PA 17931; Mahanoy City Public Library, 17-19 West 
Mahanoy Avenue, Mahanoy City, PA 17948; and the Pottsville Free 
Library, 215 West Market Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.
    It should be noted that the Supplement contains only those sections 
affected by comments related to CO2 emissions and 
sequestration, and DOE is inviting comments only on those sections. 
Comments on the original Draft EIS need not be resubmitted.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2007.
Mark J. Matarrese,
Director, Office of Environment, Security, Safety and Health, Office of 
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. E7-409 Filed 1-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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