Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), (DOE/EIS-0569), 102872-102874 [2024-29976]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
Signed in Washington, DC, on December
12, 2024.
Jennifer Hartzell,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer,
U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024–29868 Filed 12–17–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
(ARCH2), (DOE/EIS–0569)
Office of Clean Energy
Demonstrations, U.S. Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement, notice
of scoping meetings, request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) announces its intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
applicable NEPA implementing
regulations to assess the potential
environmental impacts of the proposed
action of providing financial assistance
to Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle)
to facilitate the design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (also
referred to as the Appalachian Regional
Clean Hydrogen Hub or ARCH2) in the
Appalachian Region including Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. DOE
is issuing this Notice of Intent to inform
the public about the proposed action;
announce plans to conduct public
scoping meetings; invite public
participation in the scoping process;
and solicit public comments for
consideration in establishing the scope
of the EIS, including the range of
reasonable alternatives and the potential
environmental impacts to be analyzed.
DATES: The public scoping period for
the EIS starts with the publication of
this notice of intent (NOI) and ends on
March 3, 2025. DOE will hold one
virtual public scoping meeting at the
following date and time (eastern time):
• Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6
p.m.–8 p.m.
DOE will hold three in-person public
scoping meetings. Dates, times, and
locations are to be determined and will
be shared on the DOE’s web page for
this EIS no less than 15 days before the
meetings.
All meetings are open to the public
and free to attend. Details on how to
participate in the virtual and in-person
public scoping meetings are available on
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SUMMARY:
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the DOE’s web page for this EIS: https://
www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0569appalachian-hydrogen-hub-multiplelocations. In defining the scope of the
EIS, DOE will consider all scoping
comments received or postmarked by
March 3, 2025. Comments received or
postmarked after the scoping period end
date will be considered to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: Oral or written comments
may be provided at the public scoping
meetings or submitted in any of the
following ways:
• Through the regulations.gov web
portal: Navigate to www.regulations.gov
and search for Docket No. DOE–HQ–
2024–0082 and follow the instructions
for submitting comments.
• Mail or Hand Delivery Service:
Send comments in an envelope labeled
‘‘DOE/EIS–0569’’ and addressed to TRC
APPALACHIAN HYDROGEN HUB
Coordinator, Teays Corporate Centre,
135 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 540,
Scott Depot, West Virginia 25560
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Moore, Project Manager, Office of
Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
20585, email OCED_ARCH2_EIS@
hq.doe.gov, or telephone (202) 309–
2037.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, commonly known as the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL),
Congress directed DOE to establish a
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
(H2Hubs) program to create regional
networks of hydrogen producers,
consumers, and local connective
infrastructure to accelerate the use of
hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. The
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
(OCED) within DOE is implementing the
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program
and will use the NEPA process to help
it decide whether to provide financial
assistance for the H2Hubs.
Congress directed DOE to select
H2Hubs using certain criteria.
Specifically, Congress directed DOE to
select H2Hubs that will use a diversity
of feedstocks to produce clean
hydrogen, including at least one H2Hub
that will demonstrate the production of
clean hydrogen from fossil fuels, one
H2Hub that will demonstrate the
production of clean hydrogen from
renewables, and one H2Hub that will
demonstrate the production of clean
hydrogen from nuclear energy. Congress
also directed DOE to select H2Hubs that
will use clean hydrogen in a diversity of
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end uses, including at least one H2Hub
that will demonstrate the use of clean
hydrogen in the following sectors:
electric power generation, industrial,
residential and commercial heating, and
transportation. Congress required that
DOE give priority to H2Hubs that are
likely to create opportunities for skilled
training and long-term employment to
the greatest number of residents of the
region. Congress also directed DOE to
include geographic diversity, directing
that DOE locate H2Hubs in different
regions of the United States, and that
the H2Hubs are to use the energy
resources that are abundant in their
respective regions. Congress further
required DOE to select, to the maximum
extent practicable, at least two H2Hubs
in the regions of the United States with
the greatest natural gas resources.
DOE issued a Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA–0002779) to
solicit applications for H2Hubs. DOE
selected the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
for award negotiations following a
rigorous Merit Review process to
identify meritorious applications to the
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program
based on the criteria listed in FOA–
0002779. DOE has provided limited
funding in support of preliminary
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub planning
activities.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, as
proposed, satisfies certain criteria
Congress required in the BIL for the
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
program. The Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub has the potential to demonstrate
the production of clean hydrogen from
fossil fuels. The Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub proposes to use clean hydrogen in
a diversity of end uses, including but
not limited to industry, power
generation, and transportation. Further,
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would
create opportunities for skilled training
and long-term employment for residents
of the region. In addition, the location
of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub in
the Appalachian Region that includes
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
meets the criterion requiring geographic
diversity within the Regional Clean
Hydrogen Hubs program. The
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub also
satisfies the criterion that DOE select a
Hub in a region of the United States
with the greatest natural gas resources.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is
proposed to consist of a suite of
demonstration projects involving clean
hydrogen production, transportation,
and end uses located within the
Appalachian Region that includes Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Battelle is the primary funding recipient
and lead Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
manager. As currently structured, the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
encompasses 12 proposed projects,
including hydrogen production facilities
that could produce at least 1,700 metric
tons per day of clean hydrogen
(autothermal reformation facilities with
carbon capture, biomass pyrolysis
facilities, electrolysis facilities, and
facilities for recovering hydrogen from
waste gases), hydrogen liquefiers, and a
range of end uses including residential
fuel cells, materials handling
equipment, mobility, and industrial
uses, including production of ammonia,
urea, and low-carbon aviation fuel.
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Purpose and Scope of the EIS
DOE will prepare an EIS (DOE/EIS–
0569) to evaluate the potential impacts
to the human environment associated
with funding the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub. The EIS will evaluate the potential
impacts associated with the types of
hydrogen infrastructure and
technologies proposed in the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, such as
impacts from electricity and water usage
and rates of emissions, that are inherent
to the technologies and infrastructure
regardless of where they may be
deployed. The EIS will help inform
DOE’s decision as to whether to carry
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub forward
for project-specific funding decisions
but will not directly authorize funding
for specific Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
projects.
If DOE decides to provide funding for
the construction and operation of the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, DOE will
complete additional NEPA reviews to
evaluate the potential site-specific
impacts of individual proposed projects
to make site-specific funding decisions.
In addition to being subject to DOE’s
NEPA review, with associated public
scoping and comment periods as
appropriate, individual projects will be
required to adhere to the requirements
of all applicable Federal, State, and
local laws and regulations.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The purpose and need for DOE’s
action is to comply with its statutory
mandate in BIL to catalyze investment
in the production, processing, delivery,
storage, and end-use of clean hydrogen;
and contribute to the development of a
national clean hydrogen network. The
proposed action of funding the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would
fulfill this mandate by accelerating the
deployment of clean hydrogen
technologies and enabling infrastructure
to attract greater investments from the
private sector and promote substantial
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U.S. manufacturing of numerous
hydrogen technologies.
DOE’s purpose and need in funding
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub also
includes funding a clean hydrogen hub
that meets certain BIL criteria for the
H2Hubs. The proposed Appalachian
Hydrogen Hub meets these criteria by:
• Demonstrating feedstock diversity
by including the production of clean
hydrogen from fossil fuels.
• Demonstrating end use diversity by
including the use of clean hydrogen in
the electric power generation, industry,
and transportation sectors.
• Enabling DOE to meet the
geographic diversity criterion by being
located in the Appalachian Region and
using energy resources that are
abundant in that region.
• Being one of at least two H2Hubs
located in regions of the United States
with the greatest natural gas resources.
• Creating opportunities for skilled
training and long-term employment for
residents in the region.
Proposed Action, No Action, and
Preliminary Alternatives
Proposed Action
DOE’s proposed action is to provide
funding to support the construction and
operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub, as proposed by Battelle, in the
Appalachian region that includes Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The
proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
would include the production, storage,
delivery, and end-use of clean hydrogen
using a variety of technologies.
Hydrogen production technologies
being considered include autothermal
reforming with carbon capture,
electrolysis, pyrolysis, and capture and
purification of hydrogen byproduct from
chlor-alkali processes. Methods of
hydrogen storage may include aboveground tanks, tube trailers, and/or
underground storage. Delivery options
may include refueling stations,
liquefaction, and trucking, as well as the
delivery of hydrogen derivatives such as
ammonia, urea, or low-carbon aviation
fuel which could include delivery via
rail, barge, truck, or pipeline. The
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is
considering a broad variety of end-use
applications, including vehicles (buses,
medium and heavy-duty trucks),
materials handling equipment,
industrial heat, blending to natural gas
distribution systems, power generation,
stationary fuel cells, and production of
hydrogen derivatives, including
ammonia, urea, and low-carbon aviation
fuel. Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
projects and site locations are in
development. DOE will evaluate
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specific projects and site locations in
subsequent tiered NEPA reviews.
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative,
DOE would not provide funding to
Battelle for the construction and
operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub, with the assumption that the
H2Hub would not be developed. The no
action alternative provides a benchmark
for comparison with environmental
impacts of the other alternatives.
Preliminary Action Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate reasonable
alternatives that are technically and
economically feasible and meet the
purpose and need for the proposed
action. Preliminarily, DOE has
identified three alternatives that
potentially address the purpose and
need stated above:
(1) DOE funding for the proposed
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: The
proposed action alternative as described
above.
(2) DOE funding for an expanded
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: An action
alternative that considers the hydrogen
technologies and infrastructure in the
proposed action plus reasonably
foreseeable clean hydrogen technologies
and infrastructure that, while not
currently considered in the proposed
action, could be proposed for DOE
funding.
(3) DOE funding for a reduced
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: An action
alternative that is smaller in scope
wherein DOE would fund only a portion
of the proposed action.
Summary of Potential Impacts
DOE’s analysis in the EIS will focus
on potentially significant environmental
impacts from construction and
operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub’s proposed types of hydrogen
technologies and infrastructure, as well
as the potential cumulative impacts
resulting from reasonably foreseeable
past, present, and future projects in the
same region. Accordingly, in the EIS,
DOE anticipates evaluating potential
non-site-specific impacts related to: (1)
land use and infrastructure, (2)
atmospheric conditions and air quality,
(3) climate change and greenhouse
gasses, (4) hydrologic conditions and
water quality, (5) geology, seismicity
and soils, (6) socioeconomic conditions,
(7) environmental justice, (8) energy
resources, (9) noise and vibration, (10)
transportation and accidents, (11)
intentional destructive acts, and (12)
human health and safety. This list is not
intended to be all-inclusive or to imply
a predetermination of potential
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
significant impacts. DOE invites
interested stakeholders to suggest
specific issues, including possible
mitigation measures, within these
general categories or others, to be
considered in the EIS.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
DOE does not anticipate that permits
and authorizations will be needed for
agency action because the EIS would
not authorize the construction and
operation of any project in the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub. The
permits and authorizations required for
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub projects
would be identified in subsequent sitespecific NEPA analyses for those
projects.
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Schedule for Decision-Making Process
After the draft EIS is completed, DOE
will publish a notice of availability
(NOA) and request public comments on
the draft EIS. DOE currently expects to
issue the NOA in October 2025. After
the public comment period ends, DOE
will review and respond to comments
received and will develop the final EIS.
DOE currently expects to make the final
EIS available to the public in April
2026. A record of decision will be
completed no sooner than 30 days after
the final EIS is released, in accordance
with applicable laws and regulations.
Scoping Process
This NOI commences the public
scoping process to identify issues and
potential alternatives for consideration
in the EIS. Throughout the scoping
process, Federal agencies, Tribes, State
and local governments, and the public
have the opportunity to help DOE
identify significant resources and issues,
reasonable alternatives, mitigation
measures, and other pertinent
information that DOE should consider
in the EIS. DOE will hold public
scoping meetings at the times and dates
described above under the DATES
section. DOE will post information on
how to participate in the virtual and inperson public meetings on the EIS
website listed previously, in advance of
the meetings. The public will have the
opportunity to comment on the scope of
the EIS. DOE representatives will be
available to answer questions and
provide additional information on the
NEPA process to meeting attendees. In
addition to providing comments at the
public scoping meetings, stakeholders
may submit written comments as
described in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments may be broad in nature or
restricted to specific areas of concern,
but they should be directly relevant to
the NEPA process, or potential
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environmental impacts. The scoping
process allows the public and interested
parties to shape the EIS impact analysis,
focusing on the areas of greatest
importance and identifying areas
requiring less attention. DOE will
consider the comments received on the
scope of the EIS during the 75-day
scoping period as it prepares the draft
EIS.
OCED does not consider anonymous
scoping comments. Please include your
name and address as part of your
scoping comment. All scoping
comments, including the names,
addresses, and other personally
identifiable information included in the
comment, will be part of the
administrative record. DOE will protect
privileged or confidential information
that you submit when required by
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA), which applies
to trade secrets and commercial or
financial information that is privileged
or confidential. Please label privileged
or confidential information ‘‘Contains
Confidential Information’’ and consider
submitting such information as a
separate attachment. Information that is
not labeled as privileged or confidential
may be regarded by DOE as suitable for
public release. DOE will invite Tribal
government-to-government
consultations.
Request for Comment on Alternatives
and Effects, as Well as on Relevant
Information, Studies, or Analyses With
Respect to the Proposed Action
Federal, State, and local agencies,
along with Indian Tribal Nations and
other stakeholders that may be
interested in or affected by the proposed
action, are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be requested by the DOE to
participate in the development of the
environmental analysis as a cooperating
agency. DOE requests data, comments,
views, information, analysis,
alternatives, or suggestions relevant to
the proposed action from the public;
affected Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments, agencies, and offices; the
scientific community; industry; or any
other interested party.
Specifically, DOE requests
information on the following topics:
(1) Potential effects that the proposed
action could have on biological,
physical, socioeconomic, cultural, or
other resources.
(2) Other potential reasonable
alternatives to the proposed action that
DOE should consider, including
additional or alternative avoidance,
minimization, and mitigation measures.
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(3) Information on other current or
planned activities in, or in the vicinity
of, the proposed action, that could
impact one another or contribute to
cumulative impacts.
(4) Other information, studies, or
analyses relevant to the proposed action
and its impacts on the human
environment.
To promote informed decisionmaking, comments should be as specific
as possible and should provide as much
detail as necessary to meaningfully and
fully inform DOE of why the issues
raised are important to the agency’s
review of the proposed action.
The draft EIS will include as an
appendix a summary of issues raised in
public scoping comments that DOE
considered in preparing the EIS and
comments outside the scope of the
analysis.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on December 11,
2024, by Kelly Cummins, Acting
Director, Office of Clean Energy
Demonstrations, pursuant to delegated
authority from the Secretary of Energy.
That document with the original
signature and date is maintained by
DOE. For administrative purposes only,
and in compliance with requirements of
the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register
Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in
electronic format for publication, as an
official document of the Department of
Energy. This administrative process in
no way alters the legal effect of this
document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December
13, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024–29976 Filed 12–17–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
U.S. Department of Energy.
Notice of a modified system of
AGENCY:
ACTION:
records.
As required by the Privacy
Act of 1974 and the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
Circulars A–108 and A–130, the
Department of Energy (DOE or the
Department) is publishing notice of a
modification to an existing Privacy Act
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 102872-102874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29976]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), (DOE/EIS-0569)
AGENCY: Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement,
notice of scoping meetings, request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable NEPA
implementing regulations to assess the potential environmental impacts
of the proposed action of providing financial assistance to Battelle
Memorial Institute (Battelle) to facilitate the design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (also
referred to as the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub or ARCH2) in
the Appalachian Region including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
DOE is issuing this Notice of Intent to inform the public about the
proposed action; announce plans to conduct public scoping meetings;
invite public participation in the scoping process; and solicit public
comments for consideration in establishing the scope of the EIS,
including the range of reasonable alternatives and the potential
environmental impacts to be analyzed.
DATES: The public scoping period for the EIS starts with the
publication of this notice of intent (NOI) and ends on March 3, 2025.
DOE will hold one virtual public scoping meeting at the following date
and time (eastern time):
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
DOE will hold three in-person public scoping meetings. Dates,
times, and locations are to be determined and will be shared on the
DOE's web page for this EIS no less than 15 days before the meetings.
All meetings are open to the public and free to attend. Details on
how to participate in the virtual and in-person public scoping meetings
are available on the DOE's web page for this EIS: https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0569-appalachian-hydrogen-hub-multiple-locations. In defining the scope of the EIS, DOE will consider all
scoping comments received or postmarked by March 3, 2025. Comments
received or postmarked after the scoping period end date will be
considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Oral or written comments may be provided at the public
scoping meetings or submitted in any of the following ways:
Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to
www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. DOE-HQ-2024-0082 and
follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail or Hand Delivery Service: Send comments in an
envelope labeled ``DOE/EIS-0569'' and addressed to TRC APPALACHIAN
HYDROGEN HUB Coordinator, Teays Corporate Centre, 135 Corporate Center
Drive, Suite 540, Scott Depot, West Virginia 25560
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Moore, Project Manager, Office
of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20585, email
[email protected], or telephone (202) 309-2037.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly known as
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Congress directed DOE to
establish a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program to create
regional networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local
connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a clean
energy carrier. The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) within
DOE is implementing the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program and will
use the NEPA process to help it decide whether to provide financial
assistance for the H2Hubs.
Congress directed DOE to select H2Hubs using certain criteria.
Specifically, Congress directed DOE to select H2Hubs that will use a
diversity of feedstocks to produce clean hydrogen, including at least
one H2Hub that will demonstrate the production of clean hydrogen from
fossil fuels, one H2Hub that will demonstrate the production of clean
hydrogen from renewables, and one H2Hub that will demonstrate the
production of clean hydrogen from nuclear energy. Congress also
directed DOE to select H2Hubs that will use clean hydrogen in a
diversity of end uses, including at least one H2Hub that will
demonstrate the use of clean hydrogen in the following sectors:
electric power generation, industrial, residential and commercial
heating, and transportation. Congress required that DOE give priority
to H2Hubs that are likely to create opportunities for skilled training
and long-term employment to the greatest number of residents of the
region. Congress also directed DOE to include geographic diversity,
directing that DOE locate H2Hubs in different regions of the United
States, and that the H2Hubs are to use the energy resources that are
abundant in their respective regions. Congress further required DOE to
select, to the maximum extent practicable, at least two H2Hubs in the
regions of the United States with the greatest natural gas resources.
DOE issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA-0002779) to
solicit applications for H2Hubs. DOE selected the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub for award negotiations following a rigorous Merit Review process to
identify meritorious applications to the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
Program based on the criteria listed in FOA-0002779. DOE has provided
limited funding in support of preliminary Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
planning activities.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, as proposed, satisfies certain
criteria Congress required in the BIL for the Regional Clean Hydrogen
Hubs program. The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub has the potential to
demonstrate the production of clean hydrogen from fossil fuels. The
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub proposes to use clean hydrogen in a diversity
of end uses, including but not limited to industry, power generation,
and transportation. Further, the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would create
opportunities for skilled training and long-term employment for
residents of the region. In addition, the location of the Appalachian
Hydrogen Hub in the Appalachian Region that includes Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia meets the criterion requiring
geographic diversity within the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub also satisfies the criterion that DOE
select a Hub in a region of the United States with the greatest natural
gas resources.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is proposed to consist of a suite of
demonstration projects involving clean hydrogen production,
transportation, and end uses located within the Appalachian Region that
includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Battelle is the primary
funding recipient and lead Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
[[Page 102873]]
manager. As currently structured, the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
encompasses 12 proposed projects, including hydrogen production
facilities that could produce at least 1,700 metric tons per day of
clean hydrogen (autothermal reformation facilities with carbon capture,
biomass pyrolysis facilities, electrolysis facilities, and facilities
for recovering hydrogen from waste gases), hydrogen liquefiers, and a
range of end uses including residential fuel cells, materials handling
equipment, mobility, and industrial uses, including production of
ammonia, urea, and low-carbon aviation fuel.
Purpose and Scope of the EIS
DOE will prepare an EIS (DOE/EIS-0569) to evaluate the potential
impacts to the human environment associated with funding the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub. The EIS will evaluate the potential impacts
associated with the types of hydrogen infrastructure and technologies
proposed in the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, such as impacts from
electricity and water usage and rates of emissions, that are inherent
to the technologies and infrastructure regardless of where they may be
deployed. The EIS will help inform DOE's decision as to whether to
carry the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub forward for project-specific funding
decisions but will not directly authorize funding for specific
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub projects.
If DOE decides to provide funding for the construction and
operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, DOE will complete additional
NEPA reviews to evaluate the potential site-specific impacts of
individual proposed projects to make site-specific funding decisions.
In addition to being subject to DOE's NEPA review, with associated
public scoping and comment periods as appropriate, individual projects
will be required to adhere to the requirements of all applicable
Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose and need for DOE's action is to comply with its
statutory mandate in BIL to catalyze investment in the production,
processing, delivery, storage, and end-use of clean hydrogen; and
contribute to the development of a national clean hydrogen network. The
proposed action of funding the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would fulfill
this mandate by accelerating the deployment of clean hydrogen
technologies and enabling infrastructure to attract greater investments
from the private sector and promote substantial U.S. manufacturing of
numerous hydrogen technologies.
DOE's purpose and need in funding the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub also
includes funding a clean hydrogen hub that meets certain BIL criteria
for the H2Hubs. The proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub meets these
criteria by:
Demonstrating feedstock diversity by including the
production of clean hydrogen from fossil fuels.
Demonstrating end use diversity by including the use of
clean hydrogen in the electric power generation, industry, and
transportation sectors.
Enabling DOE to meet the geographic diversity criterion by
being located in the Appalachian Region and using energy resources that
are abundant in that region.
Being one of at least two H2Hubs located in regions of the
United States with the greatest natural gas resources.
Creating opportunities for skilled training and long-term
employment for residents in the region.
Proposed Action, No Action, and Preliminary Alternatives
Proposed Action
DOE's proposed action is to provide funding to support the
construction and operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, as proposed
by Battelle, in the Appalachian region that includes Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
would include the production, storage, delivery, and end-use of clean
hydrogen using a variety of technologies. Hydrogen production
technologies being considered include autothermal reforming with carbon
capture, electrolysis, pyrolysis, and capture and purification of
hydrogen byproduct from chlor-alkali processes. Methods of hydrogen
storage may include above-ground tanks, tube trailers, and/or
underground storage. Delivery options may include refueling stations,
liquefaction, and trucking, as well as the delivery of hydrogen
derivatives such as ammonia, urea, or low-carbon aviation fuel which
could include delivery via rail, barge, truck, or pipeline. The
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is considering a broad variety of end-use
applications, including vehicles (buses, medium and heavy-duty trucks),
materials handling equipment, industrial heat, blending to natural gas
distribution systems, power generation, stationary fuel cells, and
production of hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia, urea, and low-
carbon aviation fuel. Appalachian Hydrogen Hub projects and site
locations are in development. DOE will evaluate specific projects and
site locations in subsequent tiered NEPA reviews.
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, DOE would not provide funding to
Battelle for the construction and operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub, with the assumption that the H2Hub would not be developed. The no
action alternative provides a benchmark for comparison with
environmental impacts of the other alternatives.
Preliminary Action Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically
and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action. Preliminarily, DOE has identified three alternatives
that potentially address the purpose and need stated above:
(1) DOE funding for the proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: The
proposed action alternative as described above.
(2) DOE funding for an expanded Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: An action
alternative that considers the hydrogen technologies and infrastructure
in the proposed action plus reasonably foreseeable clean hydrogen
technologies and infrastructure that, while not currently considered in
the proposed action, could be proposed for DOE funding.
(3) DOE funding for a reduced Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: An action
alternative that is smaller in scope wherein DOE would fund only a
portion of the proposed action.
Summary of Potential Impacts
DOE's analysis in the EIS will focus on potentially significant
environmental impacts from construction and operation of the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub's proposed types of hydrogen technologies and
infrastructure, as well as the potential cumulative impacts resulting
from reasonably foreseeable past, present, and future projects in the
same region. Accordingly, in the EIS, DOE anticipates evaluating
potential non-site-specific impacts related to: (1) land use and
infrastructure, (2) atmospheric conditions and air quality, (3) climate
change and greenhouse gasses, (4) hydrologic conditions and water
quality, (5) geology, seismicity and soils, (6) socioeconomic
conditions, (7) environmental justice, (8) energy resources, (9) noise
and vibration, (10) transportation and accidents, (11) intentional
destructive acts, and (12) human health and safety. This list is not
intended to be all-inclusive or to imply a predetermination of
potential
[[Page 102874]]
significant impacts. DOE invites interested stakeholders to suggest
specific issues, including possible mitigation measures, within these
general categories or others, to be considered in the EIS.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
DOE does not anticipate that permits and authorizations will be
needed for agency action because the EIS would not authorize the
construction and operation of any project in the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub. The permits and authorizations required for the Appalachian
Hydrogen Hub projects would be identified in subsequent site-specific
NEPA analyses for those projects.
Schedule for Decision-Making Process
After the draft EIS is completed, DOE will publish a notice of
availability (NOA) and request public comments on the draft EIS. DOE
currently expects to issue the NOA in October 2025. After the public
comment period ends, DOE will review and respond to comments received
and will develop the final EIS. DOE currently expects to make the final
EIS available to the public in April 2026. A record of decision will be
completed no sooner than 30 days after the final EIS is released, in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Scoping Process
This NOI commences the public scoping process to identify issues
and potential alternatives for consideration in the EIS. Throughout the
scoping process, Federal agencies, Tribes, State and local governments,
and the public have the opportunity to help DOE identify significant
resources and issues, reasonable alternatives, mitigation measures, and
other pertinent information that DOE should consider in the EIS. DOE
will hold public scoping meetings at the times and dates described
above under the DATES section. DOE will post information on how to
participate in the virtual and in-person public meetings on the EIS
website listed previously, in advance of the meetings. The public will
have the opportunity to comment on the scope of the EIS. DOE
representatives will be available to answer questions and provide
additional information on the NEPA process to meeting attendees. In
addition to providing comments at the public scoping meetings,
stakeholders may submit written comments as described in the ADDRESSES
section.
Comments may be broad in nature or restricted to specific areas of
concern, but they should be directly relevant to the NEPA process, or
potential environmental impacts. The scoping process allows the public
and interested parties to shape the EIS impact analysis, focusing on
the areas of greatest importance and identifying areas requiring less
attention. DOE will consider the comments received on the scope of the
EIS during the 75-day scoping period as it prepares the draft EIS.
OCED does not consider anonymous scoping comments. Please include
your name and address as part of your scoping comment. All scoping
comments, including the names, addresses, and other personally
identifiable information included in the comment, will be part of the
administrative record. DOE will protect privileged or confidential
information that you submit when required by Exemption 4 of the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA), which applies to trade secrets and
commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential.
Please label privileged or confidential information ``Contains
Confidential Information'' and consider submitting such information as
a separate attachment. Information that is not labeled as privileged or
confidential may be regarded by DOE as suitable for public release. DOE
will invite Tribal government-to-government consultations.
Request for Comment on Alternatives and Effects, as Well as on Relevant
Information, Studies, or Analyses With Respect to the Proposed Action
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by
the proposed action, are invited to participate in the scoping process
and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the DOE to participate
in the development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating
agency. DOE requests data, comments, views, information, analysis,
alternatives, or suggestions relevant to the proposed action from the
public; affected Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments,
agencies, and offices; the scientific community; industry; or any other
interested party.
Specifically, DOE requests information on the following topics:
(1) Potential effects that the proposed action could have on
biological, physical, socioeconomic, cultural, or other resources.
(2) Other potential reasonable alternatives to the proposed action
that DOE should consider, including additional or alternative
avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
(3) Information on other current or planned activities in, or in
the vicinity of, the proposed action, that could impact one another or
contribute to cumulative impacts.
(4) Other information, studies, or analyses relevant to the
proposed action and its impacts on the human environment.
To promote informed decision-making, comments should be as specific
as possible and should provide as much detail as necessary to
meaningfully and fully inform DOE of why the issues raised are
important to the agency's review of the proposed action.
The draft EIS will include as an appendix a summary of issues
raised in public scoping comments that DOE considered in preparing the
EIS and comments outside the scope of the analysis.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December
11, 2024, by Kelly Cummins, Acting Director, Office of Clean Energy
Demonstrations, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of
Energy. That document with the original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-29976 Filed 12-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P