Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNWH2), (DOE/EIS-0571), 102878-102881 [2024-29994]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
102878
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board (EM SSAB),
Nevada. The Federal Advisory
Committee Act requires that public
notice of this meeting be announced in
the Federal Register.
DATES: Wednesday, January 15, 2025; 4–
8:45 p.m. PST. The opportunity for
public comment is at 4:10 p.m. PST.
This time is subject to change; please
contact the Nevada Site Specific
Advisory Board (NSSAB) Administrator
at nssab@emcbc.doe.gov for
confirmation of time prior to the
meeting.
Valley Electric
Association’s Valley Conference Center,
800 E Highway 372, Pahrump, Nevada
89048. This meeting will be open to the
public in-person at the Valley
Conference Center or virtually via
Microsoft Teams. To attend virtually,
please contact Barbara Ulmer, NSSAB
Administrator, by email nssab@
emcbc.doe.gov or phone (702) 523–
0894, no later than 4 p.m. PST on
Monday, January 13, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Ulmer, NSSAB Administrator,
by phone: (702) 523–0894 or email:
nssab@emcbc.doe.gov or visit the
Board’s internet homepage at
www.nnss.gov/NSSAB/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of the Board: The purpose of
the Board is to provide advice and
recommendations concerning the
following EM site-specific issues: cleanup activities and environmental
restoration; waste and nuclear materials
management and disposition; excess
facilities; future land use and long-term
stewardship. The Board may also be
asked to provide advice and
recommendations on any EM program
components.
Tentative Agenda:
• Public Comment Period
• Update from Deputy Designated
Federal Officer
• Update from National Nuclear
Security Administration/Nevada Field
Office
• Updates from NSSAB Liaisons
• Presentations
Public Participation: The in-person/
online virtual hybrid meeting is open to
the public either in-person at the Valley
Conference Center or via Microsoft
Teams. To sign-up for public comment,
please contact the NSSAB
Administrator (above) no later than 4
p.m. PST on Monday, January 13, 2025.
In addition to participation in the live
public comment session identified
above, written statements may be filed
with the Board either before or within
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:09 Dec 17, 2024
Jkt 265001
seven days after the meeting by sending
them to the NSSAB Administrator at the
aforementioned email address. Written
public comment received prior to the
meeting will be read into the record.
The Deputy Designated Federal Officer
is empowered to conduct the meeting in
a fashion that will facilitate the orderly
conduct of business. Individuals
wishing to make public comments can
do so in 2-minute segments for the 15
minutes allotted for public comments.
Minutes: Minutes will be available by
writing or calling Barbara Ulmer,
NSSAB Administrator, U.S. Department
of Energy, EM Nevada Program, 100
North City Parkway, Suite 1750, Las
Vegas, NV 89106; Phone: (702) 523–
0894. Minutes will also be available at
the following website: https://
www.nnss.gov/nssab/nssab-meetings/.
Signing Authority: This document of
the Department of Energy was signed on
December 12, 2024, by Alyssa Petit,
Deputy Committee Management Officer,
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
12, 2024.
Jennifer Hartzell,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer,
U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024–29867 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 Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub
(PNWH2), (DOE/EIS–0571)
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
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
applicable NEPA implementing
regulations to assess the potential
environmental impacts of the proposed
action of providing financial assistance
to the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen
Association (also referred to as the
PNWH2 Association) to facilitate the
design, construction, operation and
maintenance of the Pacific Northwest
Regional Hydrogen Hub including in the
states of Washington, Oregon and
Montana. 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 (pacific time):
• Wednesday, January 22, 2024 at 6
p.m.–8 p.m.
DOE will hold two 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-0571pacific-northwest-hydrogen-hubmultiple-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–
2024–0094 and follow the instructions
for submitting comments.
• Mail or Hand Delivery Service:
Send comments in an envelope labeled
‘‘DOE/EIS–0571’’ and addressed to c/o
AECOM, 3005 Center Green Drive, Ste
250, Boulder, CO 80301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie O’Shea, Project Manager, Office of
Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave. SW, Washington,
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
DC 20585, email: OCED_PNWH2_EIS@
hq.doe.gov or telephone (240) 477–0431.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Background
In the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, commonly known as the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL),
Congress established and funded 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 regional clean hydrogen hubs 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 Pacific Northwest 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:09 Dec 17, 2024
Jkt 265001
of preliminary Pacific Northwest Hub
planning activities.
The Pacific Northwest Hub as
proposed satisfies certain criteria
Congress required in the BIL for the
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
program. The Pacific Northwest Hub has
the potential to demonstrate the
production of clean hydrogen from
renewable energy resources. The Pacific
Northwest Hub will use clean hydrogen
in a diversity of end uses, including but
not limited to industry, power
generation, and transportation. Further,
the Pacific Northwest Hub would create
opportunities for skilled training and
long-term employment for residents of
the region. In addition, the location of
the Hub in the Pacific Northwest region
meets the criterion requiring geographic
diversity within the Regional Clean
Hydrogen Hubs program. The Pacific
Northwest Hub also satisfies the
criterion that DOE select hubs that use
the energy resources that are abundant
in their respective regions.
The Pacific Northwest Hub is
proposed to consist of a suite of
demonstration projects involving clean
hydrogen production, transportation,
and end uses located within the Pacific
Northwest. The Pacific Northwest
Association is the primary funding
recipient and lead Pacific Northwest
Hub manager. As currently structured,
the Hub encompasses approximately 10
projects, including clean hydrogen
production facilities that could produce
300–400 metric tons per day of clean
hydrogen, hydrogen liquefiers,
connective infrastructure including
refueling stations and pipelines, and a
range of end uses including fuel cell
electric trucks, fuel cell electric buses,
cargo handling equipment, and
stationary fuel cells.
Purpose and Scope of the EIS
DOE will prepare an EIS (DOE/EIS–
0571) to evaluate the potential impacts
to the human environment associated
with funding the Pacific Northwest Hub.
The EIS will evaluate the potential
impacts associated with the types of
hydrogen infrastructure and
technologies proposed in the Pacific
Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest Hub forward for
project-specific funding decisions but
will not directly authorize funding for
specific Pacific Northwest Hub projects.
If DOE decides to provide funding for
the construction and operation of the
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
102879
Pacific Northwest Hub, DOE will
analyze the potential site-specific
environmental effects of individual
proposed projects and 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 Pacific
Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest Hub also includes
funding a clean hydrogen hub that
meets certain BIL criteria for the
regional hubs program. The proposed
Pacific Northwest Hub meets these
criteria by:
• Demonstrating feedstock diversity
by including the production of clean
hydrogen from renewable energy
sources.
• 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 Pacific Northwest region
and using energy resources that are
abundant in that region.
• 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 development of
the Pacific Northwest Hub, as proposed
by PNWH2 Association. The Pacific
Northwest Hub intends to produce clean
hydrogen through a variety of hydrogen
production technologies, storage,
delivery, and end-use applications, all
within the Pacific Northwest region.
Hydrogen production technologies
being considered include various forms
of electrolysis, the application of
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
102880
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
electrical energy to water to generate
pure oxygen and hydrogen. Methods of
hydrogen storage may include aboveground tanks, tube trailers, and/or
storage using ‘‘line pack’’, in which a
pipeline holds hydrogen when the
pipeline is not in use for transporting
hydrogen. Delivery options being
considered include pipelines, refueling
stations, liquefaction, and trucking. A
broad variety of end-use applications
are being considered, including fuel cell
electric trucks, fuel cell electric buses,
cargo handling equipment, industrial
heat, blending to natural gas
distribution systems, power generation,
data centers, stationary fuel cells, and
production of hydrogen derivatives,
including ammonia.
Specific Pacific Northwest Hub
project details and site locations are in
development, DOE will evaluate
specific projects and site locations in
subsequent tiered NEPA reviews.
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative,
DOE would not provide funding to the
PNWH2 Association for the
construction and operation of the
Pacific Northwest 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
Pacific Northwest Hub: The proposed
action alternative as described above.
2. DOE funding for an expanded
Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific
Northwest 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:09 Dec 17, 2024
Jkt 265001
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 August 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 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
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.
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
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 DOE to
participate in the development of the
environmental analysis as a cooperating
operation of the Pacific Northwest 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 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 it will not
authorize the construction and
operation of any project to be included
in the Pacific Northwest Hub. The
permits and authorizations required for
those projects will be identified in
subsequent site-specific NEPA analyses
for those projects.
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2024 / Notices
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 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.
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on December 13,
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:09 Dec 17, 2024
Jkt 265001
Signed in Washington, DC, on December
13, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024–29994 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 California Hydrogen Hub
(ARCHES), (DOE/EIS–0570)
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 the Alliance for Renewable Clean
Hydrogen Energy Systems (also referred
to as ARCHES) to facilitate the design,
construction, operation and
maintenance of the California Hydrogen
Hub in the state of California. 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 (pacific time):
• Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from
4:30–7:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
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.
In addition, DOE will have an open
virtual public meeting space available
for the public. This public meeting
space will open on Monday January 20,
2025, at ocedarcheseis.com and stay
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
102881
open through the duration of the
scoping period.
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-0570california-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–
2024–0087 and follow the instructions
for submitting comments; or
• Mail or Hand Delivery Service:
Send comments in an envelope labeled
‘‘DOE/EIS–0570’’ and addressed to
Jacobs, Attention: Rosa Esquivel, 2600
Michelson Drive, Suite 500, Irvine, CA
92612–6506.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristin Welch, Project Manager, Office
of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave. SW, Washington,
DC 20585, email OCED_ARCHES_EIS@
hq.doe.gov, or telephone (240) 981–
0461.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, commonly known as the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL),
Congress established and funded 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
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 102878-102881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNWH2), (DOE/EIS-0571)
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 the Pacific
Northwest Hydrogen Association (also referred to as the PNWH2
Association) to facilitate the design, construction, operation and
maintenance of the Pacific Northwest Regional Hydrogen Hub including in
the states of Washington, Oregon and Montana. 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 (pacific time):
Wednesday, January 22, 2024 at 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
DOE will hold two 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-0571-pacific-northwest-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-2024-0094 and
follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail or Hand Delivery Service: Send comments in an
envelope labeled ``DOE/EIS-0571'' and addressed to c/o AECOM, 3005
Center Green Drive, Ste 250, Boulder, CO 80301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie O'Shea, Project Manager, Office
of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave. SW, Washington,
[[Page 102879]]
DC 20585, email: [email protected] or telephone (240) 477-0431.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly known as
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Congress established and
funded 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 regional clean hydrogen hubs 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 Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest Hub
planning activities.
The Pacific Northwest Hub as proposed satisfies certain criteria
Congress required in the BIL for the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
program. The Pacific Northwest Hub has the potential to demonstrate the
production of clean hydrogen from renewable energy resources. The
Pacific Northwest Hub will use clean hydrogen in a diversity of end
uses, including but not limited to industry, power generation, and
transportation. Further, the Pacific Northwest Hub would create
opportunities for skilled training and long-term employment for
residents of the region. In addition, the location of the Hub in the
Pacific Northwest region meets the criterion requiring geographic
diversity within the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. The Pacific
Northwest Hub also satisfies the criterion that DOE select hubs that
use the energy resources that are abundant in their respective regions.
The Pacific Northwest Hub is proposed to consist of a suite of
demonstration projects involving clean hydrogen production,
transportation, and end uses located within the Pacific Northwest. The
Pacific Northwest Association is the primary funding recipient and lead
Pacific Northwest Hub manager. As currently structured, the Hub
encompasses approximately 10 projects, including clean hydrogen
production facilities that could produce 300-400 metric tons per day of
clean hydrogen, hydrogen liquefiers, connective infrastructure
including refueling stations and pipelines, and a range of end uses
including fuel cell electric trucks, fuel cell electric buses, cargo
handling equipment, and stationary fuel cells.
Purpose and Scope of the EIS
DOE will prepare an EIS (DOE/EIS-0571) to evaluate the potential
impacts to the human environment associated with funding the Pacific
Northwest Hub. The EIS will evaluate the potential impacts associated
with the types of hydrogen infrastructure and technologies proposed in
the Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest
Hub forward for project-specific funding decisions but will not
directly authorize funding for specific Pacific Northwest Hub projects.
If DOE decides to provide funding for the construction and
operation of the Pacific Northwest Hub, DOE will analyze the potential
site-specific environmental effects of individual proposed projects and
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 Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest Hub also
includes funding a clean hydrogen hub that meets certain BIL criteria
for the regional hubs program. The proposed Pacific Northwest Hub meets
these criteria by:
Demonstrating feedstock diversity by including the
production of clean hydrogen from renewable energy sources.
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 Pacific Northwest region and using energy
resources that are abundant in that region.
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
development of the Pacific Northwest Hub, as proposed by PNWH2
Association. The Pacific Northwest Hub intends to produce clean
hydrogen through a variety of hydrogen production technologies,
storage, delivery, and end-use applications, all within the Pacific
Northwest region. Hydrogen production technologies being considered
include various forms of electrolysis, the application of
[[Page 102880]]
electrical energy to water to generate pure oxygen and hydrogen.
Methods of hydrogen storage may include above-ground tanks, tube
trailers, and/or storage using ``line pack'', in which a pipeline holds
hydrogen when the pipeline is not in use for transporting hydrogen.
Delivery options being considered include pipelines, refueling
stations, liquefaction, and trucking. A broad variety of end-use
applications are being considered, including fuel cell electric trucks,
fuel cell electric buses, cargo handling equipment, industrial heat,
blending to natural gas distribution systems, power generation, data
centers, stationary fuel cells, and production of hydrogen derivatives,
including ammonia.
Specific Pacific Northwest Hub project details 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
the PNWH2 Association for the construction and operation of the Pacific
Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest Hub: The proposed
action alternative as described above.
2. DOE funding for an expanded Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific
Northwest 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 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 it will not authorize the construction
and operation of any project to be included in the Pacific Northwest
Hub. The permits and authorizations required for those projects will 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 August 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 DOE to participate in
the development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating
[[Page 102881]]
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
13, 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. 2024-29994 Filed 12-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
