Mesaba Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory Taconite Community Center October

Mesaba Energy Project

Environmental Impact Statement

U.S. Department of EnergyNational Energy Technology Laboratory

Taconite Community CenterOctober 25, 2005; 7:00 pm

Hoyt Lakes ArenaOctober 26, 2005; 7:00 pm

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING

Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20052

TONIGHT’S AGENDA

MEETING PURPOSE DOE’S CLEAN COAL POWER INITIATIVE PROJECT OVERVIEW THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL

POLICY ACT AND THE EIS PROCESS YOUR COMMENTS!


MEETING PURPOSE

Why have a public scoping meeting? Invite input and comment from all interested persons. Establish the scope and content of an environmental

analysis to be prepared by DOE. What do you need to know about commenting?

Your comments and concerns are very important. All comments will be considered in the preparation of the

environmental analysis. We are in the early stages of the analysis process.


CLEAN COAL POWER INITIATIVE

KEN MARKELDIRECTOR

OFFICE OF MAJOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

U.S. DOE/NETL

Orlando Gasification Project Public Scoping Meeting 8/30/20055

MESABA ENERGY PROJECT

BOB EVANSEXCELSIOR ENERGY


PROJECT PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Introduction of Excelsior representatives

Project description Site selection & ongoing

investigations Permitting activities Development schedule Excelsior outreach

efforts


PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Phase I IGCC base load electric power station, nominally rated at 600 MW(net)

Coal/petroleum coke blends primary fuel; natural gas backup Superior environmental performance compared to traditional coal-fueled power

plants Two possible sites are proposed Water supply pump stations, supply/discharge pipelines Rail spur & site access roads Transmission line connections between Project and major substation Natural gas pipeline interconnection to existing supplier Utility connections (i.e., potable water, domestic wastes) to local supplier

Phase II Construct 2nd IGCC power station on-site; identical to Phase I development Total generating station capacity nominally rated at 1200 MW(net)

Use of existing facilities (rail spur, highway, transmission line corridors, pump stations, water supply pipelines, etc.)


ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

Excelsior preparing environmental report for DOE and Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Phase I construction: Q3 2007 – Q4 2010 1,000 construction workers on-site at peak + vehicles 85 acres of land required for IGCC plant; additional 80 acres required for

equipment laydown plus 5 acres for concrete batch plant

Phase I operation: Q4 2010 - onward 100-120 permanent full-time workers Resources consumed & by-products generated: Estimated worst case

Coal: 8,230 tons of coal per day; ~4-5 round-trip unit train trips per week Water: 6,500 gallons per minute peak; 4,500 gallons per minute annual avg. Marketable byproducts: 500-800 tons/day slag; 30-160 tons/day elemental sulfur Materials for disposal: 2,200 tons/yr ZLD salts; 60 tons/year activated carbon Very low emissions of air pollutants (see boards), including mercury (19-39

pounds/year) No discharge of process waters used to clean syngas before combustion West Range site flood control: Canisteo & Hill Annex mine pits used as source

waters for evaporative cooling Water used for evaporative cooling discharged to Holman Lake (West Range)


ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS (CONT’D)

Phase II Construction of Phase II IGCC power station overlaps

construction of Phase I station Resource requirements, emissions, effluents, and

byproducts double in most instances 160-180 permanent, full-time staff (Phase I+II) Increased water demands

Sufficient water supply must be demonstrated Use of additional water sources likely

Commercial in-service planned for 2013


SITE SELECTION & INVESTIGATIONS

Four year search effort Criteria utilized to narrow list of potential sites

Licensability Community support Sufficient water supply for Phase I & II developments Access to infrastructure sufficient to meet project needs

Optional rail providers Existing corridors to reach major electric substation(s)

Site control Lake Superior Basin watershed

Ongoing investigations


PERMITTING ACTIVITIES

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) Large Electric Generating Plant Site Permit High-Voltage Transmission Line Route Permit Pipeline Route Permit

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Part 70 / New Source Review Construction Authorization

permit (air emissions permit) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State

Disposal System permit (wastewater discharge permit) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Water appropriation permit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Dredge & fill pre-construction permit establishing measures to be taken to mitigate impacts on certain wetlands


Joint Permit Application: December 2005 Site Permit HVTL Route Permit Natural Gas Pipeline Route Permit Environmental Information Volume

Air permit: December 2005 Wastewater discharge permit: January 2006 Water appropriation permit: January 2006 Wetland permits: January 2006

TARGETED SUBMISSION DATES


PUBLIC OUTREACH

Excelsior representatives will be available after scoping meeting to address questions

Excelsior will continue to meet with interest groups and individuals as process moves forward

Assembling contact list


OVERVIEW OF NEPA PROCESS

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT U. S. Federal Law – effective January 1970

Applies to all Federal agencies. National charter for protection of the

environment Mandate

Environmental information must be available to public officials and citizens before Federal decisions are made and before Federal actions are taken.


NEPA OBJECTIVES

Make decisions based on an understanding of environmental consequences.

Take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment.

Focus on truly significant issues. Promote better environmental planning and

better decision-making.


ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTRequired Contents 40CFR1502.10

Cover sheet, summary and table of contents Statement of purpose and need for Agency

action Examination of reasonable alternatives Characteristics of the affected environment Environmental consequences of the proposed

action and alternatives List of agencies, organizations, persons to

whom the document is sent List of preparers and an index


ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTTopics Typically Addressed

Air quality Noise Water resources and water quality Infrastructure and land use Solid/hazardous waste management Visual effects Floodplains/wetlands Ecological resources Historic/archaeological/cultural resources Safety and health Community impacts and environmental justice Socioeconomic impacts


FEDERAL EIS PROCESS

PUBLIC PUBLIC SCOPING SCOPING

MEETINGSMEETINGS

Notice of Availability for Final EIS

Notice of Intent for EIS

Notice of Availability for Draft EIS

PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARINGSHEARINGS

Prepare Draft EIS

Prepare Final EIS

Comment Period

(Minimum 45 Days)

Comment Period

(Minimum 30 Days)

DOE Record of Decision

(ROD)

Waiting Period

(Minimum 30 Days)

Opportunities for Public Involvement


STATE EIS PROCESS


LOGISTICS FOR ORAL COMMENTS

5 minutes per speaker, please! An additional opportunity to speak at the end,

if time allows. Pre-registered speakers first. Transcript will be prepared. Please state your name Comment cards available, if you prefer

due by 11/14/2005


DUE DATE FOR COMMENTS

NOVEMBER 14TH

SEND COMMENTS TO:

Richard Hargis

U.S. DOE/NETL

PO BOX 10940

Pittsburgh, PA 15236

[email protected]

1-888-322-7436, x6065


ADJOURN

Documents

Mesaba Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory Taconite Community Center October