The Morrow Pacific Project Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock:

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1 July 2012 The Morrow Pacific Project Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock: Environmental Review Reader s Guide Contents: What is the Environmental Review...1 Scope of the Environmental Review...2 Contents of the Environmental Review...3 Summary of Chapter Helpful Acronyms...6 and What Does That Mean?...7 Introduction This summary is an overview of the Environmental Review (ER) Port of Morrow. The ER analyzes potential impacts of constructing a barge loading The Morrow Pacific project designed enclosed barges. The barges will transport the coal downriver through enclosed will then be loaded onto oceangoing vessels bound for Asia. What is the Environmental Review? determination under NEPA.

2 Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock A Reader s Guide to the Environmental Review 2 About the Alternatives Preferred Alternative: environmentally responsible and advanced barge- Applicant in its permit application. Conceptual Barge Loading Dock at Port of Morrow (transfer of coal from trains to barges) No Action Alternative A: coal would not be fully enclosed on the conveyor. No Action Alternative B: Conceptual Enclosed Barge Scope of the Environmental Review installation of temporary and permanent piles for the Morrow in the John Day pool of the Columbia River. Port of Morrow and continues down the Columbia review of potential impacts from the permitting of the The ER was prepared by Anderson Perry & available information. Determinations in the ER are the professional opinion of AP and are presented Conceptual Transloader Assembly at Port of St. Helens (transfer of coal from barges to oceangoing vessels)

3 Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock A Reader s Guide to the Environmental Review 3 Contents of the Environmental Review contains the appendices. Contents Executive Summary Chapter 1.0 Purpose and Need and Mitigation Measures Chapter 4.0 Summary of Public Comments Chapter 5.0 Summary of Mitigation Appendices Tables and Figures The remainder of this Readers Guide discusses potential impacts to the human and natural environment. Summary of Chapter 3.0 Affected Environment, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures 3.1 Land-Based Traffic as well as additional bridge draws that may be Port of Morrow will be highest during construction and will be limited to additional employees during operation. The Port of Morrow has a well- The rail loop at the Port of Morrow is currently may be split in two. 3.2 Navigation This section discusses additional barge and navigation-related infrastructure. When the Morrow dam will be only 97.5 percent of the highs that occurred in the mid 1990 s. This represents a 70 percent of the historical high. have increased navigational safety on the river in the years since the historical high was set. Any costs to infrastructure will be offset by increased Section 3.3 Land Use and Recreation No land use impacts will occur since operations most notable impact to recreation is anticipated to be from increased barge tows that may interfere with recreational boating and use of the river. The navigation channel represents less than 10 percent laws restricting use of the navigational channel by recreational users there should be no impact. occurred in the mid-1990s. Tugs are now equipped with better technology that ensures they stay within the navigation channel. Section 3.4 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice detailed in the accompanying illustration. ton of coal received at Port of Morrow to schools in

4 Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock A Reader s Guide to the Environmental Review 4 both Morrow and Columbia County. This will result and low-income populations) does exist near the availability and funding for local schools. Section 3.5 Visual and Aesthetics change the current landscape. Section 3.6 Air Quality Air quality emissions analyzed include those from the storage and handling facility at the Port of facility at the Port of Morrow. of Environmental Quality determined that an Air on emission estimates that assume no machinery is being implemented to reduce air emissions throughout the operation. This technology includes enclosed storage barns with a wet scrubber system enclosed barge unloading and oceangoing vessel loading system. Jobs Created Construction Phase 1 1,243 Jobs Phase Jobs Jobs Created Operations Phase Jobs Phase 2 1,092 Jobs Jobs Jobs Construction workers at the Port of Morrow and Port of St. Helens. Construction workers building the barges, tugs and transloader. Firms in other industries will provide goods and services to the construction sector, creating additional jobs. Skilled laborers operating the facility at the Port of Morrow and ILWU longshoremen at the Port of St. Helens. Workers transporting coal via rail and barge. Firms in other industries will provide goods and services to the project and to the transportation sector, creating additional jobs. Jobs With the increase in direct and indirect jobs, other sectors will benefit. Workers will spend wages on food, housing, health care and entertainment. The infusion of new wages into the region will create induced jobs. With the increase in direct and indirect jobs, other sectors will benefit. Workers will spend wages on food, housing, health care and entertainment. The infusion of new wages into the region will create induced jobs.

5 Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock A Reader s Guide to the Environmental Review 5 Section 3.7 Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change greenhouse gas emissions that occur other than as this section provides a brief discussion of greenhouse gas emissions and concludes that such emissions Section 3.8 Health, Safety, Public Nuisance, and Hazardous Materials This section broadly discusses issues related waits from bridge draws. Section 3.9 Energy and Natural Resources chain is equipped to handle such demands. The the use of tugs and barges vastly reduces fuel consumption when compared to other modes Section 3.10 Water Resources This section discusses both consumptive use and potential impacts to surface and groundwater resources. Consumptive use is minimal and will be supplied from the Port of Morrow s municipal water supply. Potential impacts to groundwater resources are mitigated through the use of an impermeable process water recycling facility and the use of bioswales for stormwater processing. An analysis was performed to determine potential for sediment to enter the water during construction. petroleum release by tugs and the impact coal would have if any were to enter the water. The intermountain coal in water indicates that there are no negative impacts to surface water quality. Section 3.11 Ecosystems The ecosystem section discusses seven elements: This section also discusses the potential for increased spread of aquatic invasive species from beyond that which already exists in the Columbia further limits this potential. Section 3.12 Earth Resources This section analyzes impacts to soil conditions present to the operation. The geological nature undisturbed. Geologic hazards have been

6 Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock A Reader s Guide to the Environmental Review 6 Section 3.13 Cultural Resources This section discusses the potential impacts to This section discusses the potential impacts to and traditional cultural properties (TCPs). The analysis was conducted using State Historic and TCPs are closely guarded by Tribal Nations and were not available as part of this ER. Archeologist to perform a comprehensive survey of both the above- and below-water portions of their leasehold. Records indicate the site may have been appropriately avoid or mitigate impacts. associated with beliefs and practices of a living the navigation channel limits potential impacts Section 3.14 Cumulative Effects and/or timeframe. Cumulative effects are challenging analysis highlights the increased oceangoing vessel the river has capacity to handle such increase and proper mitigation reduces corresponding impacts and associated cumulative effects will be reviewed at the time of permitting. Helpful Acronyms and Definitions AP Applicant BA BMPs ER Environmental Review MPP NEPA National Environmental Policy Act OGV TCPs Traditional Cultural Properties USACE

7 Coyote Island Terminal Barge Loading Dock A Reader s Guide to the Environmental Review 7 Are there Significant Impacts and What Does that Mean? NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Assessment to identify if the is based on two criteria: context and intensity. Context means the affected environment in which the impact to human health. For each of the 13 and intensity of the action is below a level of About Anderson Perry