A. Introduction. A.1 Overview of the Proposed Project

Transcription

1 Figure A-1, Regional Overview of the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project, shows the locations of the proposed power plant facility, transportation route from Interstate 10 (I-10), and the subtransmission line associated with the Proposed Project. On August 6, 2007, Liberty XXIII Biofuels Power, LLC (Liberty Energy) submitted to the City of Banning a Uniform Development Application accompanied by a Project Description for the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project. This Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared by the City of Banning as Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to inform the public and to meet the needs of local, State, and federal permitting agencies to consider the Project proposed by Liberty Energy (or the Applicant ). The Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project proposed by Liberty Energy (the Proposed Project ) is described briefly below, and in detail in Section B (Project Description) of this EIR. This EIR does not make a recommendation regarding the approval or denial of the Project; it is purely informational in content and will be used by the City of Banning in considering whether or not to approve the Proposed Project or an alternative. This EIR evaluates and presents the environmental impacts that are expected to result from construction and operation of Liberty Energy s Proposed Project and presents recommended mitigation measures that, if adopted, would avoid or minimize the significant environmental impacts identified. In accordance with CEQA requirements, this EIR also identifies alternatives to the Proposed Project that could avoid or minimize significant environmental impacts associated with the Project as proposed by Liberty Energy (including the No Project Alternative), and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with these alternatives. Based on this environmental impact assessment, as well as the relative sensitivities of impacts in the study region, this EIR identifies the Environmentally Superior Alternative as required by CEQA. This EIR reflects input by government officials, agencies, and concerned members of the public made during the EIR scoping period following the City of Banning s publication of the Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an EIR (August 27, 2007). During this comment period, several public involvement activities were completed: distribution of the NOP and a scoping meeting notice, and two public scoping meetings (see details in Section H, Public Participation). This section is organized as follows: Section A.1 briefly describes the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project as proposed by Liberty Energy; Section A.2 describes agency use of the EIR; and Section A.4 presents a Reader s Guide to this EIR, explaining how it is organized. A.1 Overview of the Proposed Project Liberty Energy proposes to construct a new biomass power plant, located at the eastern terminus of Westward Avenue in the City of Banning, Riverside County, California as indicated in Figure A-1. The generating facility would include three power generation units (trains) to produce 15 MW (17.5 MW gross). Each unit would utilize a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier boiler to generate heat to produce high pressure steam. Condensing steam turbine generator units would be driven by the high pressure steam to produce 5.8 MW (up to 7 MW) at 4,160 Volts. Each unit would be equipped with powdered activated carbon injection units, dry or Draft EIR A-1 June 2008

2 wet scrubbers, bag houses, non-selective (NSCR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and ash silos. Aqueous ammonia (NH3) injection would also be used to further reduce NOx emissions. The units would be fueled with a mixture of biosolids and biomass, the amounts of which would vary depending on the fuel combination used. Fuel receiving and storage equipment would be common to all generation units. Biosolids would be delivered to a reception unit dedicated to a generation unit which would immediately convey the biosolids to storage in one of up to 15 silos. Biomass would be stored onsite on paved areas. Up to three biomass reclaim units would be used to meter the fuel into the gasifiers. A diesel generator would be used to allow the plant to black start. Fuel in the form of biosolids and biomass, as well as lime, chemicals, and other plant consumables and equipment would be delivered to the facility via tractor trailer trucks. Trucks would leave I-10 at the City of Banning Hargrave Street exit, travel south on Hargrave Street to Lincoln Street, and turn east on Lincoln Street to Hathaway Street. The trucks would turn south down Hathaway Street to Westward Avenue where they would turn east and follow Westward Avenue to the Proposed Project site. Trucks leaving the facility would follow this route in reverse back to I-10. Electricity generated by the Proposed Project would be delivered to the City of Banning s electrical system by tying into a City of Banning 34.5 kv subtransmission line located north of Charles Street. A.2 Proposed Project Objectives CEQA Guidelines (Section [a]) require that to be evaluated in an EIR, alternatives to a proposed project must meet most of the project objectives. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) identifies second-generation renewable energy technologies, including the use of synthetic fuels from biomass and biosolids sources such as would be used in the Proposed Project, as one of the economic technical solutions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) from the energy sector. In 2002, California established its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Program, with the goal of increasing the percentage of renewable energy in the State's electricity mix to 20 percent by 2017 to reduce statewide GHG production. Additionally, in Executive Order S-06-06, the Governor called for 20 percent of the RPS goal to be met with electricity from biomass and established a Biomass Action Plan to develop an integrated and comprehensive state policy on biomass. The 2007 California Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) recognizes that the State has large, untapped biomass resources and identifies the potential for using biomass to produce energy as a means of reducing the waste stream as well as being a low-carbon source of electricity. The California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission have each enacted policies encouraging the use and development of biomass-based power as a means of reducing GHGs. The California Air Resources Board is currently recommending emissions performance standards for the use of biomass and biofuels by local air districts in stationary sources, expected to be complete by mid-2008 and as part of its strategic objectives, CIWMB has endorsed the goals to divert 10 percent of biomass wastes and 20 percent of organic residues from landfills by 2010, and 40 percent of waste and 60 percent of organic residues by 2020 for the generation of bioenergy. Consequently, construction and operation of the Proposed Project would serve to advance the goals of the State of California by producing electricity through means that ultimately reduces GHGs. June 2008 A-2 Draft EIR

3 Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project PREPARED BY Aspen Environmental Group N 0 1/4 Scale in Miles 1/ kv Subtransmission Line Operational Transportation Route Figure A-1 Regional Overview of the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project June 2008 A-3 Draft EIR

4 This page intentionally left blank

5 The City of Banning, along with the other municipalities in the State of California has striven to achieve the renewable power goals set by the 2002 Renewable Portfolio Standard. The City of Banning has also investigated methods for the City to operate in the event of emergencies or power outages for short periods without receiving power provided through Southern California Edison. The Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project was designed to provide the City of Banning with a renewable power source directly connected to the City s electric utility system that can be started under its own power. Other objectives for the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project include: Utilize biosolids and biomass for fuel; Export power to the grid via the City of Banning Electrical Utility; Provide safe and reliable electrical service; Meet project need while minimizing environmental impacts and in a cost-effective manner. A.3 Agency Use of this Document The City of Banning is the State lead agency for CEQA compliance in evaluation of Liberty Energy s proposed Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project, and has directed the preparation of this EIR. This EIR will be used by the City of Banning, in conjunction with other information developed in the City of Banning s formal record, to act on Liberty Energy s Uniform Development Application for construction and operation of the Proposed Project. Under CEQA requirements, the City of Banning will determine the adequacy of the Final EIR and, if adequate, will certify the document as complying with CEQA. If it approves a project with significant and unmitigable impacts, it must state why in a Statement of Overriding Considerations, which would be included in the City s decision on the application. Several other State agencies will rely on information in this EIR to inform them in their decision over issuance of specific permits related to Project construction or operation. In addition to the City of Banning, State agencies such as the Department of Transportation, Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Office of Historic Preservation would be involved in reviewing and/or approving the Project. Table A-1 lists the federal, State, and local permits and authorization required for the Proposed Project. Table A-1. Permits Required for the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project Permits Agency Jurisdiction/Purpose Federal Agencies Nationwide or Individual Permit (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waters of the United States, including wetlands, ephemeral drainages Section 7 consultation (through U.S. Army U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation on federally listed species; Corps of Engineer s review process) Section 106 of the NHPA Review (through U.S. Army Corp of Engineer s review process) State Agencies National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Construction Stormwater Permit Section 402 Section 401 Water Quality Certification (or waiver thereof) (USFWS) Advisory Council on Historic Preservation California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB), Regions 7 RWQCB incidental take authorization (if required) Cultural Resource Management Plan (if appropriate) This permit applies to all construction Projects that disturb more than 5 acres Requests RWQCB s certification that the Project is consistent with State water quality standards Solid Waste Facility Permit CIWMB Required to indicate the State Minimum Standard for environmental protection Draft EIR A-5 June 2008

6 Table A-1. Permits Required for the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project Permits Agency Jurisdiction/Purpose Endangered Species consultation 2081 California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Consultation on State-listed species; incidental take authorization (if required) Consultation (through CEQA review process) State Historic Preservation Officer Cultural resources management (if appropriate) Local Agencies Western Riverside County Multi-Species Riverside County Compliance with MSHCP Habitat Conservation Plan Roadway Encroachment and Closure Permit City of Banning Permit to install sewer lines in roadway ROWs, temporary road closures Grading and Building Permits City of Banning Permission to conduct grading and building activities FAA Form Riverside County Airport Land Use Compliance with FAA regulations Commission Solid Waste Facility Permit Riverside County Environmental Resource Management Department Permit to accept solid waste A.4 Reader s Guide to this Document A.4.1 EIR Organization This EIR is organized as follows: Executive Summary. A summary description of the Proposed Project, the alternatives, their respective environmental impacts, and the Environmentally Superior Alternative. Section A (Introduction). A discussion of the objectives for the Proposed Project; a brief description of the proposed Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project; an outline of the public agency use of the EIR; and identification of permits required by other public agencies. Section B (Project Description). A detailed description of the proposed Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project. Section C (Alternatives). Description of the alternatives evaluation process, description of the alternative considered but eliminated from further analysis and the rationale for elimination, and description of the alternatives analyzed in Section D. Section D (Environmental Analysis). A comprehensive analysis and assessment of impacts and mitigation measures for the Proposed Project and alternatives, including the No Project Alternative. This section is divided into main sections for each environmental issue area (e.g., Air Quality, Biological Resources) that contain the environmental settings, impacts, and any proposed mitigation of impacts of the Proposed Project and each alternative carried forward for full EIR analysis. At the end of each issue area analysis, a Mitigation Monitoring table is provided. Section E (Comparison of Alternatives). Identification of the CEQA Environmentally Superior Alternative and a discussion of the relative advantages and disadvantages of the Proposed Project and alternatives that were evaluated. Section F (Other CEQA Considerations). A discussion of additional CEQA considerations including growth-inducing impacts, irreversible environmental changes, and cumulative impacts. June 2008 A-6 Draft EIR

7 Section G (Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan). A discussion of the mitigation monitoring program requirements for the Project as approved by the City of Banning. Section H (Public Participation). A brief description of the public participation program conducted for the environmental review process associated with the Proposed Project. Appendices. In addition, there are a number of appendices that provide technical information in support of the analysis conducted for this EIR. They include: Appendix A - Construction Emissions Estimate Appendix B - Operations Emissions Estimate Appendix C - Air Quality Impact Modeling for Proposed Liberty XXIII Biofuels Project Banning, California Appendix D - Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimate Appendix E - Vascular Plant List for City of Banning, Liberty Biomass Project Appendix F Habitat Assessment for Narrow Endemic Plants Report for the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Power Plant Project, City of Banning, Riverside County, California Appendix G Burrowing Owl Survey Report for the Liberty XXIII Renewable Energy Biomass Project Appendix H Habitat Assessment of the Proposed Liberty XXIII Bioenergy Facility with Respect to the Potential Occurrence of the Little Pocket Mouse (Perognathus longimembris ssp.) Appendix I Sample Native American Consultation Letter and List of Contacts Draft EIR A-7 June 2008