Project Description Report Project Description Report St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant Renewable Biogas Cogeneration Project 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this draft Project Description Report is to outline the proposed General Motors of Canada renewable biogas cogeneration project to be located at St. Catharines Glendale Avenue plant as required under the Renewable Energy Approval process. 1.2 Approvals Required Permit / Authorization Administering Agency Rationale REA MOECC The project meets the definition of a Renewable Energy Project Environmental Compliance Approval update MOECC Boilers larger than 10mmbtu/hr are considered equipment with specific operating limits beyond the existing ECA flexibility Notice of project by Constructor MOL Project meets definition of construction project under section 6 of the Regulation for Construction Projects (O. Reg. 213/91) ***various permits/authorizations are required regarding the pipeline between the facility and the supplier but are not detailed in this report These permits are outside the scope of the project as defined in the Renewable Energy Project regulation. 1.3 Federal Approvals No federal government approvals are required.
1.4 Water Taking No water taking is required for this project. 1.5 Project Location The location of the proposed 6.4MW renewable biogas cogeneration project is shown on the drawing in Appendix 1. The land required is currently part of St. Catharines Glendale Avenue plant and will occupy an area of approximately 70m x 135m (9400 sq. m. or 0.22 acres) of the site. The facility is located at 570 Glendale Avenue, St. Catharines and the proposed location for the renewable biogas cogeneration project is in the southwest corner of the facility near the existing Powerhouse. The renewable landfill gas or biogas once sourced, will be pretreated at the landfill prior to delivery to the GM St. Catharines facility through a pipeline. The specific pipeline route is outside the scope of this REA project description but any pipeline will enter the GM site near the southeast corner of the property, and will continue to the southwest corner of the property to connect to the proposed biogas cogeneration plant. 1.6 Property Ownership The property on which the renewable biogas project is to be constructed is part of St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant which is wholly owned by General Motors of Canada Company. 1.7 Project Ownership On completion the renewable biogas cogeneration project including the pipeline as it runs across our site, will be owned by General Motors of Canada. The pipeline between the General Motors site and the renewable biogas generation facility is outside the scope of this REA. 1.8 Development Team The team that has been working to assess this project consists of General Motors of Canada Company and various technical experts. The principle contact for the proposed project REA is Tammy Giroux, Manager Government Relations 1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 P: 905-644-6730, E: tammy.giroux@gm.com 2.0 Project Description
2.1 Site Description St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant is an automotive parts manufacturing facility producing engines and transmissions, including ancillary and support processes, operations and activities. The entire St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant consists of approximately 2.08 million square feet (193,232 square meters) of floor space on 142 acres (57.4 hectares) of land. It is located in an area of general employment which includes industrial zoning. The plant is bounded by Glendale Avenue to the north, and by St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) property to the east, south, and west. The CNR Railway line runs east-west immediately outside the south boundary of the plant property and is between the plant property and the SLSMC property. The Welland Canal (operated by the SLSMC) runs along the west side of the plant property and separates GM owned land from its nearest neighbouring residential areas located to the west of SLSMC property. The proposed site for the renewable biogas cogeneration project is within the existing footprint of St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant around the southwest corner of the site. This area already has a building that will be retrofitted to accommodate the renewable biogas project. The area is paved and no natural features or environment currently exist at this particular location. 2.2 Surrounding Land Uses The nearest residential area is located 970 meters from the proposed location of the biogas plant. Appendix 1 demonstrates the land use within 120 m and 300 m of the site. 2.3 Land Use History St. Catharines Glendale Avenue plant has been operating at this site since the early 1950s. The plant has undergone many changes throughout the years. Originally operated as a foundry and engine manufacturing plant, the foundry was decommissioned in the 1990s. The facility continues to machine and assemble automotive engines and recently added the machining and assembly of transmissions. Over the last 20 years the facility has been restoring the former foundry lands to a more natural state planting over 8,500 trees. The site now includes a certified Wildlife Habitat area. The facility has active engagement within the community, including intern partnerships with Niagara College to assist with the site ecosystem restoration project. 2.4 Project Description The proposed renewable biogas project at St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant will consist of four (4) 1.6MW engines which will be placed in an existing (refurbished) building. These engines will provide 6.4MW of electrical power and approximately 8.2MW of useful thermal energy for the Facility. 100% of the fuel for the engines will be renewable biogas from a nearby waste management site. All the electricity generated will be for the facility use. 2.5 Site Design
The major components of the biogas plant include: Four (4) 1.6 MW engines Four (4) biogas and/or natural gas 12,000 MBH hot water boilers (total load is 48,000 MBH output) Two (2) 700 ton Absorption Chillers One (1) shell and tube heat exchanger for high heat transfer from each engine and two (2) plate and frame heat exchangers for each engine for the heat recovery Four (4) plate and frame heat exchangers for heat recovery / heat rejection Multiple new pumps for hot water distribution systems New outdoor transformer New switchgear room and electrical distribution cabinets for equipment power requirements 2.6 Construction Construction of the project if approved is scheduled to occur in 2017. During project construction, the following key activities will be undertaken: Refurbishment of existing building structure to house new cogeneration and new hot water boiler facilities. Reworking existing services with-in the area and building to suit new requirements. Erection of outside pipe bridge to support distribution pipe headers from new cogeneration/boiler room to main Process building facility. Continuation of pipe headers through the main plant to existing (centrally located) chiller room(s). Installation of all new equipment within Boiler Room and Engine Room Installation of all new equipment within existing Chiller Room(s) 2.7 Operation Operation of the proposed biogas cogeneration facility could be expected to begin Q4 2018. The operational lifespan of the equipment is anticipated to be 20 years. During the operation of the proposed project, on-site activities will be limited to combustion of biogas to generate electricity and hot water, supply of electricity and heat to the facility, and scheduled maintenance of project components. During operation and maintenance of the proposed project, the following key activities will be undertaken: Combustion of biogas to generate electricity and heat Supply of electricity from generators to the site Heat recovery to supply the site Supply of hot water to the site
Supplementing production of chilled water supply to site from use of absorption chillers, to operate prior to other centrifugal chillers on site Preventative and unplanned maintenance of the project components, including fluid changes (lubrication oil and coolant); 2.8 Decommissioning If the project is not extended past its planned commercial operational life, the project will be decommissioned using established processes at the manufacturing site. This includes removal of equipment after all fluids have been removed and the equipment cleaned if necessary. All equipment, including the engines will be removed offsite through our asset recovery group which will determine if the equipment can be reused elsewhere or if it should be sent for salvage. 2.9 Project Phase Scheduling Project design: 2016 Project construction: Q1 2017 to Q3 2018 Project commissioning: Q4 2018 3.0 Description of Potential Environmental Effects 3.1 Archaeological and Heritage Resources The project is located in an industrial setting that is currently being used as an automotive engine and transmission manufacturing facility. The area is paved and has experienced significant ground disturbance during the initial construction and ongoing operation of the site since the 1950s. As per the Consideration of Potential Archaeological Resources checklist no further archeological assessment is required. Completion of the checklist for Consideration of Potential for Heritage Resources has demonstrated no potential impacts and therefore no further assessments are planned at this time. Further discussion with stakeholders will be conducted as part of the REA. 3.2 Natural Heritage The project is located on an industrial property within an industrial area. There are trees adjacent to the property within 50 meters of the project. Although this project will not impact the trees further review and discussions will be conducted as part of the REA. No other natural heritage features have been identified such as: - Wetlands - Provincial parks - Conservation area - Areas of natural and scientific interest (as identified by Ministry of Natural Resources; or - Valley lands
Given the current use of the project location and adjacent areas, no adverse effects on natural heritage resources are anticipated. 3.3 Water Bodies No water bodies are located within 120 m of the Project location. The Welland Canal (St. Lawrence Seaway) waterway is located approximately 126 meters from the project location. 3.4 Air Emissions Emissions associated with the Construction and Decommissioning Phases of the project are limited to products of combustion (including nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter) as a result of vehicle and machinery operation. In general these emissions will be local, temporary and minor and not likely observable based on current patterns of vehicular traffic on the site supporting the delivery and movement of materials across the site. Emissions associated with the operation of the renewable biogas cogeneration project will be limited to by-products of combustion and residual renewable biogas compounds after the combustion of the biogas in the generators. St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant s existing ECA will be amended and a revised ESDM Report will be prepared to demonstrate that the facility complies with all applicable provincial air emission limits. 3.5 Odour No noticeable odours are expected as a result of the construction, operation or decommissioning of this project. No on-site generation of the renewable biogas is occurring at St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant. The project simply ensures renewable biogas received by pipeline is used to generate electricity and hot water for use by GM Canada at St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant. Odours from the operation of diesel trucks during construction will not be significantly different than other ongoing activities at the manufacturing plant. 3.6 Dust No significant increase in particulate emissions are expected as a result of the construction, operation or decommissioning of this project. The proposed project will utilize existing buildings to house the proposed equipment and therefore no significant construction activities are planned. Particulate emissions from the operation of diesel trucks during construction will not be significantly different than other ongoing activities at the manufacturing plant. 3.7 Noise
Noise emissions associated with the Construction and Decommissioning Phases of the project will be as a result of vehicle and machinery operation. In general these noise emissions will be local, temporary and minor and not likely observable based on current patterns of vehicular traffic on the site supporting the delivery and movement of materials across the site. Noise emissions associated with the operation of the renewable biogas cogeneration plant will be assessed and designed to meet the applicable MOECC noise guideline limits. St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant s existing ECA will be amended and a revised Acoustic Assessment Report will be prepared to demonstrate that the facility complies with applicable noise guidelines (NPC-300). 3.8 Local Interests, Land Use, Infrastructure and Resources This project location will be situated within the existing footprint of St. Catharines Glendale Avenue Plant and specifically within an existing structure that will be retrofitted. It is located in an area of general employment which includes industrial zoning. The renewable biogas cogeneration project is bounded by Glendale Avenue to the north, and by St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) property to the east, south, and west. The CNR Railway line runs east-west immediately outside the south boundary of the plant property and is between the plant property and the SLSMC property. The Welland Canal (operated by the SLSMC) runs along the west side of the plant property and separates GM owned land from its nearest neighbouring residential areas located to the west of SLSMC property. 3.9 Areas Protected Under Provincial Plans and Policies This project is located adjacent to the area identified as the Niagara Escarpment. As per the attached drawings (Appendix 2) showing the boundaries of the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area, provided by the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) the facility and project do not fall within the protected area. 3.10 Public Health and Safety No direct effects on public health and safety are anticipated however this project will decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from the site by approximately 5,000 tonnes per year. This project supports the government s objectives to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2030.
Appendix 1 Figure 1. Map displaying the 120m and 300m radius from the project site. The site is represented by the green dot, 120m by the green circle and 300m by the yellow circle.
Appendix 2 Figure 2. Drawings showing the boundaries of the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area, provided by the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC)