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!
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20053
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.
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20054
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20056
PROJECT PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Introduction of Excelsior representatives
Project description Site selection & ongoing
investigations Permitting activities Development schedule Excelsior outreach
efforts
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20057
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.)
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20058
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)
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/20059
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200510
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200511
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200512
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200513
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200514
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.
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200515
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.
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200516
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200517
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200518
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200520
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
Mesaba Energy Project Public Scoping Meeting 10/25/200521
DUE DATE FOR COMMENTS
NOVEMBER 14TH
SEND COMMENTS TO:
Richard Hargis
U.S. DOE/NETL
PO BOX 10940
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
1-888-322-7436, x6065