DOE/EA-1860 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE RICHLAND CENTER RENEWABLE ENERGY ANAEROBIC DIGESTER- WASTE TO ENERGY PROJECT RICHLAND CENTER, WISCONSIN U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Golden Field Office AUGUST 2011 DOE/EA-1860 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE RICHLAND CENTER RENEWABLE ENERGY ANAEROBIC DIGESTER- WASTE TO ENERGY PROJECT RICHLAND CENTER, WISCONSIN U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Golden Field Office AUGUST 2011 COVER SHEET RESPONSIBLE AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy TITLE: Draft Environmental Assessment for the Richland Center Renewable Energy Anaerobic Digester-Waste to Energy Project (DOE/EA-1860) CONTACT: For more information about this Environmental Assessment (EA), please contact: Melissa Rossiter NEPA Document Manager U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewability Golden Field Office 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3305 Desk Phone: 720-356-1566 Cell Phone: 720-291-1602 Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has provided Federal funding to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) under the State Energy Program (SEP). WEDC is seeking to provide a $3.5 million SEP loan to Richland Center Renewable Energy (RCRE). These funds would be used to purchase equipment for an anaerobic digester located at a new wastewater treatment facility. Before DOE decides whether to authorize WEDC to provide SEP funds to the proposed project, DOE must first complete a review of the proposed project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore, DOE has prepared this draft EA to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed construction and operation of the proposed project and the alternative of not implementing this project (the No-Action Alternative). The proposed wastewater treatment facility is expected to reduce demand on the local publicly owned treatment works (POTW) through reduction of organic loading discharged to the POTW from the dairy industry facilities. The proposed facility would also create a source of renewable energy through capture of methane produced in anaerobic processes as well as provide relief to local farmlands through management of solid waste. Such alternative disposal, treatment, and reuse of the dairy industries’ wastewater would ultimately eliminate land-spreading activities during periods of snow-covered or frozen ground, reducing potential runoff and discharge of nutrients into local waterways. The proposed project would be located on approximately 6 acres of current agriculture land purchased by RCRE. The project would include an approximately 1,190-foot access road, and approximately 7,450 feet of force main pipeline to connect the three dairy facilities to the wastewater treatment facility. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: The public is provided with an opportunity to comment on this Draft EA by sending comments via email and U.S. mail marked to the attention of the NEPA Document Manager listed above. Envelopes and the subject line of emails should be labeled “Richland Center Renewable Energy Draft EA Comments.” Letters and emails should be postmarked or dated, respectively, no later than September 2, 2011. Use of email to submit comments would avoid processing delays associated with delivery of mail to Federal agencies. DOE/EA-1860 iii August 2011 AVAILABILITY: This EA is available for review on the DOE Golden Field Office Reading Room Website, http://www.eere.energy.gov/golden/Reading_Room.aspx, and the DOE NEPA Website, http://www.energy.gov/nepa. DOE/EA-1860 iv August 2011 Acronyms and Abbreviations ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations COD chemical oxygen demand DAF dissolved air flotation dBA decibel on an A-weighted scale, used to approximate the human ear’s response to sound DOE U.S. Department of Energy EA Environmental Assessment EERE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency GHG greenhouse gas GWP global warming potential MMBtu million British thermal units NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NOA Notice of Availability NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service NRHP National Register of Historic Places OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration PMn particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal n micrometers POTW publicly owned treatment works RAS return activated sludge RCRE Richland Center Renewable Energy LLC Recovery Act American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ROI region of influence SEP State Energy Program SWPPP storm water pollution prevention plan USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S.C. United States Code USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service WAS waste activated sludge WDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources WEDC Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation DOE/EA-1860 v August 2011 Contents CONTENTS Section Page 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1  1.1  National Environmental Policy Act and Related Procedures ......................................................... 1  1.2  Background .................................................................................................................................... 1  1.2.1  DOE’s Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................... 3  1.2.2  State of Wisconsin’s Purpose and Need .................................................................................... 4  1.3  Public and Agency Involvement .................................................................................................... 4  1.3.1  Public Scoping ........................................................................................................................... 4  1.3.2  Consultations ............................................................................................................................. 5  1.3.3  Draft Environmental Assessment .............................................................................................. 5  2. PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................. 7  2.1  DOE’s Proposed Action ................................................................................................................. 7  2.2  Proposed Project ............................................................................................................................. 7  2.2.1  Project Location and Site Plan .................................................................................................. 8  2.2.2  Project Technology and Process Description ............................................................................ 8  2.2.2.1  Force Main Conveyance ....................................................................................................... 8  2.2.2.2  Anaerobic Treatment .......................................................................................................... 11  2.2.2.3  Membrane Filtration ........................................................................................................... 12  2.2.2.4  Biogas Collection and Purification ..................................................................................... 12  2.2.2.5  Electrical Generation .......................................................................................................... 12  2.2.2.6  Aerobic Treatment .............................................................................................................. 13  2.2.2.7  Solids-Liquid Separation .................................................................................................... 13  2.2.2.8  Sludge Storage and Dewatering ......................................................................................... 13  2.2.3  Construction ............................................................................................................................ 14  2.2.3.1  Facility Construction .......................................................................................................... 14  2.2.3.2  Pipeline Construction and River Crossing .......................................................................... 15  2.2.4  Operations ............................................................................................................................... 16  2.2.4.1  Feedstock Availability ........................................................................................................ 17  2.2.4.2  Permits, Approvals and Applicant Committed Measures................................................... 17  2.3  No-Action Alternative .................................................................................................................. 18  3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ......................... 19  3.1  No-Action Alternative .................................................................................................................. 19  3.2  Environmental Resource Areas Not Carried Forward for Further Analysis ................................ 19  3.2.1  Water Resources – Groundwater ............................................................................................. 19  3.2.2  Intentional Destructive Acts .................................................................................................... 19  3.2.3  Decommissioning .................................................................................................................... 20  3.3  Considerations Carried Forward for Further Analysis ................................................................. 20  3.3.1  Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 20  3.3.1.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 20  3.3.1.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 20  3.3.2  Noise ........................................................................................................................................ 21  3.3.2.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 21  3.3.2.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 22  3.3.3  Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................ 23  3.3.3.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 23  3.3.3.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 24  3.3.4  Odor ......................................................................................................................................... 25  3.3.4.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 25  DOE/EA-1860 vi August 2011 Contents 3.3.4.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 25  3.3.5  Air Quality and Meteorology .................................................................................................. 26  3.3.5.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 26  3.3.5.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 27  3.3.6  Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................... 31  3.3.6.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 31  3.3.6.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 32  3.3.7  Water Resources ...................................................................................................................... 32  3.3.7.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 32  3.3.7.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 33  3.3.8  Biological Resources ............................................................................................................... 36  3.3.8.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 36  3.3.8.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 40  3.3.9  Historic and Cultural Resources .............................................................................................. 41  3.3.9.1  Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 41  3.3.9.2  Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 43  3.3.10  Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................... 46  3.3.10.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 46  3.3.10.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ....................................................... 46  3.3.11  Waste Management and Hazardous Materials ........................................................................ 47  3.3.11.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 47  3.3.11.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 48  3.3.12  Transportation and Traffic ....................................................................................................... 50  3.3.12.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 50  3.3.12.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 52  3.3.13  Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ........................................................................... 56  3.3.13.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 56  3.3.13.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 57  3.3.14  Human Health and Safety ........................................................................................................ 57  3.3.14.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 57  3.3.14.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 58  3.4  Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ............................................................ 59  3.5  Unavoidable Adverse Impacts ..................................................................................................... 59  3.6  The Relationship Between Local Short-Term Uses of the Human Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity ....................................................... 60  4. CUMULATIVE Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 61  4.1  Reasonably Foreseeable Actions .................................................................................................. 61  4.2  Summary of Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................. 62  5. REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 65  LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2-1  Alternative Pipeline Routes Showing Potential Disturbance Through Various Surface Media ................................................................................................................................................ 16  2-2  Products and Resources Required for Treating 1.27 million gallons of Daily Wastewater .............. 17  2-3  Permits, Regulations, and Applicant-Committed Measures ............................................................. 18  3-1  Common Noise Levels ...................................................................................................................... 21  3-2  Zoning Districts Corresponding to Features of the Proposed Project ............................................... 24  DOE/EA-1860 vii August 2011 Contents 3-3  National Ambient Air Quality Standards .......................................................................................... 26  3-4  Air Emissions Reported for Richland County, Wisconsin, for Calendar Year 2005 ........................ 27  3-5  Potential Air Emissions from the RCRE Facility .............................................................................. 28  3-6  Estimated Greenhouse Gas Generated and Captured as Biogas at the RCRE Facility ..................... 29  3-7  Estimated Greenhouse Gas Generated and Captured as Biogas at the RCRE Facility ..................... 30  3-8  Federally Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species in Richland County, Wisconsin............ 38  3-9  State-Protected Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species in Richland County, Wisconsin .......................................................................................................................................... 40  3-10  Maximum Quantity of Chemicals stored Onsite ............................................................................... 49  3-11  Current Number of Round Trips by Truck for Pickup and Removal of Wastewater ........................ 52  3-12  Population and Trends ....................................................................................................................... 56  3-13  Regional Employment and Income Statistics 2005 through 2009 .................................................... 56  3-14  Regional Minority Population and Poverty Levels from 2005 through 2009 ................................... 57  LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1-1 Project Location Map .......................................................................................................................... 2 2-1 Wastewater Treatment Facility Process Schematic............................................................................. 9 2-2 RCRE Wastewater Treatment Facility location and Alternative Pipeline Routes ............................ 10 2-3 Proposed Site Layout of Wastewater Facility ................................................................................... 15 3-1 Wetlands in Relation to the RCRE Wastewater Treatment Facility and Pipeline Routes ................ 34 3-2 Wastewater Treatment Facility Site Plan and Floodplain Location .................................................. 35 3-3 Project Location and Identification of NRHP Sites in the Vicinity of the Proposed Project ............ 44 3-4 Aerial Overview of Wastewater Treatment Facility Location .......................................................... 45 3-5 2009 Average Annual Daily Traffic Counts in the Project ............................................................... 53 3-6 Potential Truck Routes for Feedstock Delivery and Sludge Removal .............................................. 55 APPENDICES Appendix A: Public Scoping Material Appendix B: Agency Correspondence Appendix C: Wetlands Report DOE/EA-1860 viii August 2011 Introduction 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 National Environmental Policy Act and Related Procedures The National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) NEPA regulations [40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500 to 1508], and the DOE NEPA implementing regulations (10 CFR Part 1021) require that DOE consider the potential environmental impacts of a Proposed Action before making a decision to implement it. This requirement applies to decisions about whether to provide different types of Federal financial assistance to States and private entities. In compliance with these regulations, this Environmental Assessment:  Examines the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No-Action Alternative;  Identifies unavoidable adverse environmental impacts of the Proposed Action;  Evaluates the potential individual and cumulative, direct and indirect impacts of the Proposed Action;  Describes the relationship between local short-term uses of the human environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity; and  Characterizes any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved should DOE decide to implement its Proposed Action. DOE must meet these requirements before it can make a final decision to proceed with any proposed Federal action that could cause significant impacts to human health or the environment. This EA provides DOE and other decision-makers the information needed to make an informed decision about the construction and operation of the proposed project. The EA evaluates the potential individual and cumulative impacts of the proposed project. For purposes of comparison, this EA also evaluates the impacts that could occur, if DOE did not provide funding (the No-Action Alternative), under which DOE assumes the project would not proceed. The EA does not analyze other action alternatives. A portion of the proposed wastewater treatment facility is within a 100-year floodplain; therefore, this EA includes a floodplain assessment. However, the proposed project would not affect wetlands. This EA describes how DOE considered and evaluated these features of the natural environment in accordance with requirements of Executive Orders 11988, Floodplain Management, and 11990, Protection of Wetlands, and DOE’s implementing procedures in 10 CFR Part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review Requirements. 1.2 Background The Richland Center Renewable Energy Project (RCRE), a collaborated effort by Foremost Farms USA and Schreiber Foods, is proposing to purchase an anaerobic digester for a new wastewater treatment facility it is constructing just outside the city limits of Richland Center in Richland County, Wisconsin. The proposed project would be located on approximately 6 acres of current agricultural land purchased by RCRE and would include an approximately 1,190-foot long access road and approximately 7,450 feet of force main pipeline to connect the three dairy facilities to the wastewater treatment facility (Figure 1-1). DOE/EA-1860 1 August 2011 Introduction Figure 1-1. Project Location Map DOE/EA-1860 2 August 2011