Notice2022-10035
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon Project, Columbia County, Oregon
Primary source
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Published
May 10, 2022
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentEngineers Corps
Abstract
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps), has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit (Corps number NWP-2020-383) from NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon, LLC to construct a facility to produce renewable fuels. The Corps, as the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has determined the proposed project may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). The Corps' action will be to issue, issue with modifications, or deny a DA permit for the proposed project. The EIS will assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of the proposed project.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27991-27992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10035]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon Project, Columbia County, Oregon
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps),
has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit
(Corps number NWP-2020-383) from NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon, LLC to
construct a facility to produce renewable fuels. The Corps, as the lead
agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has
determined the proposed project may significantly affect the quality of
the human environment and will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS). The Corps' action will be to issue, issue with
modifications, or deny a DA permit for the proposed project. The EIS
will assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts
of the proposed project.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the proposed EIS scope should be
submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Attn:
Ms. Kate Mott, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Individuals
who would like to provide comments electronically should submit
comments by email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bad4dfc2cedfd3c9facfc9dbd9df94dbc8d7c394d7d3d6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ff1fae7ebfaf6ecdfeaecfefcfab1feedf2e6b1f2f6f3">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this project or
to be included on the mailing list for future updates and meeting
announcements, contact Ms. Kate Mott at the Corps by telephone at (503)
808-4041, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f698938e82939f85b68385979593d897849b8fd89b9f9a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e08e859894858993a09593818385ce81928d99ce8d898c">[email protected]</span></a>, or by mail at the mailing
address provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps intends to prepare an EIS for the
proposed NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon project. The proposed project
requires authorization from the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) for the discharge of dredged or fill
material into waters of the United States. As part of the DA permit
application process, the Corps issued a public notice on November 5,
2021. The purpose of the public notice was to initiate an early public
scoping process to solicit comments and information from the public to
identify relevant issues and concerns associated with the proposed
project. All comments received to date, including those provided for
review during the public notice comment period, will be considered by
the Corps during preparation of the EIS.
1. Proposed Action. The project requiring an EIS involves the
construction of the proposed NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon facility. The
purpose of the project is to produce renewable fuels for markets on the
west
[[Page 27992]]
coast of the United States to meet the demand for fuels that are
mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard Program or other state mandates
that require low-carbon fuels. The project would permanently fill
117.64 acres of wetlands and 1.79 acres of other waterways (ditches and
slough) to construct a renewable fuels facility and ancillary
components. The project would temporarily fill 32.03 acres of wetlands
and 0.02 acres of waterways for project construction and a staging
area.
The proposed project facility would be capable of producing 50,000
barrels per day of renewable diesel and other renewable fuel products.
The production process would produce renewable fuels from a range of
feedstocks such as various vegetable oils, used cooking oil, animal
tallow, and inedible corn oil. The proposed facility and ancillary
components constructed in wetlands/waterways would include: Main access
road; natural gas pipeline; rail spur, ladder tracks, and rail spur
access road; four new pipelines to connect with pipelines to an
existing wharf; ten large product and feedstock tanks (125,000 to
225,000 barrels each); eleven smaller feedstock and process tanks
(10,000 to 50,000 barrels each); pre-treatment plant; hydrogen
facility; Ecofining<SUP>TM</SUP> units; storm and process water system;
office/administration buildings/laboratory; and site landscaping and
fencing.
The facility would be constructed by grading and filling the site.
The overall final grade would be approximately 3 ft. above the existing
grade. Fill material would consist of soil and aggregate imported from
a local source. Facility components would be supported with pile
foundations by installing approximately 15,200, 16-inch steel piles
that are 90 ft. long (each) driven by a vibratory hammer. Facility
components would also be supported with ground improvement foundations
by wet soil mixing known as the Deep Mixing Method to construct
concrete piles. Typical construction methods would be utilized for the
stripping, grading, road construction, installation of underground
utilities, stormwater, and processed water systems.
The project would rely on transportation by water, railroad and
road to receive materials used in production (feedstock oils, tallows,
bleaching earth) and to ship renewable fuels produced from the
facility. The project would require unloading up to 118 barges per year
(approximately 10 per month) to receive feedstock materials and require
loading up to 58 ocean going vessels per year (approximately 5 per
month) to transport renewable diesel produced from the facility to
market. The project would require loading and unloading up to 208
trains per year (approximately 17 per month) to receive materials used
in production (feedstock and bleaching earth) and to transport
renewable diesel produced from the facility to market. The project
would also require loading up to 720 trucks per year (approximately 60
per month) to transport renewable diesel produced from the facility to
market.
The project includes a proposed compensatory mitigation site. The
compensatory mitigation would enhance 471.08 acres of wetlands that are
currently used for agriculture and silviculture.
2. Location. The project site is located at the Port Westward
Industrial Park near Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon. The site is
in Section 22, Township 8 North, Range 4 West at Latitude and
Longitude: 46.167233[deg], -123.16195[deg].
3. Alternatives. The EIS will address an array of alternatives.
Alternatives may include, but are not limited to, no action,
alternative sites, and alternative facility designs. Mitigation
measures could include, but are not limited to, avoidance and
minimization, enhancement, restoration or establishment of wetlands.
4. Scoping Process. The scoping period will continue for 30 days
from the date of this Notice of Intent. During the scoping period, the
Corps invites federal, state, and local agencies, Native American
Tribes, other interested parties, and the general public to participate
in the scoping process. The purpose of the scoping process is to
provide information to the public, serve as a mechanism to solicit
agency and public input on alternatives, identify significant issues to
be analyzed in the EIS, and ensure full and open participation in
scoping for the draft EIS. Scoping comments may be submitted by
conventional mail or email. All comments must include the Corps number
NWP-2020-383. In order to be accepted, email comments must originate
from the author's email account. All comments received will become part
of the administrative record and are subject to public release under
the Freedom of Information Act including any personally identifiable
information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses. Additional
information on the project and scoping process are available on the
Corps' website listed below.
5. Scoping Meetings. The Corps will conduct virtual public scoping
meetings during the 30-day scoping period in which agencies,
organizations, and members of the general public are invited to present
comments or suggestions with regard to the range of actions,
alternatives, and potential impacts to be considered in the EIS. The
specific dates and times of the meetings will be published in press
releases, special public notices and on the Corps' project website
(<a href="https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/">https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/</a>). At the Corps'
website under Regulatory Pages, select Environmental Impact Statements.
5. Availability of the Draft EIS. The draft EIS is estimated to be
available for public review and comment in early 2023. At that time, a
45-day public review period will be provided for public review and
comment on the draft EIS.
Approved by:
Frances E. Coffey,
Director, Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-10035 Filed 5-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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