Notice2024-29976
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), (DOE/EIS-0569)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 18, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable NEPA implementing regulations to assess the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action of providing financial assistance to Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) to facilitate the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (also referred to as the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub or ARCH2) in the Appalachian Region including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. DOE is issuing this Notice of Intent to inform the public about the proposed action; announce plans to conduct public scoping meetings; invite public participation in the scoping process; and solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope of the EIS, including the range of reasonable alternatives and the potential environmental impacts to be analyzed.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 102872-102874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29976]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), (DOE/EIS-0569)
AGENCY: Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement,
notice of scoping meetings, request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable NEPA
implementing regulations to assess the potential environmental impacts
of the proposed action of providing financial assistance to Battelle
Memorial Institute (Battelle) to facilitate the design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (also
referred to as the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub or ARCH2) in
the Appalachian Region including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
DOE is issuing this Notice of Intent to inform the public about the
proposed action; announce plans to conduct public scoping meetings;
invite public participation in the scoping process; and solicit public
comments for consideration in establishing the scope of the EIS,
including the range of reasonable alternatives and the potential
environmental impacts to be analyzed.
DATES: The public scoping period for the EIS starts with the
publication of this notice of intent (NOI) and ends on March 3, 2025.
DOE will hold one virtual public scoping meeting at the following date
and time (eastern time):
<bullet> Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
DOE will hold three in-person public scoping meetings. Dates,
times, and locations are to be determined and will be shared on the
DOE's web page for this EIS no less than 15 days before the meetings.
All meetings are open to the public and free to attend. Details on
how to participate in the virtual and in-person public scoping meetings
are available on the DOE's web page for this EIS: <a href="https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0569-appalachian-hydrogen-hub-multiple-locations">https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0569-appalachian-hydrogen-hub-multiple-locations</a>. In defining the scope of the EIS, DOE will consider all
scoping comments received or postmarked by March 3, 2025. Comments
received or postmarked after the scoping period end date will be
considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Oral or written comments may be provided at the public
scoping meetings or submitted in any of the following ways:
<bullet> Through the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> web portal: Navigate to
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket No. DOE-HQ-2024-0082 and
follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery Service: Send comments in an
envelope labeled ``DOE/EIS-0569'' and addressed to TRC APPALACHIAN
HYDROGEN HUB Coordinator, Teays Corporate Centre, 135 Corporate Center
Drive, Suite 540, Scott Depot, West Virginia 25560
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Moore, Project Manager, Office
of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20585, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3ece0e6e7fce2f1e0eb91fce6eaf0e3cbd28dc7ccc68dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b24282e2f342a39282359342e22382b031a450f040e450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>, or telephone (202) 309-2037.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly known as
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Congress directed DOE to
establish a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program to create
regional networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local
connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a clean
energy carrier. The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) within
DOE is implementing the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program and will
use the NEPA process to help it decide whether to provide financial
assistance for the H2Hubs.
Congress directed DOE to select H2Hubs using certain criteria.
Specifically, Congress directed DOE to select H2Hubs that will use a
diversity of feedstocks to produce clean hydrogen, including at least
one H2Hub that will demonstrate the production of clean hydrogen from
fossil fuels, one H2Hub that will demonstrate the production of clean
hydrogen from renewables, and one H2Hub that will demonstrate the
production of clean hydrogen from nuclear energy. Congress also
directed DOE to select H2Hubs that will use clean hydrogen in a
diversity of end uses, including at least one H2Hub that will
demonstrate the use of clean hydrogen in the following sectors:
electric power generation, industrial, residential and commercial
heating, and transportation. Congress required that DOE give priority
to H2Hubs that are likely to create opportunities for skilled training
and long-term employment to the greatest number of residents of the
region. Congress also directed DOE to include geographic diversity,
directing that DOE locate H2Hubs in different regions of the United
States, and that the H2Hubs are to use the energy resources that are
abundant in their respective regions. Congress further required DOE to
select, to the maximum extent practicable, at least two H2Hubs in the
regions of the United States with the greatest natural gas resources.
DOE issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA-0002779) to
solicit applications for H2Hubs. DOE selected the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub for award negotiations following a rigorous Merit Review process to
identify meritorious applications to the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
Program based on the criteria listed in FOA-0002779. DOE has provided
limited funding in support of preliminary Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
planning activities.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, as proposed, satisfies certain
criteria Congress required in the BIL for the Regional Clean Hydrogen
Hubs program. The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub has the potential to
demonstrate the production of clean hydrogen from fossil fuels. The
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub proposes to use clean hydrogen in a diversity
of end uses, including but not limited to industry, power generation,
and transportation. Further, the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would create
opportunities for skilled training and long-term employment for
residents of the region. In addition, the location of the Appalachian
Hydrogen Hub in the Appalachian Region that includes Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia meets the criterion requiring
geographic diversity within the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub also satisfies the criterion that DOE
select a Hub in a region of the United States with the greatest natural
gas resources.
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is proposed to consist of a suite of
demonstration projects involving clean hydrogen production,
transportation, and end uses located within the Appalachian Region that
includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Battelle is the primary
funding recipient and lead Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
[[Page 102873]]
manager. As currently structured, the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
encompasses 12 proposed projects, including hydrogen production
facilities that could produce at least 1,700 metric tons per day of
clean hydrogen (autothermal reformation facilities with carbon capture,
biomass pyrolysis facilities, electrolysis facilities, and facilities
for recovering hydrogen from waste gases), hydrogen liquefiers, and a
range of end uses including residential fuel cells, materials handling
equipment, mobility, and industrial uses, including production of
ammonia, urea, and low-carbon aviation fuel.
Purpose and Scope of the EIS
DOE will prepare an EIS (DOE/EIS-0569) to evaluate the potential
impacts to the human environment associated with funding the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub. The EIS will evaluate the potential impacts
associated with the types of hydrogen infrastructure and technologies
proposed in the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, such as impacts from
electricity and water usage and rates of emissions, that are inherent
to the technologies and infrastructure regardless of where they may be
deployed. The EIS will help inform DOE's decision as to whether to
carry the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub forward for project-specific funding
decisions but will not directly authorize funding for specific
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub projects.
If DOE decides to provide funding for the construction and
operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, DOE will complete additional
NEPA reviews to evaluate the potential site-specific impacts of
individual proposed projects to make site-specific funding decisions.
In addition to being subject to DOE's NEPA review, with associated
public scoping and comment periods as appropriate, individual projects
will be required to adhere to the requirements of all applicable
Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose and need for DOE's action is to comply with its
statutory mandate in BIL to catalyze investment in the production,
processing, delivery, storage, and end-use of clean hydrogen; and
contribute to the development of a national clean hydrogen network. The
proposed action of funding the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would fulfill
this mandate by accelerating the deployment of clean hydrogen
technologies and enabling infrastructure to attract greater investments
from the private sector and promote substantial U.S. manufacturing of
numerous hydrogen technologies.
DOE's purpose and need in funding the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub also
includes funding a clean hydrogen hub that meets certain BIL criteria
for the H2Hubs. The proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub meets these
criteria by:
<bullet> Demonstrating feedstock diversity by including the
production of clean hydrogen from fossil fuels.
<bullet> Demonstrating end use diversity by including the use of
clean hydrogen in the electric power generation, industry, and
transportation sectors.
<bullet> Enabling DOE to meet the geographic diversity criterion by
being located in the Appalachian Region and using energy resources that
are abundant in that region.
<bullet> Being one of at least two H2Hubs located in regions of the
United States with the greatest natural gas resources.
<bullet> Creating opportunities for skilled training and long-term
employment for residents in the region.
Proposed Action, No Action, and Preliminary Alternatives
Proposed Action
DOE's proposed action is to provide funding to support the
construction and operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, as proposed
by Battelle, in the Appalachian region that includes Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
would include the production, storage, delivery, and end-use of clean
hydrogen using a variety of technologies. Hydrogen production
technologies being considered include autothermal reforming with carbon
capture, electrolysis, pyrolysis, and capture and purification of
hydrogen byproduct from chlor-alkali processes. Methods of hydrogen
storage may include above-ground tanks, tube trailers, and/or
underground storage. Delivery options may include refueling stations,
liquefaction, and trucking, as well as the delivery of hydrogen
derivatives such as ammonia, urea, or low-carbon aviation fuel which
could include delivery via rail, barge, truck, or pipeline. The
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is considering a broad variety of end-use
applications, including vehicles (buses, medium and heavy-duty trucks),
materials handling equipment, industrial heat, blending to natural gas
distribution systems, power generation, stationary fuel cells, and
production of hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia, urea, and low-
carbon aviation fuel. Appalachian Hydrogen Hub projects and site
locations are in development. DOE will evaluate specific projects and
site locations in subsequent tiered NEPA reviews.
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, DOE would not provide funding to
Battelle for the construction and operation of the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub, with the assumption that the H2Hub would not be developed. The no
action alternative provides a benchmark for comparison with
environmental impacts of the other alternatives.
Preliminary Action Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically
and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action. Preliminarily, DOE has identified three alternatives
that potentially address the purpose and need stated above:
(1) DOE funding for the proposed Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: The
proposed action alternative as described above.
(2) DOE funding for an expanded Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: An action
alternative that considers the hydrogen technologies and infrastructure
in the proposed action plus reasonably foreseeable clean hydrogen
technologies and infrastructure that, while not currently considered in
the proposed action, could be proposed for DOE funding.
(3) DOE funding for a reduced Appalachian Hydrogen Hub: An action
alternative that is smaller in scope wherein DOE would fund only a
portion of the proposed action.
Summary of Potential Impacts
DOE's analysis in the EIS will focus on potentially significant
environmental impacts from construction and operation of the
Appalachian Hydrogen Hub's proposed types of hydrogen technologies and
infrastructure, as well as the potential cumulative impacts resulting
from reasonably foreseeable past, present, and future projects in the
same region. Accordingly, in the EIS, DOE anticipates evaluating
potential non-site-specific impacts related to: (1) land use and
infrastructure, (2) atmospheric conditions and air quality, (3) climate
change and greenhouse gasses, (4) hydrologic conditions and water
quality, (5) geology, seismicity and soils, (6) socioeconomic
conditions, (7) environmental justice, (8) energy resources, (9) noise
and vibration, (10) transportation and accidents, (11) intentional
destructive acts, and (12) human health and safety. This list is not
intended to be all-inclusive or to imply a predetermination of
potential
[[Page 102874]]
significant impacts. DOE invites interested stakeholders to suggest
specific issues, including possible mitigation measures, within these
general categories or others, to be considered in the EIS.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
DOE does not anticipate that permits and authorizations will be
needed for agency action because the EIS would not authorize the
construction and operation of any project in the Appalachian Hydrogen
Hub. The permits and authorizations required for the Appalachian
Hydrogen Hub projects would be identified in subsequent site-specific
NEPA analyses for those projects.
Schedule for Decision-Making Process
After the draft EIS is completed, DOE will publish a notice of
availability (NOA) and request public comments on the draft EIS. DOE
currently expects to issue the NOA in October 2025. After the public
comment period ends, DOE will review and respond to comments received
and will develop the final EIS. DOE currently expects to make the final
EIS available to the public in April 2026. A record of decision will be
completed no sooner than 30 days after the final EIS is released, in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Scoping Process
This NOI commences the public scoping process to identify issues
and potential alternatives for consideration in the EIS. Throughout the
scoping process, Federal agencies, Tribes, State and local governments,
and the public have the opportunity to help DOE identify significant
resources and issues, reasonable alternatives, mitigation measures, and
other pertinent information that DOE should consider in the EIS. DOE
will hold public scoping meetings at the times and dates described
above under the DATES section. DOE will post information on how to
participate in the virtual and in-person public meetings on the EIS
website listed previously, in advance of the meetings. The public will
have the opportunity to comment on the scope of the EIS. DOE
representatives will be available to answer questions and provide
additional information on the NEPA process to meeting attendees. In
addition to providing comments at the public scoping meetings,
stakeholders may submit written comments as described in the ADDRESSES
section.
Comments may be broad in nature or restricted to specific areas of
concern, but they should be directly relevant to the NEPA process, or
potential environmental impacts. The scoping process allows the public
and interested parties to shape the EIS impact analysis, focusing on
the areas of greatest importance and identifying areas requiring less
attention. DOE will consider the comments received on the scope of the
EIS during the 75-day scoping period as it prepares the draft EIS.
OCED does not consider anonymous scoping comments. Please include
your name and address as part of your scoping comment. All scoping
comments, including the names, addresses, and other personally
identifiable information included in the comment, will be part of the
administrative record. DOE will protect privileged or confidential
information that you submit when required by Exemption 4 of the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA), which applies to trade secrets and
commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential.
Please label privileged or confidential information ``Contains
Confidential Information'' and consider submitting such information as
a separate attachment. Information that is not labeled as privileged or
confidential may be regarded by DOE as suitable for public release. DOE
will invite Tribal government-to-government consultations.
Request for Comment on Alternatives and Effects, as Well as on Relevant
Information, Studies, or Analyses With Respect to the Proposed Action
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by
the proposed action, are invited to participate in the scoping process
and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the DOE to participate
in the development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating
agency. DOE requests data, comments, views, information, analysis,
alternatives, or suggestions relevant to the proposed action from the
public; affected Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments,
agencies, and offices; the scientific community; industry; or any other
interested party.
Specifically, DOE requests information on the following topics:
(1) Potential effects that the proposed action could have on
biological, physical, socioeconomic, cultural, or other resources.
(2) Other potential reasonable alternatives to the proposed action
that DOE should consider, including additional or alternative
avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
(3) Information on other current or planned activities in, or in
the vicinity of, the proposed action, that could impact one another or
contribute to cumulative impacts.
(4) Other information, studies, or analyses relevant to the
proposed action and its impacts on the human environment.
To promote informed decision-making, comments should be as specific
as possible and should provide as much detail as necessary to
meaningfully and fully inform DOE of why the issues raised are
important to the agency's review of the proposed action.
The draft EIS will include as an appendix a summary of issues
raised in public scoping comments that DOE considered in preparing the
EIS and comments outside the scope of the analysis.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December
11, 2024, by Kelly Cummins, Acting Director, Office of Clean Energy
Demonstrations, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of
Energy. That document with the original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-29976 Filed 12-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 18, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.