80 FR 22978 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Schofield Generating Station Project, United States Army Garrison, Hawaii

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 79 (April 24, 2015)

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed lease of land and granting of easements on Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield to Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaiian Electric) for the construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of a 50-megawatt (MW) capacity, biofuel-capable power generation plant, referred to as the Schofield Generating Station, and associated power poles, high- tension power lines, and related equipment and facilities. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DEIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with construction and operation of the Schofield Generating Station and associated infrastructure. The Army has determined that there are historic properties nearby, but that the undertaking will have no effect upon them as defined in 36 CFR 800.16(i). The Draft EIS documents this finding and it is now being made available for public review. The Draft EIS comment process is also an opportunity for public to provide input about the effects of the proposed actions on historic property, for consideration in Army decision making.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22978-22979]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09518]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Schofield Generating 
Station Project, United States Army Garrison, Hawaii

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed lease of 
land and granting of easements on Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army 
Airfield to Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaiian Electric) for the 
construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of a 50-megawatt 
(MW) capacity, biofuel-capable power generation plant, referred to as 
the Schofield Generating Station, and associated power poles, high-
tension power lines, and related equipment and facilities. In 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DEIS 
analyzes the environmental impacts associated with construction and 
operation of the Schofield Generating Station and associated 
infrastructure. The Army has determined that there are historic 
properties nearby, but that the undertaking will have no effect upon 
them as defined in 36 CFR 800.16(i). The Draft EIS documents this 
finding and it is now being made available for public review. The Draft 
EIS comment process is also an opportunity for public to provide input 
about the effects of the proposed actions on historic property, for 
consideration in Army decision making.

DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of 
the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments by mail to the Department of 
the Army, Directorate of Public Works, United States Army Garrison, 
Hawaii, ATTN: IMHW-PWE (L. Graham), 947 Wright Avenue, Wheeler Army 
Airfield, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857-5013; or by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information please contact 
Ms. Lisa Graham, NEPA Coordinator, U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii. Ms. 
Graham can be reached by phone at (808) 656-3075, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action, referred to as the 
Schofield Generating Station Project (SGSP), consists of:
    (1) The Army's lease of 8.13 acres of land and the related granting 
of a 2.5-acre interconnection easement on Schofield Barracks and 
Wheeler Army Airfield to Hawaiian Electric to construct, operate, and 
maintain a 50-MW capacity renewable energy power plant to include 
associated power poles, high-tension power lines, and related equipment 
and facilities.
    (2) The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources 
granting of a 1.28-acre easement and a 0.7-acre conservation district 
authorization to Hawaiian Electric allowing for the construction of a 
46 kilovolt (kV) electrical power transmission line between the SGSP 
site and the existing Wahiawa Substation.
    (3) Hawaiian Electric's construction, ownership, operation, and 
maintenance of a 50 MW capacity, biofuel-capable power generation plant 
and 46 kV sub-transmission line required to connect the Schofield 
Generating Station to the Hawaiian Electric grid.

[[Page 22979]]

    The primary purpose of the Proposed Action is two-fold: to provide 
improved energy security to the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii at Schofield 
Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Field Station Kunia and to provide 
new secure, firm, flexible, and renewable energy generation to the grid 
on Oahu, Hawaii.
    The need for the Proposed Action are to increase energy security 
for the Army and Oahu; assist the Army in supporting renewable energy-
related laws and Executive Orders and meeting its renewable energy 
goals; assist Hawaiian Electric in meeting the Hawaii Renewable 
Portfolio Standard goals; and improve future electrical generation on 
Oahu.
    The electricity produced by the SGSP would normally supply power to 
all Hawaiian Electric customers through the island-wide electrical 
grid. During outages that meet the criteria specified in the Operating 
Agreement, SGSP output would first be provided to Army facilities at 
Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Field Station Kunia up 
to their peak demand of 32 MW, to meet their missions, and would 
additionally support the grid up to the station's full capacity. If 
there were a full island outage, the power plant could be used to 
restart other plants on the island.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the Army would not lease the 
property or grant the easement and Hawaiian Electric would not 
construct and operate the SGSP.
    The DEIS evaluates the impacts on land use; airspace use; visual 
resources; air quality, including climate and greenhouse gasses; noise; 
traffic and transportation; water resources; geology and soils; 
biological resources; cultural resources; hazardous and toxic 
substances; socioeconomics, including environmental justice; and 
utilities and infrastructure.
    Impacts were assessed assuming full-time operation of the 
generating facility (24 hours a day, 365 days a year). Under normal 
conditions, the facility would likely operate less than full-time, so 
projected impacts could be less.
    Anticipated impacts would be less than significant for all 
resources. All activities would fall within existing regulations, 
permits, and plans. Best management practices and design measures that 
would avoid or minimize adverse effects would be implemented for these 
resources: visual, air quality, noise, traffic and transportation, 
water, geology and soils, biological resources, cultural resources, and 
hazardous and toxic substances.
    All government agencies, special interest groups, and individuals 
are invited to attend the public meetings and/or submit their comments 
in writing. Information on the dates, times, and locations of the 
public meetings will be published locally.
    The DEIS is available for review at the Sergeant Rodney J. Yano 
Main Library (on Schofield Barracks); Fort Shafter Library; Wahiawa 
Public Library; Mililani Public Library; Waialua Public Library; 
University of Hawaii libraries including Thomas H. Hamilton Library, 
Edwin H. Mookini Library, Maui College Library, and Kauai Community 
College Library; Hawaii State libraries including Kaimuki Regional 
Library, Kaneohe Regional Library, Pearl City Regional Library, Hawaii 
Kai Regional Library, Hilo Regional Library, Kahului Regional Library, 
and Lihue Regional Library, and the Hawaii State Library Documents 
Center; the Legislative Reference Bureau Library; and the City and 
County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services Municipal Library. 
The DEIS can also be viewed at the following Web site: http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/schofieldplant.

Brenda S Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-09518 Filed 4-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3710-08-P