80 FR 68863 - Final 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 215 (November 6, 2015)

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 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 generating station, 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 FEIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with construction and operation of the Schofield Generating Station and associated infrastructure.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68863-68864]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28223]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


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

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 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 generating station, 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 FEIS analyzes the 
environmental impacts associated with construction and operation of the

[[Page 68864]]

Schofield Generating Station and associated infrastructure.

DATES: No decision will be made until 30 days after publication of the 
NOA in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the FEIS may be obtained by contacting: 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, Hawaii 96857-5013; or by email to 
[email protected].
    The FEIS can also be viewed at the following Web site: http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/schofieldplant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 generating station 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 generating station and 
46 kV sub-transmission line required to connect the Schofield 
Generating Station to the Hawaiian Electric grid.
    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 needs 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 between the Army and Hawaiian Electric, 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 
generating station could be used to restart other generating stations 
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 FEIS 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.
    Comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) are addressed in the FEIS. Changes made to the text of the DEIS 
include minor additions and edits only. No substantive changes to the 
alternatives considered or the findings of the impact analysis were 
required or made.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-28223 Filed 11-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P