FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR A COMBINED POWER AND BIOMASS HEATING SYSTEM FORT YUKON, ALASKA U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy GOLDEN FIELD OFFICE In Cooperation with USDA RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE DENALI COMMISSION APRIL 2013 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADEC Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation NEPA National Environmental Policy Act AFRPA Alaska Forest Resources Practices NFS Act Non‐Frost Susceptible BFE Base Flood Elevation NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service BMP best management practice NO2 nitrogen dioxide BTU British Thermal Unit NOX nitrogen oxide CATG Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments NPDES National Pollutant Discharge CEQ Council on Environmental Quality Elimination System CFR Code of Federal Regulations O3 Ozone CHP Combined Heat and Power OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration CO carbon monoxide Pb Lead CO2 carbon dioxide PM2.5 particulate Matter equal to or less CWA Clean Water Act than 2.5 microns in diameter dBA A-weighted decibel PM10 particulate Matter equal to or less than 10 microns in diameter DBH diameter at breast height ppb parts per billion DOE U.S. Department of Energy ppm parts per million EA Environmental Assessment PSD Prevention of Significant EFH Essential Fish Habitat Deterioration EO Executive Order RCA Regulatory Commission of Alaska Degrees Fahrenheit °F SO2 sulfur dioxide FEMA Federal Emergency Management SPCC Spill Prevention, Control, and Agency Countermeasure FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact SWPPP Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan GHG greenhouse gas TCC Tanana Chiefs Conference GZC Gwitchyaa Zhee Corporation U.S.C. United States Code GZGTG Gwitchyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers GZU Gwitchyaa Zhee Utility Company USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture kVA kilovolt-ampere USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency kW kilowatt USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mg/m3 milligram per cubic meter µg/m3 microgram per cubic meter VOC volatile organic compound FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR A COMBINED POWER AND BIOMASS HEATING SYSTEM FORT YUKON, ALASKA DOE/EA-1922 APRIL 2013 Final EA For A Combined Power and Biomass Heating System Fort Yukon, Alaska FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR A COMBINED POWER AND BIOMASS HEATING SYSTEM FORT YUKON, ALASKA TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ......................................................... INSIDE FRONT COVER 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 PROJECT LOCATION ................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED ............................................................................................................... 1-3 1.3 ORGANIZATION AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS EA ....................................................................... 1-4 1.3.1 National Environmental Policy Act .......................................................................... 1-4 1.3.2 Integration of Other Environmental Statutes and Regulations .................................. 1-5 1.3.3 Scope of the Analysis ................................................................................................ 1-5 1.4 SCOPING AND PUBLIC/AGENCY INVOLVEMENT ..................................................................... 1-6 1.4.1 Community/Public Involvement ............................................................................... 1-6 1.4.2 Agency Consultations................................................................................................ 1-7 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ...................................... 2-1 2.1 AGENCIES’ PROPOSED ACTION .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2.1 Construction of the CHP Plant and Distribution System .......................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Biomass Harvest ........................................................................................................ 2-4 2.2.3 Operation of the CHP Plant ....................................................................................... 2-8 2.2.4 Permits and Approvals .............................................................................................. 2-9 2.2.5 Applicant Committed Measures .............................................................................. 2-10 2.3 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................................... 2-12 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................... 3-1 3.1 RESOURCE AREAS DISMISSED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS .................................................... 3-1 3.2 GEOLOGY AND SOIL RESOURCES ........................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ............................................. 3-2 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ..................................... 3-4 3.3 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ............................................. 3-8 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-10 3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ..................................................................................................... 3-11 3.4.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-11 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-15 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-17 3.5 AIR QUALITY ........................................................................................................................ 3-17 3.5.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-17 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-20 3.5.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-22 3.6 NOISE .................................................................................................................................... 3-22 Fort Yukon, Alaska April 2013 i Final EA For A Combined Power and Biomass Heating System Fort Yukon, Alaska TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 3.6.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-22 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-23 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-25 3.7 LAND USE ............................................................................................................................. 3-25 3.7.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-25 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-25 3.7.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-26 3.8 CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES ................................................................................ 3-26 3.8.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-26 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-27 3.8.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-28 3.9 SOCIOECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ............................................................. 3-28 3.9.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-28 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-29 3.9.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-30 3.10 TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................ 3-30 3.10.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-30 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ........................................... 3-31 3.10.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................... 3-32 3.11 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ....................................................... 3-32 3.11.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-32 3.11.2