DRAFT FINAL Biological Assessment in Support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Decision to Issue a Greenhouse Gas Permit in Connection with the Proposed Expansion of the Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou Plant near the City of Baytown, Harris County, Texas Prepared for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP Prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants November 2012 DRAFT FINAL BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S DECISION TO ISSUE A GREENHOUSE GAS PERMIT IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE CHEVRON PHILLIPS CEDAR BAYOU PLANT NEAR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS Prepared for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP 10001 Six Pines Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77380 Attn: Cynthia Gleason (713) 280-0869 Prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants Austin Office 4407 Monterey Oaks Boulevard, Building 1, Suite 110 Austin, Texas 78749 (512) 476-0891 www.swca.com SWCA Project No. 21457 November 6, 2012 DRAFT FINAL Biological Assessment for the Proposed Expansion of the Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou Plant near the City of Baytown, Harris County, Texas CONTENTS Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. vii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. Agency Regulations ............................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Environmental Protection Agency Regulations and Standards ....................................................... 3 2.2. Endangered Species Act .................................................................................................................. 3 2.3. State of Texas Endangered Species Regulations ............................................................................. 3 3. Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 4 4. Project Description ................................................................................................................ 8 4.1. Project Purpose and Process ........................................................................................................... 8 4.2. Construction Information ............................................................................................................... 12 4.2.1. Construction Activities and Schedule .................................................................................... 12 4.2.2. Construction Equipment Required ......................................................................................... 12 4.2.3. Emissions Controls ................................................................................................................ 13 4.3. Operation and Maintenance Information ....................................................................................... 14 4.3.1. Operation ............................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.2. Water Use .............................................................................................................................. 14 4.3.3. Noise Levels .......................................................................................................................... 14 4.4. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Information..................................................... 15 4.5. Regional/Area Ecological Information .......................................................................................... 16 4.5.1. General Region Information .................................................................................................. 16 4.5.2. Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 16 4.5.3. Climate ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.5.4. Topography ............................................................................................................................ 17 4.5.5. Geology.................................................................................................................................. 17 4.5.6. Soils ....................................................................................................................................... 17 4.5.7. Water Resources .................................................................................................................... 18 4.5.8. Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 22 4.5.9. Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 22 4.6. Listed Species ................................................................................................................................ 23 4.6.1. Summary of Listed Species ................................................................................................... 23 4.6.2. Critical Habitat Designation .................................................................................................. 25 4.6.3. Descriptions of Listed Species ............................................................................................... 25 4.6.4. Descriptions of Recently Delisted Species with Monitoring Requirements .......................... 34 4.6.5. Texas Natural Diversity Database Results ............................................................................. 35 5. LIsted Species Habitat Evaluation ...................................................................................... 36 5.1. Vegetation Communities Observed ............................................................................................... 36 5.2. Listed Species Habitat Analysis ..................................................................................................... 36 6. Air Quality Analysis Results ............................................................................................... 38 6.1. Estimated Total Annual Emissions Overview ............................................................................... 38 6.2. Area of Impact Dispersion Modeling Results ................................................................................ 40 6.2.1. Dispersion Modeling Methods............................................................................................... 40 6.2.2. Dispersion Modeling Results ................................................................................................. 41 iii DRAFT FINAL Biological Assessment for the Proposed Expansion of the Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou Plant near the City of Baytown, Harris County, Texas 7. Effects of the Federal Action .............................................................................................. 41 7.1. Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................... 41 7.1.1. Air Pollution Effects Background Review ............................................................................ 41 7.1.2. Air Quality Effects ................................................................................................................. 43 7.1.3. Impacts of Air Pollution Sources on Flora and Fauna ........................................................... 44 7.2. Water Quality ................................................................................................................................. 45 7.2.1. Wastewater Effects ................................................................................................................ 45 7.2.2. Surface Water Effects ............................................................................................................ 46 7.3. Noise .............................................................................................................................................. 46 7.3.1. Noise Effects Background Review ........................................................................................ 46 7.3.2. Noise-Related Effects ............................................................................................................ 47 7.4. Infrastructure-Related Effects ........................................................................................................ 47 7.5. Human Activity Effects ................................................................................................................. 47 8. Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 48 8.1. Determination of Effect ................................................................................................................. 48 8.2. Cumulative Effects......................................................................................................................... 50 8.3. Interdependent and Interrelated Actions ........................................................................................ 50 9. Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................