DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DSEIS) Finger Lakes LPG Storage, LLC LPG Storage Facility Location: Route 14/14A Town of Reading, Schuyler County, New York Lead Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 6274 Avon-Lima Rd. (Rtes. 5 and 20) Avon, NY 14414-9516 Agency Contact: David L. Bimber Deputy Regional Permit Administrator New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 6274 Avon-Lima Rd. (Rtes. 5 and 20) Avon, NY 14414-9516 Phone: (585) 226-5401 E-mail: [email protected] DSEIS Preparer: Finger Lakes LPG Storage, LLC c/o Kevin M. Bernstein, Esq. Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC One Lincoln Center Syracuse, NY 13202 Phone: (315) 218-8329 E-mail: [email protected] Date Submitted and Revision Dates: March 15, 2011; revised June 8, 201l, July 15, and August 1, 2011 Date Accepted for Public Review: August 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction and Background ..........................................................................................1 2.0 Project Description ............................................................................................................6 2.1 Underground Storage Caverns .................................................................................6 2.2 Rail/Truck Area .......................................................................................................8 2.3 Plant Area.................................................................................................................9 2.4 Brine Pond ...............................................................................................................9 2.5 Pipeline and Transmission Line .............................................................................10 3.0 Executive Summary .........................................................................................................11 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................11 3.2 Application Process ...............................................................................................11 3.3 Project Need and Benefits ......................................................................................12 3.3.1 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ...............................................12 3.3.2 United States Propane Industry – Overview ..............................................14 3.3.3 New York Propane Infrastructure, Capacity and Need .............................16 3.3.4 New York Benefits from Additional Propane Infrastructure .....................18 3.3.5 Economic Benefits of Finger Lakes Project ..............................................18 3.4 Potential Impacts ....................................................................................................19 3.5 Permits and Approvals ...........................................................................................20 4.0 Environmental Setting, Significant Environmental Impacts, and Mitigation Measures to Minimize Environmental Impacts ............................................................22 4.1 Impacts on Land .....................................................................................................22 4.1.1 Ecological Resources .................................................................................22 4.1.1.1 Existing Environmental Setting .....................................................22 4.1.1.2 Potential Impacts ............................................................................30 4.1.1.3 Potential Mitigation Measures and Alternatives ............................31 4.1.2 Proposed Brine Pond..................................................................................32 4.1.2.1 Existing Environmental Setting .....................................................34 4.1.2.2 Potential Impacts ............................................................................38 4.1.2.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures and Alternatives ...........................38 4.1.3 Underground Storage Caverns ...................................................................64 4.1.3.1 Existing Environmental Setting .....................................................65 Finger Lakes LPG Storage Facility Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement i 4.1.3.2 Potential Impacts ............................................................................70 4.1.3.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures ......................................................78 4.2 Impacts on Water Resources ..................................................................................84 4.2.1 Groundwater ..............................................................................................84 4.2.1.1 Existing Environmental Setting .....................................................84 4.2.1.2 Potential Impacts ............................................................................89 4.2.1.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures and Alternatives ...........................90 4.2.2 Surface Water.............................................................................................93 4.2.2.1 Existing Environmental Setting .....................................................93 4.2.2.2 Potential Impacts ............................................................................98 4.2.2.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures and Alternatives .........................102 4.3 Noise Impacts.......................................................................................................110 4.3.1 Existing Environmental Setting ...............................................................110 4.3.2 Potential Impacts ......................................................................................115 4.3.3 Proposed Mitigation measures and Alternatives......................................117 4.4 Traffic and Transportation Impacts .....................................................................120 4.4.1 Existing Environmental Setting ...............................................................120 4.4.1.1 Vehicular Access to Finger Lakes Facilities ................................120 4.4.1.2 Rail ...............................................................................................121 4.4.2 Potential Impacts ......................................................................................123 4.4.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures and Alternatives .....................................128 4.5 Impacts on Aesthetic Resources ..........................................................................131 4.5.1 Environmental Setting .............................................................................132 4.5.2 Potential Impact .......................................................................................133 4.5.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures or Alternatives........................................140 4.6 Impacts on Public Safety .....................................................................................144 4.6.1 Environmental Setting .............................................................................144 4.6.2 Potential Impacts ......................................................................................147 4.6.3 Proposed Mitigation Measures ................................................................155 4.6.4 Potential Accidents at Underground Hydrocarbon Storage Facilities and Mitigating Factors .............................................................................164 4.6.5 Capabilities of Local First Responders to Manage the Effects of Accidents ..................................................................................................................166 Finger Lakes LPG Storage Facility Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement ii 5.0 Alternatives to the Proposed Action .............................................................................170 6.0 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources .........................................174 7.0 Growth Inducing Aspects ..............................................................................................175 8.0 References .......................................................................................................................177 List of Figures Figure 1 General Location Map - Finger Lakes LPG Storage, LLC Facility Figure 2 Site Operations Plan and Site Plan for Surface Facility Figure 3 NRCS Websoil Survey, Schuyler County, NY Figure 4 Drawing Showing US Salt, Finger Lakes LPG Storage Pipeline and Brine Lines and Connection Between Finger Lakes Brines Lines and US Salt Figure 5 Brine Pond Options Overview Drawing Figure 6 Brine Pond Option 1 Layout Drawing Figure 7 Brine Pond Option 1A Layout Drawing Figure 8 Brine Pond Option 2 Layout Drawing Figure 9 Brine Pond Option 3 Layout Drawing Figure 10 Map showing the Abrams and Nye Road crossings and the distance from those crossings to the Finger Lakes Terminal List of Appendices Appendix A Town of Reading Application for Special Permit Approval Appendix B Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) Final Scoping Outline, Finger Lakes LPG Storage, LLC, Watkins Glen LPG Storage Facility, February 15, 2011 Appendix C NYSERDA 2010-11 New York State Winter Fuels Outlook Meeting, October 28, 2010, presentation of Matthew Millford, Assistant Project Manager, Energy Analysis Group, New York State Propane Infrastructure Study Finger Lakes LPG Storage Facility Draft Supplemental Environmental