Georgia Strait Crossing Project Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Prepared for: Department of Ecology Prepared by: Shapiro and Associates, Inc. January 19, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page FACT SHEET......................................................................................................................................................i 1. SUMMARY 1.1 Project Background............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Proposed Action and Alternatives........................................................................................ 1-4 1.3 Document Organization........................................................................................................ 1-4 1.4 Summary of Issues and Responses....................................................................................... 1-6 1.5 Summary of Mitigation Measures........................................................................................ 1-6 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL AND ALTERNATIVES 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Proposed GSX Pipeline (Issue 1: Updated Project Description)......................................... 2-4 2.3 Terasen Gas Alternative (Issue 3: Canadian Project Alternatives) ..................................... 2-9 2.4 No Action Alternative (Issue 3: Canadian Project Alternatives) ...................................... 2-10 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................. 3-3 3.3 Surface Water........................................................................................................................ 3-8 3.4 Groundwater........................................................................................................................ 3-27 3.5 Plants and Animals.............................................................................................................. 3-29 3.6 Reliability and Safety.......................................................................................................... 3-57 3.7 Land and Shoreline Use...................................................................................................... 3-64 3.8 Socioeconomic Conditions ................................................................................................. 3-91 3.9 Cultural and Historic Resources......................................................................................... 3-94 3.10 Traffic and Transportation................................................................................................ 3-106 3.11 Air Quality......................................................................................................................... 3-114 3.12 Noise.................................................................................................................................. 3-120 4. RESPONSES TO DRAFT SEIS COMMENTS............................................................................ 4-1 5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................. 5-1 6. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................ 6-1 7. DISTRIBUTION LIST .................................................................................................................... 7-1 APPENDIX FERC ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.................................................................. A-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page List of Tables Table 1-1: Summary of Issues and Responses....................................................................................... 1-7 Table 3-1: 303(d) Stream Crossings....................................................................................................... 3-9 Table 3-2: Agencies Contacted for Socioeconomic Data.................................................................... 3-92 Table 3-3: Estimated Construction Workforce for the GSX Project................................................. 3-107 Table 3-4: Anticipated Construction Worker Travel Routes ............................................................ 3-108 Table 3-5: Major Roads Crossed by the GSX Project and Proposed Crossing Method .................. 3-109 List of Figures Figure 2-1: Pipeline Route ....................................................................................................................... 2-5 Figure 2-2: HDD Pipe String Launch Plan.............................................................................................. 2-8 Figure 2-3: Terasen Gas System Proposal............................................................................................. 2-11 Figure 2-4: NorskeCanada Mill Sites .................................................................................................... 2-13 Figure 3-1: Seismotectonic Map of Northwest Washington and Southwest British Columbia ............ 3-4 Figure 3-2: Compensatory Wetland Mitigation Site............................................................................. 3-45 Figure 3-3: Compensatory Riparian Mitigation Site............................................................................. 3-46 Figure 3-4: Forest Stands Subject to Fragmentation............................................................................. 3-53 Figure 3-5: Cherry Point Wind Rose................................................................................................... 3-115 Fact Sheet FACT SHEET Project Title Georgia Strait Crossing Project Proposed Action The proposed action is the Georgia Strait Crossing (GSX) Pipeline. The U.S. portion of the pipeline is part of a larger project jointly sponsored by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) and Williams Gas Pipeline Company. The project calls for the design, construction, and operation of two interconnecting natural gas pipelines, one in Canada and one in the U.S. The pipelines will transport natural gas from Sumas, Washington, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The pipeline is a component of the proposed Vancouver Island Generation Project (VIGP), also proposed by BC Hydro, that would build a gas-fired power plant on Vancouver Island. The GSX pipeline would supply gas to the power plant. On September 8, 2003, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) denied the VIGP application and recommended that BC Hydro proceed with a new analysis of alternatives to supply Vancouver Island’s energy needs. In response to the BCUC ruling, BC Hydro issued a “Call For Tenders” (CFT) on October 31, 2003. Under that process, BC Hydro will accept and evaluate new proposals for energy generation and supply. An Independent Reviewer will evaluate the proposals and recommend a preferred option. At the time of publication of this Final Supplemental EIS, 23 bidders had registered. Some bidders are proposing new sources of power, whereas others would likely be interested in assuming control of VIGP’s assets and completing a gas-fired plant similar to VIGP. This process is expected to be complete by the end of September 2004. Although the effects of this new Canadian process on the overall GSX pipeline are uncertain, it may result in delays in project permitting or construction. Alternatives Terasen Gas Alternative – Under this alternative, Terasen Gas Vancouver Island (TGVI) would undertake phased expansion of its current natural gas distribution system that serves Vancouver Island. This includes construction of up to three new compression stations, pipeline looping of approximately 45.3 miles of existing pipeline, and construction of a liquid natural gas facility with a storage capacity of 1 billion standard cubic feet. Georgia Strait Crossing Project Final Supplemental EIS i January 19, 2004 No Action Alternative – Under the No Action Alternative, the GSX pipeline would not be constructed. Without the pipeline, other projects may assist in reducing the demand for natural gas on Vancouver Island. An example is a proposal by Norske Skog Canada Limited (NorskeCanada). NorskeCanada has proposed installing new electrical power cogeneration facilities at three of its mills, combined with energy conservation and demand management practices. Proponent Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline LP (GSX-US)/BC Hydro Lead Agency and Ray Hellwig, Regional Director Responsible Official Northwest Regional Office Department of Ecology 3190 160th Avenue SE Bellevue, WA 98008-5452 Lead Agency Sheila Hosner Contact Person Northwest Regional Office Department of Ecology 3190 160th Avenue SE Bellevue, WA 98008-5452 (425) 649-4310 Permits and Approvals Washington Department of Ecology Section 401 Water Quality Certification Storm Water Discharge Permit Point Source Discharge Permit Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determination State Clean Water Act (RCW 90.48) Solid Waste Disposal Coastal Zone Management Program Permit to Appropriate Water State Environmental Policy Act Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approval - freshwater and marine State Aquatic Nuisance Species Act Georgia Strait Crossing Project Final