Arecibo Waste-to-Energy and Resource Recovery Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Prepared for: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service January 2017 This page intentionally left blank. Arecibo Waste-to-Energy Project Final EIS January 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. i LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... vii ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................ ix 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Project Overview and Description ............................................................................. 1-2 1.2 Project Background .................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.1 Energy Supply ................................................................................................ 1-2 1.2.2 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards ......................................................... 1-3 1.2.3 Reserve Capacity ........................................................................................... 1-4 1.2.4 Solid Waste Management and Capacity ........................................................ 1-4 1.2.5 Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste ............................................................... 1-7 1.2.6 Solid Waste Generation in Puerto Rico ......................................................... 1-8 1.2.7 Existing Operating Landfills Overview ......................................................... 1-8 1.2.8 Recycling Rates for Puerto Rico .................................................................. 1-10 1.3 Purpose and Need for the Action ............................................................................. 1-11 1.3.1 Rural Utilities Service .................................................................................. 1-11 1.3.2 Energy Answers’ Purpose and Need............................................................ 1-12 1.3.3 Energy Needs in Puerto Rico ....................................................................... 1-12 1.3.4 Municipal Solid Waste Purpose and Need................................................... 1-13 1.4 Authorizing Actions ................................................................................................. 1-13 1.5 Public Participation .................................................................................................. 1-18 1.5.1 Scoping Process ........................................................................................... 1-18 1.5.2 Public Review and Comment Analysis........................................................ 1-19 1.5.3 Issues Considered But Dismissed ................................................................ 1-20 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ............................................................ 2-1 2.1 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Further Consideration...................... 2-1 2.1.1 Project Site Selection ..................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Waste-to-Energy Technologies ...................................................................... 2-3 2.1.3 Water Sources ................................................................................................ 2-6 i Arecibo Waste-to-Energy Project Final EIS January 2017 2.1.4 Alternative Fuel and Renewable Energy Resources ...................................... 2-8 2.2 Selection of Proposed Alternative ............................................................................. 2-9 2.2.1 No-action Alternative..................................................................................... 2-9 2.2.2 Arecibo Waste-to-Energy and Resource Recovery Project ......................... 2-11 2.2.3 Flooding ....................................................................................................... 2-32 2.2.4 Stormwater Management ............................................................................. 2-32 2.3 Utility support Works .............................................................................................. 2-33 2.3.1 Brackish Water Pumping and Transfer Pipeline .......................................... 2-33 2.3.2 Power Transmission Line and Improvements to Existing Substation ......... 2-34 3.0 PRESENT ENVIRONMENT AND EFFECTS OF ALTERNATIVES ....................... 3-1 3.1 Soils and Geology ...................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Effects Analysis ............................................................................................. 3-8 3.2 Water Resources ...................................................................................................... 3-10 3.2.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-10 ii Arecibo Waste-to-Energy Project Final EIS January 2017 3.2.2 Effects Analysis ........................................................................................... 3-27 3.3 Air Quality ............................................................................................................... 3-36 3.3.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-36 3.3.2 Effects Analysis ........................................................................................... 3-44 3.4 Biological Resources ............................................................................................... 3-59 3.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-59 3.4.2 Environmental Effects ................................................................................. 3-63 3.5 Land Resources ........................................................................................................ 3-70 3.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-70 3.5.2 Effects Analysis ........................................................................................... 3-75 3.6 Visual Resources ...................................................................................................... 3-78 3.6.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-78 3.6.2 Effects Analysis ........................................................................................... 3-83 3.7 Acoustic Environment ............................................................................................. 3-86 iii Arecibo Waste-to-Energy Project Final EIS January 2017 3.7.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-86 3.7.2 Effects Analysis ........................................................................................... 3-91 3.8 Transportation .......................................................................................................... 3-96 3.8.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-96 3.8.2 Effects Analysis ......................................................................................... 3-102 3.9 Cultural Resources/Historic Properties .................................................................. 3-103 3.9.1 Definition of Cultural Resources and Historic Properties ......................... 3-103 3.9.2 Area of Potential Effects ............................................................................ 3-104 3.9.3 Culture History Overview .......................................................................... 3-105 3.9.4 Archeological Resources ........................................................................... 3-116 3.9.5 Historic Structures ..................................................................................... 3-117 3.9.6 Effects Analysis ......................................................................................... 3-117 3.10 Public Health and Safety ........................................................................................ 3-117 3.10.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................ 3-117 3.10.2 Effects Analysis ......................................................................................... 3-118 3.11 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice .......................................................... 3-124 3.11.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................ 3-124 3.11.2 Effects Analysis ......................................................................................... 3-131 iv Arecibo Waste-to-Energy Project Final EIS January 2017 4.0 OTHER REQUIRED CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts ..................................................................................