Spotlight: Environmental Analysis

 

Nationwide Environmental Services for the Department of Energy (DOE) 

PHE provides EIS preparation services, conducts special studies (including noise, traffic, hydrological, wetlands, biological, cultural resource surveys, and site investigations), and supports public meetings throughout the United States.  Projects completed for DOE have included high-profile and controversial Federal actions that required complex analysis.

Environmental Assessments (EAs)

  • Algenol Integrated Biorefinery for Producing Ethanol from Hybrid Algae, FL
  • Auburn Landfill Gas and Anaerobic Digester Gas Energy, NY
  • Large Explosive Test “Divine Strake” at Nevada Test Site, NV
  • Design, Construction, and Testing of a Pilot-Scale Steam Hydrogasification Facility using Utah Coal and Biomass, UT
  • Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Manufacturing EAs, Nationwide
diagram

Technical Studies and Reports 

  • Carbon Sequestration Program Reference Document, Nationwide.
  • NEPA Reviews of Industrial Proposals for Clean Energy Projects

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)

  • Site-Wide EIS for the Nevada National Security Site, NV
  • Yucca Mountain Rail Alignment EIS, NV
  • Colorado Springs Utilities CFB Coal Generating Unit EIS, CO
  • W.A. Parish Post-Combustion CO2 Capture and Sequestration EIS, TX
  • Taylorville Energy Center Integrated Gasification EIS, IL
  • Mountaineer Carbon Capture and Storage EIS, WV
  • FutureGen, Integrated Gasification/Carbon Capture EIS, IL and TX
  • Mesaba Energy Project, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle EIS, MN
  • Western Greenbrier Co-Production Demonstration EIS, WV
trio2.jpg

► Environmental Impact Statement for the FutureGen 2.0,
    Oxy-combustion/Carbon Capture Project, IL

PHE prepared the Draft and Final EIS for the FutureGen 2.0 Project. FutureGen 2.0 is a fully integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS) project that includes the repowering of an existing electricity generation facility with clean coal technologies, capture of generated carbon dioxide (CO2), compression and transport of captured CO2 in a new regional pipeline, and injection and permanent storage of the CO2 in a deep geologic formation. The project includes a new coal-fired boiler based on oxy-combustion technology that produces a high-concentration CO2 flue gas, a new pipeline extending approximately 30 miles to a proposed injection site in Morgan County, Illinois, and a Class VI injection well(s) to inject CO2 for permanent storage in the Mount Simon formation more than a mile below the earth’s surface. PHE prepared a high-quality and comprehensive Draft EIS that received a Lack of Objection (LO) rating from the USEPA.

Nationwide Support for the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) to prepare NEPA Documents

PHE has a nationwide BPA to prepare NEPA documents and conduct environmental analysis in support of the U.S. Army.  PHE has performed over $4.7M in task orders.  Representative examples include:

  • Fort Campbell Training Mission and Mission Support Activities Programmatic EIS and Biological Assessment, Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle Engineering Study, Clean Air Conformity Analysis, and Traffic Study, KY
  • West Point Net Zero Energy Installation Initiative EA and Bat and Eagle Study,
    Wind Turbine Noise Study, Traffic Study, Water Source Study,
    and Clean Air Conformity Analysis, NY
  • Fort Knox Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range EA and Wetland Delineation, KY
  • Army Force 2020 Force Realignment EA, (21 installations), Nationwide
  • Fort Carson Net Zero Waste, Water, and Energy Implementation EA, CO
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center Combined Live Fire Range EA, WA
     

 

  • Range-Wide Mission and Major Capabilities at White Sands Missile Range EIS and Biological Assessment, NM
  • EIS Support for Fort Carson and Other Potential Stationing Decisions, CO
  • EA Support for the Implementation of Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Stationing at Fort Carson, CO
  • U.S. Army Garrison Alaska’s Range Complex Upgrades EA, AK
  • Proposed Railhead and Truck Loading Facility Programmatic EA, Fort Wainwright, AK
  • Management of Nike Site Summit EA, Fort Richardson, AK
  • Donnelly Training Area East Mobility and Maneuver Enhancements EA, AK
  • Donnelly Training Area West Maneuver Trail EA, AK
  • Public Private Venture on Leased Land within the Fort McCoy Recreation Area EA, WI

► Environmental Impact Statement  for the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk Land Acquisition Program, Fort Polk, LA

PHE prepared an EIS and ROD for Fort Polk to acquire up to approximately 100,000 acres of maneuver training land to address training land shortfalls and to accommodate the training needs of Fort Polk’s resident units and for units training at the JRTC to acceptable standards in preparation for operational deployment. The Army would convert the use of commercial and private lands to training land utilization through design and construction of road and trail infrastructure and other training enhancements, capable of supporting maneuver training and artillery firing points. The EIS analyzed anticipated environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impacts connected with this Proposed Action.

Nationwide NEPA Support for the Veterans Administration National Energy Business Center

PHE has a nationwide BPA to prepare NEPA documentation and conduct environmental analysis in support of the U.S. Veterans Administration National Energy Business Center. PHE has prepared over 20 EAs for VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) in the United States for the installation and operation of alternative energy sources, including photovoltaic (PV) energy systems, wind energy systems, and combined heat and power (CHP) projects. The photovoltaic projects would provide electricity to the VA from photovoltaic arrays that would be installed on top of buildings, parking aprons, and the ground.  The CHP projects provide steam and electricity to the VA.  These projects will help the VA in complying with the goals and objectives of Federal energy requirements per the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Executive Orders (EOs) 13423 and 13514, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). 

PHE also analyzed impacts of connected actions including road improvements, relocation of a helipad, decommissioning of existing heating plant, and removal and replacement of fuel storage tanks.  PHE led consultation efforts with the State Historic Preservation Officers in 12 states as well as consultation with USFWS, state natural resource agencies, and Native American Tribes.  Representative examples include:

  • EAs for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems at the VAMCs in:
        
    • Chillicothe, OH
    • Jamaica Plain, MA
    • West Roxbury, MA
    • Manchester, NH
    • Newington, CT
    • West Haven, CT
    • Atlanta, GA
  • EA for Wind Energy System at the VAMC in Bronx, NY
     
  • EA for Central Emergency Power System at VAMC Martinsburg, WV
  • EAs for Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems at the VAMCs in:

  ᴏ   Bay Pines, FL
  ᴏ   Miami, FL
  ᴏ   Prescott, AZ
  ᴏ   Amarillo, TX
  ᴏ   San Diego, CA
  ᴏ   Salt Lake City, NV
  ᴏ   Las Vegas, NV
  ᴏ   Los Angeles, CA
  ᴏ   Riverside, CA

 

  ᴏ   Loma Linda, CA
  ᴏ   Pineville, LA
  ᴏ   Jackson, MS
  ᴏ   Biloxi, MS
  ᴏ   Columbia, SC
  ᴏ   Augusta, GA
  ᴏ   Montrose, NY
  ᴏ   Northport, NY
  ᴏ   Birmingham, AL