The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Abengoa Biorefinery Project near Hugoton, Stevens County, KS (DOE/EIS–0407D) (referred to as the ‘‘Draft Abengoa Biorefinery EIS’’ or ‘‘Draft EIS’’).

1. Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 23, 2009 / Notices 48525
consultation, pursuant to section 7 of Agriculture, Rural Development, Office, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden,
the Endangered Species Act, section 305 (USDA–RD) is a cooperating agency in Colorado 80401, or submitted via e-mail
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery preparation of the Draft Abengoa to: kristin.kerwin@go.doe.gov.
Conservation and Management Act, and Biorefinery EIS. Envelopes and the subject line of e-
section 106 of the National Historic DOE’s Proposed Action in the Draft mails and faxes should be labeled ‘‘Draft
Preservation Act. Abengoa Biorefinery EIS is to provide Abengoa Biorefinery EIS Comments.’’
m. Kenai Hydro, L.L.C. filed a Pre- federal funding to Abengoa Bioenergy Comments or requests for information
Application Document (PAD, including Biomass of Kansas, LLC (ABBK) to may also be submitted via the EIS Web
a proposed process plan and schedule) support the final design, construction, site at http://www.biorefineryprojecteis-
with the Commission, pursuant to 18 and startup of a commercial-scale abengoa.com.
CFR 5.5 of the Commission’s integrated biorefinery to be located near FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
regulations. the city of Hugoton, Stevens County, information on the Draft Abengoa
n. A copy of the PAD is available for Kansas (hereafter referred to as the Biorefinery EIS, or information on how
review at the Commission in the Public Abengoa Biorefinery Project). The to comment, contact Ms. Kristin Kerwin
Reference Room or may be viewed on Abengoa Biorefinery Project would use by any of the means described above
the Commission’s Web site (http:// lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock to under ADDRESSES, or access the Abengoa
www.ferc.gov), using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ produce ethanol and biopower Biorefinery Project EIS Web site at:
link. Enter the docket number, (electricity) sufficient to meet the needs http://www.biorefineryprojecteis-
excluding the last three digits in the of the biorefinery and to sell to the abengoa.com.
docket number field to access the regional power grid. In the Draft EIS, For further information on the DOE
document. For assistance, contact FERC DOE also evaluates an Action Office of Energy Efficiency and
Online Support at Alternative, under which the biorefinery Renewable Energy Integrated
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll would not produce electricity for sale to Biorefinery Program, contact Mr. John
free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, the regional grid, and a No-Action Ferrell, Biomass Program Manager
(202) 502–8659. A copy is also available Alternative, under which the biorefinery (Acting), U.S. Department of Energy,
for inspection and reproduction at the would not be constructed. The Draft 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., EE–
address in paragraph h. Abengoa Biorefinery Project EIS 2E, 5H–021, Washington, DC 20585,
o. Register online at http:// evaluates the potential direct, indirect, telephone: 202–586–6745, facsimile:
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ and cumulative environmental impacts 202–586–1640, e-mail:
esubscription.asp to be notified via e- from the construction and operation of eere_biomass@ee.doe.gov.
mail of new filing and issuances related the Abengoa Biorefinery Project. DOE’s For further information on the U.S.
to this or other pending projects. For preferred alternative is the Proposed Department of Agriculture Rural
assistance, contact FERC Online Action. Business-Cooperative Service
Support. DATES: The public is invited to comment Biorefinery Assistance Program contact:
Kimberly D. Bose, on the Draft EIS, and all comments Energy Branch, Attention: Biorefinery
Secretary. received no later than November 9, 2009 Assistance Program, 1400 Independence
[FR Doc. E9–22856 Filed 9–22–09; 8:45 am] will be addressed in preparing the Final Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 3225,
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
EIS. Comments received after the end of Washington, DC 20250–3225; telephone:
the public comment period will be 202–720–1400.
considered to the extent practicable. A For general information regarding the
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY public hearing on the Draft EIS will be DOE National Environmental Policy Act
held at the Stevens County Courthouse, (NEPA) process contact: Ms. Carol M.
Office of Energy Efficiency and 200 East 6th St., Hugoton, Kansas Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Renewable Energy 67951–2606, on October 21 2009, from Policy and Compliance, U.S.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Written and oral Department of Energy, 1000
Draft Environmental Impact Statement comments will be accepted and given Independence Avenue, SW., GC–20,
for the Abengoa Biorefinery Project equal weight. Washington, DC 20585; e-mail
Near Hugoton, Stevens County, KS ADDRESSES: Copies of this Draft EIS are AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov; telephone 202–
(DOE/EIS–0407D) available for review at The Stevens 586–4600; or leave a message at 1–800–
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and County Library, 501 S. Monroe Street, 472–2756.
Renewable Energy, DOE. Hugoton, KS 67951, 620–544–2301, and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ACTION: Notice of Availability. the U.S. Department of Energy, FOIA Background: In September 2007,
Reading Room, 1E–190, Forrestal Bldg., pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 2005 (EPAct 2005) Section 932, DOE
Energy (DOE) announces the availability Washington, DC 20585, 202–586–3142. granted an initial award of
of the Draft Environmental Impact The Draft EIS is also available on the approximately $15 million to ABBK to
Statement for the Abengoa Biorefinery Golden Field Office On-line FOIA advance the conceptual design, initiate
Project near Hugoton, Stevens County, Public Reading Room: http:// the permitting process, and support an
KS (DOE/EIS–0407D) (referred to as the www.eere.energy.gov/golden/ environmental review under NEPA for a
‘‘Draft Abengoa Biorefinery EIS’’ or Reading_Room.aspx, at: http:// proposed biomass-to-ethanol and energy
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
‘‘Draft EIS’’). This Draft EIS was www.biorefineryprojecteis-abengoa.com facility that would be located adjacent
prepared in accordance with the and at: http://www.gc.energy.gov/NEPA. to and west of the city of Hugoton,
Council on Environmental Quality’s How to Comment on the Draft EIS: Stevens County, Kansas. DOE requires
National Environmental Policy Act Oral and written comments on the Draft completion of the design, permitting,
(NEPA) Implementing Regulations (40 EIS will be accepted at the public and environmental review obligations
CFR parts 1500–1508) and DOE NEPA hearing, or written comments may be prior to deciding whether to co-fund the
Implementing Regulations (10 CFR part mailed to Ms. Kristin Kerwin at the U.S. final design, construction and start-up
1021). The U.S. Department of Department of Energy, Golden Field phases of the project.
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2. 48526 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 23, 2009 / Notices
On August 25, 2008, DOE initiated the day of feedstock, which would be Issued in Golden, CO on September 15,
environmental review process by obtained from producers within 50 2009.
publishing a Notice of Intent in the miles of the Abengoa Biorefinery Project Steve Blazek,
Federal Register (‘‘Notice of Intent to site. The biorefinery would produce up NEPA Compliance Officer, Golden Field
Prepare an Environmental Impact to 18 million gallons of denatured Office.
Statement and Notice of Wetlands ethanol per year using a one-step [FR Doc. E9–22920 Filed 9–22–09; 8:45 am]
Involvement for the Abengoa feedstock hydrolysis and fermentation BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
Biorefinery Project Near Hugoton, KS,’’ process. The biorefinery also would
73 FR 50001). However, based on produce 92 megawatts of electricity, and
changes in the scope of the project 117,000 dry short tons per year of DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
proposed by ABBK and also ABBK’s lignin-rich stillage cake. Electricity
decision to solicit loan guarantees from would be produced via a high-pressure, Federal Energy Regulatory
DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program steam-condensing turbine generator. Commission
pursuant to Title XVII of EPAct 2005 Seventy megawatts of electricity would [Docket No. NJ08–5–003]
and from USDA–RD Biorefinery be sold commercially. The lignin-rich
Assistance Program, DOE published an stillage cake could be sold to a lignin Bonneville Power Administration;
Amended Notice of Intent in the producer, processed and lignin-poor Transmission Service Terms and
Federal Register on April 29, 2009 stillage cake would be returned to the Conditions; Notice of Filing
(‘‘Amended Notice of Intent To Modify biorefinery and burned in the solid fuel
the Scope of the Environmental Impact September 16, 2009.
boiler. Take notice that on September 14,
Statement for the Abengoa Biorefinery Action Alternative: For the Action
Project Near Hugoton, KS’’, 74 FR 2009, Bonneville Power Administration
Alternative, DOE would provide Federal (BPA), pursuant to 18 CFR 35.28(e) and
19543). Public comments were accepted funding for an integrated biorefinery
on the original scope of the EIS from 18 CFR 385.207, filed certain
that would produce approximately 12 amendments to Attachment K to its
August 25 through October 9, 2008, and million gallons per year of denatured
then on the revised scope from April 29 Open Access Transmission Tariff in
ethanol, 45,000 dry short tons per year response to the Commission’s July 16,
through May 29, 2009. An initial public of lignin-rich stillage cake, and 20
scoping meeting was held in Hugoton, 2009 Order, United States Department
megawatts of electricity for use at the of Energy—Bonneville Power
KS on September 10, 2008, and an facility (none sold commercially).
additional public scoping meeting was Administration, 128 FERC ¶ 61,065
Under the Action Alternative, the (2009). BPA also request a declaratory
held on May 19, 2009 to address the integrated biorefinery would use a two-
revised scope. DOE received both oral order accepting their proposed
stage process to pretreat, hydrolyze and Attachment K as revised, finding that it
and written scoping comments. DOE ferment sugars for ethanol production,
identified 16 scoping comments and satisfies the Commission’s standards for
and would produce syngas using a reciprocity.
grouped them into three categories gasification system. A syngas boiler as
reflecting the nature of the individual Any person desiring to intervene or to
well as the biomass boilers would protest this filing must file in
comments: (1) Support for the project, produce steam. Steam would be used for
(2) requests for specific information or accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
ethanol production processes and the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
analyses and (3) statements of no
electricity production. The biomass Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214).
negative environmental impacts. All
boilers and the turbines would be used Protests will be considered by the
requests for specific information are
to generate electricity solely to operate Commission in determining the
addressed in the Draft EIS.
Proposed Action: DOE’s Proposed the plant (no electricity would be sold appropriate action to be taken, but will
Action analyzed in the Draft EIS is to commercially) and would be smaller not serve to make protestants parties to
provide Federal funding to support the than those for the Proposed Action. the proceeding. Any person wishing to
design, construction, and start up of the No Action Alternative: Under the No become a party must file a notice of
integrated biorefinery proposed by Action Alternative, DOE would not intervention or motion to intervene, as
ABBK. DOE would negotiate an provide Federal funding to ABBK to appropriate. Such notices, motions, or
agreement with ABBK to provide support the final design, construction, protests must be filed on or before the
approximately $85 million (2008 and start-up of the Abengoa Biorefinery comment date. Anyone filing a motion
dollars) for the final design, Project. Under the No Action to intervene or protest must serve a copy
construction and start up of the Alternative, the Draft EIS presumes that of that document on the Applicant and
biorefinery. The estimated total project ABBK would not build a biorefinery. all the parties in this proceeding.
cost is approximately $300 million The Department recognizes, however, The Commission encourages
(2008 dollars). At this time, DOE is not that ABBK could pursue alternative electronic submission of protests and
considering issuing a loan guarantee for sources of capital for development of interventions in lieu of paper using the
the proposed project. The Abengoa the biorefinery. ‘‘eFiling’’ link at http://www.ferc.gov.
Biorefinery facility would use Preferred Alternative: The Proposed Persons unable to file electronically
lignocellulosic biomass (biomass) as Action is DOE’s Preferred Alternative. should submit an original and 14 copies
feedstock to produce biofuels. Biomass Following the end of the public of the protest or intervention to the
such as corn stover, wheat straw, milo comment period, November 9, 2009, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
stubble, switchgrass, and other available DOE will consider and respond to the 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
materials would be harvested as comments received, and issue the Final 20426.
feedstock and fermented to produce Abengoa Biorefinery EIS. DOE will issue This filing is accessible on-line at
ethanol. The biorefinery would also a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 http://www.ferc.gov, using the
produce electricity. days after the U.S. Environmental ‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
Under the Proposed Action, the Protection Agency issues a Notice of review in the Commission’s Public
Abengoa Biorefinery would process Availability of the Final EIS in the Reference Room in Washington, DC.
approximately 2,300 dry metric tons per Federal Register. There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
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