Ikelic - Alliance Digital Repository

COAL
tegrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC)
plant. SPPC has entered into a contract agree
ment with Foster Wheeler USA Corporation for
constructing the project. In addition, The MW Kel
logg Company will be a subcontractor for the
design of a key part of the IGCC system (i.e., the
KRW fluidized-bed gasification process).
Environmental Analysis
The FEIS contains a detailed description of exist
ing
conditions at the proposed site and the sur
rounding area. Potential impacts to aesthetics,
air quality, geology and soils, surface water and
groundwater, land use, socioeconomic
resources and environmental justice, threatened
and endangered species, aquatic and terrestrial
habitats, biodiversity, cultural resources, health
and safety, hazardous and toxic materials/waste
management, pollution prevention, and noise are
analyzed. During the scoping process, specific
key issues were identified, including
the impact
from increasing water withdrawals from the
Truckee River at the Tracy Station site; the im
pact to the Cui-ui, an endangered species of
sucker fish; and the impact to air quality from
coal-fired plant emissions.
Following
the issuance of the Draft EIS to the
public in May 1994, several changes were intro
duced by SPPC. Most of the changes are as
sociated with air emissions from the proposed
project. The primary
change is a decrease in
height of the primary stack from 91 meters to
68.5 meters. The coal storage initial design of
two silos that were 61 meters high was changed
to a revised design of a single domed silo that
would be only 23 meters high. Other changes
include decreasing
the exit temperature of the
exhaust gas streams in the two flues of the
primary stack, modifying the exit velocity of the
two flue gas streams, decreasing particulate emis
sions from the cooling tower, reconfiguring the
sources of particulate emissions in the coal
preparation area, and relocating several of the
proposed ancillary facilities.
Modeling
results indicated that pollutant emission
levels would be in compliance with the National
4-9
Ambient Air Quality Standards and would not
have a significant impact on nonattainment areas
in the Truckee Meadows. Emissions of sulfur
oxides and NOx would be below foliar threshold
values. Both the Class I and Class II Prevention
of Significant Deterioration (PSD) increment
analyses indicate that the proposed project
would not result in significant degradation of air
quality.
Mitigation measures that have been identified as
necessary
for the proposed action include:
vegetative plants on the south bank of the
Truckee River to screen portions of the proposed
facility; use of earth-tone painting of structures;
suppression of fugitive dust emissions during
construction; coordination with the Nevada
Department of Transportation to lessen safety
impacts during fog episodes; preparation of a
geotechnical report to identify mitigation
measures that may be necessary to ensure
proper foundation stability; implementation of a
soil resistivity program for use in the design of
underground features; water quality testing of the
evaporation pond to indicate the need for mitiga
tion; habitat enhancement for Mule deer through
the planting of food sources; protection of un
tested archaeological sites by chain-link fences;
and notification and temporary relocation on a
voluntary basis of people residing in the area
who are potentially affected by
short noise
episodes related to steam blowing during the con
struction phase.
Project Description
SPPC's Pinon Pine Project was one of nine suc
cessful proposals selected by the United States
Department of Energy (DOE) from 33 submitted
in response to the Program Opportunity Notice
for Round IV of the Clean Coal Technology
Program.
The heart of the Pinon Pine Power Project
(Figure 2) will be the KRW fluidized-bed ash ag
glomerating coal gasifier operating in the air
blown mode. Cleanup of the hot gases involves
the use of a calcium-based sulfur sorbent in the
gasifier and an external regenerate desulfurizing
THE SYNTHETIC FUELS REPORT, JANUARY 1995