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DEQ Information Meeting March 3, 2010 for Bradwood LNG
Last Updated on Sunday, 07 February 2010 18:22
At this meeting, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will provide current information about environmental permits that will be required for the proposed Bradwood Landing Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal and Pipeline project. This is an informational meeting only, not a formal public hearing. DEQ will hold a formal public hearing at a later date when draft permit applications are available.
Meeting details
When:
March 3, 2010
Where:
Knappa High School Gymnasium 41535 Old Hwy 30Astoria, OR 97103
An information session will begin at 6 p.m., followed by an opportunity to provide comments until 9 p.m.
6 pm DEQ Northwest Region Administrator Nina DeConcini’s welcome
6:15pm DEQ staff presentations on air and water permits, with questions invited after each presentation
7:45pm Additional questions invited about all aspects of DEQ permitting
8:00pm Opportunity to provide comments on air and water quality issues
8:55pm DEQ closing remarks
9 pm DEQ staff will be available until 9:30 p.m. to informally answer questions
DEQ Water Quality and Air Quality program staff will share information about DEQ’s authority, the status of permit applications, and potential time lines for drafting permits, holding a formal public hearing and making permitting decisions.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments related to DEQ permitting considerations and processes. There will be additional opportunities for public comment after this meeting as the DEQ permit processes continue.
Who is the applicant?
The applicant for the proposed Bradwood Landing project is Bradwood Landing, LLC, also known as Northern Star Energy, LLC, in reference to the pipeline.
What is proposed?
The proposed project would include a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal located in Bradwood, Oregon, between Astoria and Clatskanie on the Columbia River, and a gas transmission pipeline that would run from the facility to the vicinity of Port Westward and then under the Columbia River into Cowlitz County, Washington.
LNG terminal
Northern Star proposes to construct and operate a LNG import and storage terminal at Bradwood, located about 38.5 miles up the Columbia River from its mouth in Clatsop County. Northern Star's facilities would include:
• A marine LNG terminal, including a dredged turning basin and a single dock capable of handling about 125 LNG tankers per year
• Two insulated LNG storage tanks
• Boil-off gas management system and send-out pumps
• Submerged combustion vaporizers to convert LNG into natural gas
• Electric substation and distribution lines and emergency diesel-fueled generator
• Ancillary terminal facilities, including control room, maintenance shop, warehouse, office, security and safety system
• Measurement controls and natural gas metering facilities
The turning basin and berthing area would require initial dredging of approximately 700,000 cubic yards of material over approximately 45 acres within the Columbia River, and subsequent maintenance dredging estimated at 148,400 cubic yards every four years or 37,100 cubic yards annually.
The terminal would occupy about 40 acres of an approximately 411 acre site and would impact approximately 14.85 acres of wetland.
The estimated maximum air emissions from the terminal facility are: 128.8 tons per year of oxides of nitrogen; 203.1 tons per year of carbon monoxide; 21.4 tons per year of volatile organic compounds; 5.2 tons per year of sulfur dioxide; and 13.7 tons per year of particulate matter less than 10 microns and 2.5 microns in size. The majority of these emissions would come from natural gas-fired submerged combustion vaporizers that would be used to vaporize LNG for transport in the natural gas pipeline system.
LNG pipeline
The proposed 36-inch-diameter natural gas send-out pipeline would extend approximately 18.9 miles from the terminal site, through Clatsop and Columbia Counties, crossing under the Columbia River at Port Westward at approximately river mile 54, where it would continue into Washington. Delivery points along the proposed pipeline include the Georgia-Pacific paper mill at Wauna, Oregon, and the Portland General Electric (PGE) Beaver power plant at Port Westward, Oregon. The pipeline also would connect with the Northwest Natural intrastate pipeline near the PGE Beaver delivery point.
The pipeline would cross 66 water bodies (ditches, sloughs, tributaries and streams) in Oregon and 29 in Washington, all with potential temporary or permanent impacts. The pipeline would also impact approximately 75.64 acres of wetlands in Oregon and approximately 4.8 acres of wetlands in Washington.
Northern Star proposes Columbia River water withdrawals and discharges for pipeline testing, terminal operation and ship operation. Northern Star proposes restoration of temporary impacts and mitigation for permanent impacts.
Who will be affected?
Property owners, residents, river users and others in the vicinity of any of the proposed project activities may be affected.
What is DEQ’s role?
DEQ is responsible for protecting the quality of Oregon’s air, water and lands. The proposed Bradwood Landing project will require DEQ permits and certifications for construction and operation of the terminal and pipeline. DEQ will coordinate regulatory actions with other state and federal agencies. The March 3rd meeting will focus on the following permits and certifications.
Water quality certification and permits
Individual national pollutant discharge elimination system permit: DEQ has received application materials for national pollutant discharge elimination system permit coverage for stormwater discharges during construction of the proposed project for wastewater discharges associated with terminal operation
Air quality permit
What is the status of land use issues?
Any DEQ permit issued for the terminal or pipeline must be consistent with acknowledged local land use plans and regulations and statewide land use goals. Amended local plans and regulations are not acknowledged until all appeals have been completed. Northern Star has provided DEQ with a statement from Clatsop County indicating that the terminal and the portion of the pipeline within Clatsop County are consistent with newly amended County plans and regulations. The amendments to the plans and regulations are being reviewed on appeal, however, and are not yet acknowledged.
DEQ cannot issue permits allowing the terminal or pipeline until the appeals are completed. In addition, DEQ may decline to prepare draft permits until the appeals are completed. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals is currently reviewing the amended land use plans and regulations. DEQ expects the Board to make a decision in spring 2010. The Board's decision may be appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals.
DEQ is currently reviewing application materials for a standard air contaminant discharge permit for air pollution emissions from the proposed LNG terminal. Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act requires applicants for federal permits or licenses (in this case, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval) to obtain a 401 water quality certification from the State of Oregon, if the proposed activity may result in a discharge to waters of the state. DEQ is currently reviewing the proposed terminal and pipeline project to determine if conditions can be applied so that the project can comply with Oregon water quality standards and policies.
What will happen next?
DEQ will consider all water and air quality related comments received at and after the March 3rd meeting. These comments will inform DEQ’s development of draft permits for the proposed project.
The draft permits will be available for public review and comment at a later date. DEQ does not intend to respond in writing to individual comments received at the March 3rd meeting, but DEQ will include these comments in the official public record for the proposed project.
When draft permits are available for public review, DEQ will hold a formal public hearing to accept additional oral and written comments.
Following the public hearing, DEQ will review and consider all comments and information received and may issue or deny the permits for the proposed project.
Accessibility information
DEQ is committed to accommodating people with disabilities at our hearings. Please notify DEQ of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in large print, Braille or another format. To make these arrangements, contact DEQ Communications and Outreach at 503-229-5696 or toll free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011.
People with hearing impairments may call 711.
For more information
Marcia Danab
DEQ Communications and Outreach
Phone: 503-229-6488
E-mail:
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Submitted by Gloria MacKenzie
