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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29728-29732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12632]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Notice of Potential Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the 
FutureGen 2.0 Program

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Intent and Notice of Potential Floodplain and 
Wetlands Involvement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) 
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and DOE's NEPA implementing 
procedures (10 CFR Part 1021) to assess the potential environmental 
impacts of DOE's proposed action: providing approximately $1 billion in 
Federal funding (most of it appropriated by the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act, or ``ARRA'') for the FutureGen 2.0 program. DOE has 
prepared this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform interested parties of 
the pending EIS and to invite public comments on the proposed action, 
including: (1) The range of environmental issues, (2) the alternatives 
to be analyzed, and (3) the impacts to be considered in the EIS. The 
NOI also provides notice in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022 (DOE's 
regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetland review 
requirements) that the proposed project may involve potential impacts 
to floodplains and wetlands.
    The FutureGen 2.0 program would provide financial assistance for 
the repowering of an existing electricity generator with clean coal 
technologies integrated with a pipeline that would transport carbon 
dioxide (CO2) to a sequestration site where it would be 
injected and stored in a deep geologic formation. DOE entered into 
separate cooperative agreements with Ameren Energy Resources (Ameren) 
and with the FutureGen Alliance (the Alliance) that define DOE's 
proposed action. This program consists of an Oxy-Combustion Large Scale 
Test undertaken by Ameren at its Meredosia Power Station in west 
central Illinois and a Pipeline and CO2 Storage Reservoir 
undertaken by the Alliance. In addition, the Alliance would construct 
and operate facilities for research, training, and visitors in the 
vicinity of the sequestration site. The Alliance has identified its 
preferred sequestration site in Morgan County, Illinois, and two 
alternative sites, one in Christian County, Illinois and one in Douglas 
County, Illinois. The program would provide performance and emissions 
data as well as establish operating and maintenance experience that 
would facilitate future large-scale commercial deployment of these 
technologies. DOE would provide technical and programmatic guidance to 
Ameren and the Alliance and oversee activities for compliance with the 
terms of the cooperative agreements. DOE is responsible for NEPA 
compliance activities.
    DOE encourages government agencies, private-sector organizations, 
and the general public to participate in the FutureGen 2.0 program 
through the NEPA process. DOE will consult with interested Native 
American Tribes and Federal, state, regional and local agencies during 
preparation of the EIS. Further, DOE invites agencies with jurisdiction 
by law or special expertise to participate as cooperating agencies in 
the preparation of this EIS.

DATES: DOE invites comments on the proposed scope and content of the 
EIS from all interested parties. To ensure consideration in the 
preparation of the EIS, comments must be received by June 22, 2011. DOE 
will consider late comments to the extent practicable. In addition to 
receiving comments in writing and by e-mail [See ADDRESSES below], DOE 
will conduct public scoping meetings during which government agencies, 
private-sector organizations, and the general public are invited to 
present oral and written comments with regard to DOE's proposed action, 
alternatives, and potential impacts of the proposed FutureGen 2.0 
program. DOE will consider these comments in developing the EIS. Public 
scoping meetings will be held on June 7, 8, and 9, 2011 [See ``Public 
Scoping Process'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below].

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS and requests to 
participate in the public scoping meetings should be addressed to: Mr. 
Cliff Whyte, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology 
Laboratory, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, West Virginia 26507-0880. 
Individuals and organizations who would like to provide oral or written 
comments should contact Mr. Whyte by mail at the above address; 
telephone (toll-free) 1-877-338-5689; fax 304-285-4403; or electronic 
mail (FG2.EIS@netl.doe.gov).
    Oral comments will be heard during the formal portion of the 
scoping meetings [See ``Public Scoping Process'' under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION below]. Various displays and other information about DOE's 
NEPA process and the FutureGen 2.0 program will be available, and 
representatives from DOE and the project partners will be present at an 
informal session to discuss the FutureGen 2.0 program and the EIS 
process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
project, contact Mr. Whyte as described above. For general information 
about the DOE NEPA process, please contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, 
Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; 
telephone (202-586-4600); fax (202-586-7031); or leave a toll-free 
message (1-800-472-2756).

[[Page 29729]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On February 27, 2003, President George W. Bush proposed that the 
United States undertake a $1 billion, 10-year project to build the 
world's first coal-fueled plant to produce electricity and hydrogen 
with near-zero emissions. In response to that announcement, DOE 
developed plans for the original FutureGen project, which would 
establish the technical and economic feasibility of producing 
electricity and hydrogen from coal--a low-cost and abundant energy 
resource--while capturing and geologically storing the CO2 
generated in the process. DOE issued a Final EIS for the original 
FutureGen project (DOE/EIS-0394) in November 2007 and an associated 
Record of Decision in July 2009 (74 FR 35174). The proposed action 
would have resulted in the construction and operation of a 330-MWe 
(gross) integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant near 
Mattoon, Illinois, with capture and storage of more than 1 million tons 
of CO2 per year in the Mount Simon geologic formation. The 
total cost of the original FutureGen Project proved to be higher than 
acceptable, however, causing a funding gap that could not be filled by 
Federal or state governments or private industry. As a result DOE 
refocused its approach. The FutureGen 2.0 program consists of the two 
separate Cooperative Agreements with Ameren and the Alliance. Ameren's 
partners include Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group (B&W) and Air 
Liquide Process & Construction, Inc. (AL). The Alliance is a non-profit 
corporation that represents a global coalition of coal producers, coal 
users and coal equipment suppliers, including full members: Alpha 
Natural Resources, Inc.; Anglo American, LLC; CONSOL Energy, Inc.; 
Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company 
(LG&E and KU); Peabody Energy Corporation; Rio Tinto Energy America; 
and Xstrata, PLC.

Purpose and Need for DOE Action

    In pursuing the United States' goal of providing safe, affordable 
and clean energy for its citizens, coal plays an important role in the 
nation's energy supply. However, without carbon capture and 
sequestration, the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels leads to 
increased releases of CO2 into the atmosphere. Because power 
plants are large stationary sources, it is generally considered to be 
more feasible to capture CO2 from them and store it rather 
than attempting to capture it from mobile sources such as automobiles.
    To this end, DOE has sought to support near-zero emissions 
technologies that would produce electric power from coal while 
permanently storing CO2 in deep geologic formations. The 
technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of producing 
electric power from coal coupled with geologic storage technology must 
be proven. DOE believes that oxy-combustion technology has the 
potential to help open a market for repowering in many of the world's 
existing pulverized coal power plants. In the absence of the proven 
operation of a repowered, near-zero emissions plant, the contribution 
of coal to the nation's energy supply could be reduced. This could 
potentially increase the use of higher cost and/or nondomestic energy 
resources and impact the domestic economy as well as energy security.

Proposed Action

    DOE proposes to provide financial assistance (approximately $1 
billion) to Ameren and the Alliance to support implementation of their 
projects, which if successful would provide critical performance and 
emissions data as well as establish operating, permitting, maintenance, 
and other experience needed for future commercial deployment of these 
technologies.
    The FutureGen 2.0 program seeks to continue the work of the 
original FutureGen project by advancing technology that can make the 
United States a world leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS). In 
formulating its proposal for FutureGen 2.0, DOE sought to reduce the 
project's overall cost by changing the technology from coal 
gasification to oxy-combustion. The inherent scalability of oxy-
combustion technology allows a reduction in power plant size with 
substantial cost benefits. Studies by DOE's National Energy Technology 
Laboratory have identified oxy-combustion technology as a potentially 
cost-effective approach to implement carbon capture at existing coal-
fueled facilities. It also has the potential for use in new power 
plants as well as in repowering a large cross-section of the world's 
existing pulverized coal plants.
    The FutureGen 2.0 program would proceed through 2020 with design, 
construction, operation, and monitoring. Performance and economic test 
results would be shared among all participants, industry, the 
environmental community, and the public. The Alliance has an open 
membership policy to encourage the addition of other coal producers, 
coal users and coal equipment suppliers, both domestic and 
international. Consistent with the original FutureGen project, DOE 
encourages participation from international organizations to maximize 
the global applicability and acceptance of FutureGen 2.0's results, 
helping to support an international consensus on the role of coal and 
geologic storage in addressing global greenhouse gas emissions and 
energy security.

Oxy-Combustion Large Scale Test

    For the Oxy-Combustion Large Scale Test, Ameren and its team would 
repower Unit 4 at Ameren's Meredosia Power Station in west central 
Illinois using advanced oxy-combustion technology. The oxy-combustion 
facility may be capable of running on a range of coals and operating 
conditions. The data generated would be used to expand the market for 
oxy-combustion technology. The project is also expected to provide 
performance and emissions data as well as establish operating and 
maintenance experience that will facilitate future large-scale 
commercial projects.
    The scope of this test includes project definition, design, 
procurement, manufacture, installation, startup, commercial operation 
and testing of an integrated oxy-combustion coal boiler with 
CO2 capture, purification, and compression. The plant would 
generate approximately 200 MWe gross with a net output estimated at 
approximately 140 MWe. The CO2 would be cleaned, compressed 
for transport, and delivered to a terminal point for transfer to the 
Alliance's project.
    Meredosia Power Station: The Meredosia Power Station is located 
adjacent to the east side of the Illinois River, south of Meredosia, 
Illinois, approximately 18 miles west of Jacksonville, Illinois. The 
plant includes four generating units, three of which are coal-fired and 
one of which is oil-fired. Unit 4, built in 1975, is an oil-fired unit 
that is currently idle. The steam turbine and generator have low 
operating hours and could be placed into service as part of the 
repowered oxy-combustion design. The station contains existing 
infrastructure that could support the operation of the oxy-combustion 
system including interconnection to the electrical grid, water supply 
and intake structures, wastewater outfalls, coal storage and handling 
areas, and barge and truck delivery systems for coal. The 5,300-foot 
western boundary of the 260-acre Meredosia Power Station fronts the 
Illinois River, where the station's oil and coal barge unloading 
facilities are located. The land immediately adjacent to the station on 
the north, northeast and southeast is railroad property; other

[[Page 29730]]

immediately adjacent property is roadway. Beyond and in addition to the 
railroad property and roadways, land use is primarily residential to 
the north and northeast, scattered residential and agricultural to the 
east, and industrial to the south.
    Oxy-Combustion Technology: This technology involves designing the 
power plant's boiler to combust coal with a mixture of nearly pure 
oxygen and recycled flue gas (which is primarily CO2) rather 
than air. An air separation unit produces the oxygen. The concentrated 
stream of CO2 that leaves the boiler would be ready for 
processing by environmental cleanup equipment (to remove other captured 
emissions) and the compression and purification unit. The concentrated 
and compressed CO2 would then be transferred to a pipeline 
for transmission to the Alliance's storage location. The oxy-combustion 
technology during normal operations would produce near-zero emissions 
of oxides of nitrogen (NOX), oxides of sulfur (SOx), 
mercury, particulate matter and other pollutants typical of a 
conventional coal-fired boiler. The plant would be designed to capture 
approximately 1.3 million metric tons of CO2 per year from 
the oxy-combustion system and is targeted to achieve a CO2 
capture rate exceeding 90 percent.

Pipeline and CO2 Storage Reservoir

    For the Pipeline and CO2 Storage Reservoir project, the 
Alliance would design, construct, and operate a transmission pipeline 
and geologic injection and storage facility. The Alliance's work 
involves selection of a suitable storage site, development of the 
subsurface storage field, development of CO2 transport 
infrastructure (pipeline), and construction of the associated research 
and training facilities, including a visitor center. The Alliance has 
identified its preferred site in Morgan County, Illinois, for the 
injection facility, and two other sites (one in Christian County and 
one in Douglas County, Illinois) as potential alternate locations 
should the preferred site prove infeasible. The Alliance's preferred 
site for geologic storage in Morgan County, Illinois is approximately 
30 miles from the Meredosia Power Station, and the Alliance's alternate 
sites in Christian County and Douglas County, Illinois are 
approximately 75 and 125 miles from the plant site, respectively. All 
three sites would be evaluated in the EIS unless DOE determines that 
they are not reasonable alternatives.
    The Alliance would construct a pipeline to transport CO2 
from the Meredosia Power Station to the selected storage site where it 
would be injected through deep wells into the target geologic 
formation. The pipeline and storage reservoir would be designed to 
inject and store approximately 39 million metric tons over a 30-year 
operating period. Depending on stakeholder and landowner acceptance, 
the Alliance may also consider other sources of CO2 in 
addition to that from Ameren's plant for injection. Research would 
include site characterization, injection and storage, and 
CO2 monitoring and measurement.
    The target formation for CO2 injection and storage is 
the Mount Simon sandstone formation, which is one of the Illinois 
Basin's major deep saline formations. The formation's positive 
characteristics for CO2 storage include its isolation from 
other strata, as well as its depth, lateral continuity, and relative 
permeability. The Mount Simon is bounded below by a Pre-Cambrian 
igneous rock and above by the Eau Claire formation, which is a mixture 
of tightly layered shales with low permeability, as well as by 
secondary caprock formations above the Eau Claire. The Alliance would 
implement a monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) program to 
monitor the injection and storage of CO2 within the geologic 
formations to verify that it stays within the target formation. The MVA 
program would meet injection control permitting and requirements that 
DOE may impose. In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, the 
Alliance would be required to obtain a Class VI underground injection 
control permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The MVA 
program consists of the following components: (1) Injection system 
monitoring; (2) containment monitoring (via monitoring wells, 
mechanical integrity testing, and other means); (3) CO2 
plume tracking via multiple techniques; (4) CO2 injection 
simulation modeling; and (5) perhaps new experimental techniques not 
yet in practice.

Proposed Project Schedules

    The Oxy-Combustion Large Scale Test would initiate operations 
(including CO2 capture, purification and compression) in 
2016 and complete federally-funded project activities (operational 
testing) in 2018. The Pipeline and CO2 Storage Reservoir 
would become operational at the same time (2016) and complete 
federally-funded project activities (operational testing and two-years 
of additional federally-funded MVA activities) in 2020. CO2 
capture, pipeline transport, injection, and MVA activities are expected 
to operate (without federal funding) for approximately 30 years. MVA 
activities would take place during injection and continue beyond its 
cessation as prescribed by regulatory requirements. The schedule is 
contingent upon Ameren and the Alliance receiving the necessary permits 
and regulatory approvals, as well as financial closing on all the 
necessary funding sources, including DOE's financial assistance. DOE's 
proposal to provide full financial assistance for detailed design, 
procurement of equipment, construction, and operations is contingent 
upon DOE's completion of the NEPA process, and achievement of the 
permitting and financial requirements listed above by Ameren and the 
Alliance.

Connected and Cumulative Actions

    The components of the FutureGen 2.0 program will be evaluated 
individually and collectively within the EIS. Although injection of 
other sources of CO2 is not currently proposed, such 
injection is reasonably foreseeable and will be evaluated in the EIS. 
DOE will also consider the cumulative impacts of the program, which 
will include the analysis of emissions (including greenhouse gas 
emissions) and other incremental impacts. Cumulative impacts are 
impacts on the environment which result from the incremental impacts of 
an action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable 
future actions.

Alternatives

    NEPA requires that an EIS evaluate the range of reasonable 
alternatives to an agency's proposed action. DOE's range of reasonable 
alternatives includes the No Action Alternative, which is to withhold 
financial assistance for the FutureGen 2.0 program, and the Action 
Alternative, which is to provide financial assistance to the FutureGen 
2.0 program.
    DOE has developed the range of reasonable alternatives for 
FutureGen 2.0 program based on evaluation of various clean coal 
technologies through the Clean Coal Power Initiative program; analysis 
of the original FutureGen Project in terms of technology, costs, and 
suitability for geologic storage; data obtained and reviewed through 
various funding opportunity announcements; data obtained for the 
original FutureGen Project and a related project called Restructured 
FutureGen; and the interest of industry to participate in projects to 
support FutureGen 2.0 based on these evaluations. In particular, DOE's 
current proposal to advance the programmatic goal of CO2 
storage in the

[[Page 29731]]

Mount Simon Formation in Illinois through the FutureGen Program was 
addressed in its Final Environmental Impact Statement for the FutureGen 
Project (DOE/EIS-0394 [November 2007]) and associated Record of 
Decision (74 FR 35174 (2009)).
    Through review and consideration of these data and analysis, the 
repowering of an existing power plant with oxy-combustion technology 
was identified as the approach that would meet cost and technology 
advancement objectives of FutureGen Program. Furthermore, DOE 
determined that due to cost and technical advantages obtained through 
efforts conducted by the FutureGen Alliance under the original 
FutureGen Project, that the Alliance's choice of geologic storage 
formations would be limited to the Mount Simon Formation. Given these 
factors, reasonable alternatives were limited to potential oxy-
combustion repowering projects at a location from which it would remain 
economically viable to transport captured CO2 for injection 
into the Mount Simon Formation.
    The range of reasonable alternatives for a financial assistance 
project that is proposed by industrial participants is limited to the 
alternatives or project options under consideration by the participants 
or that are reasonable within the confines of the project as proposed 
(e.g., the particular location of the processing units, pipelines, 
injection sites on land proposed for the project, and potential 
measures to mitigate potential environmental impacts) and a ``no-
action'' alternative. Regarding the no action alternative, DOE assumes 
for purposes of the EIS that, if DOE decides to withhold financial 
assistance, the project would not proceed.
    DOE will evaluate the two projects that constitute the FutureGen 
2.0 program with and without any mitigating conditions that DOE may 
identify as reasonable and appropriate. Alternatives considered in 
developing respective components of the proposed FutureGen 2.0 program 
and eliminated from further consideration will also be discussed in the 
EIS.
    The sequestration site would be designed to accept and store at a 
minimum the CO2 captured at Ameren's Meredosia Power Station 
over its 30-year design life. The Alliance undertook a site selection 
process in October 2010 with the issuance of a Request for Proposals 
seeking a site upon which the Alliance would construct and operate the 
CO2 storage project. The Alliance hosted two public 
meetings, one for prospective site offerors and a subsequent meeting 
for the general public, on October 28, 2010, in Springfield, Illinois. 
Representatives for 16 proposed sites attended the meeting, and the 
Alliance received proposals from six sites in November 2010. In 
December 2010, the Alliance selected four of the six sites for further 
evaluation and subsequently identified three candidate sites, one 
preferred and two alternates, which will be evaluated in the EIS.
    DOE will also consider a no-action alternative whereby the 
Department would not fund the FutureGen 2.0 program and the project 
would not proceed. In the absence of DOE funding, it would be unlikely 
that the project proponents, or industry in general, would soon 
undertake the utility-scale integration of CO2 capture and 
geologic storage with a coal-fired power plant repowered with oxy-
combustion. Absent DOE's investment in a utility-scale facility, the 
development of oxy-combustion repowered plants integrated with 
CO2 capture and geologic storage would occur more slowly or 
not at all.

Decision Making Process

    DOE will consider public scoping comments in preparing a Draft EIS, 
which will be issued for public comment. DOE will consider public 
comments on the Draft EIS and respond as appropriate in the Final EIS. 
No sooner than 30 days following completion of the Final EIS, DOE would 
announce its decision regarding whether to provide financial assistance 
to these projects in a Record of Decision (ROD). If DOE decides to 
provide financial assistance, the Alliance would develop its pipeline 
and storage site. Similarly, Ameren would proceed with detailed design 
and construction activities at the Meredosia site.

Floodplains and Wetlands

    Activities required to implement the FutureGen 2.0 program, such as 
those required to repower Unit 4 at the Meredosia Power Station, would 
be undertaken to avoid or minimize potential impacts to wetlands or 
floodplains. The Meredosia Power Station site includes low lying areas 
to the west, north, and south, which are located in the floodplain. 
However, the existing generating units as well as proposed locations 
for the new oxy-combustion unit are located above the floodplain 
elevation. Any wetland and floodplain impacts that might result from 
installation of monitoring and injection wells, or the construction of 
CO2 pipelines or other linear features required for this 
program, will be described in the EIS. In the event that DOE were to 
identify wetlands and floodplains that would be affected by the 
FutureGen 2.0 program as a result of pipelines, injection facilities, 
or connected actions, DOE would prepare a floodplain and wetland 
assessment in accordance with its regulations at 10 CFR Part 1022, and 
include the assessment in the Draft EIS.

Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues

    DOE intends to address the issues listed below when considering the 
potential impacts resulting from the construction and operation of the 
proposed FutureGen 2.0 program and any connected actions. This list is 
neither intended to be all-inclusive, nor a predetermined set of 
potential impacts. DOE invites comments on whether this is an 
appropriate list of issues that should be considered in the EIS. The 
preliminary list of potentially affected resources or activities and 
their related environmental issues includes:
    Air quality resources: Potential air quality impacts from emissions 
during construction and operation of the repowered Unit 4 at the 
Meredosia plant or CCS facilities and other related facilities on local 
or regional air quality;
    Climate change: Potential impacts from emissions of CO2 
and other greenhouse gas emissions;
    Water resources: Potential impacts from water utilization and 
consumption, plus potential impacts from stream crossings and 
wastewater discharges;
    Infrastructure and land use: Potential environmental and 
socioeconomic impacts associated with the project, including delivery 
of feed materials and distribution of products (e.g., access roads, 
pipelines);
    Visual resources: Potential impacts to the view shed, scenic views 
(e.g., impacts from the injection wells, pipelines, and support 
facilities for the injection wells and pipelines), and perception of 
the community or locality;
    Solid wastes: Pollution prevention and waste management issues 
(generation, treatment, transport, storage, disposal or use), including 
potential impacts from the generation, treatment, storage, and 
management of hazardous materials and other solid wastes;
    Biological resources: Potential impacts to vegetation, wildlife, 
threatened or endangered species, and ecologically sensitive habitats;
    Floodplains and wetlands: Potential wetland and floodplain impacts 
from construction of project facilities;
    Traffic: Potential impacts from the construction and operation of 
the facilities, including changes in local traffic patterns, 
deterioration of roads, traffic hazards, and traffic controls;

[[Page 29732]]

    Historic and cultural resources: Potential impacts related to site 
development and the associated linear facilities (e.g., pipelines);
    Geology: Potential impacts from the injection and storage of 
CO2 on underground resources such as ground water supplies, 
mineral resources, and fossil fuel resources, and the fate and 
stability of CO2 being stored;
    Health and safety issues: Potential impacts associated with use, 
transport, and storage of hazardous chemicals, as well as 
CO2 capture and transport to the sequestration site;
    Socioeconomics: Potential impacts to schools, housing, public 
services, and local revenues, including the creation of jobs;
    Environmental justice: Potential for disproportionately high and 
adverse impacts on minority and low-income populations;
    Noise and light: Potential disturbance impacts from construction, 
transportation of materials, and facility operations;
    Connected actions: Potential impacts from the integrated operations 
of the oxy-combustion project and sequestration project, as well as 
potential development of support facilities or supporting 
infrastructure;
    Cumulative effects that could result from the incremental impacts 
of the proposed project when added to other past, present, and 
reasonably foreseeable future actions;
    DOE will also address compliance with regulatory and environmental 
permitting requirements and environmental monitoring plans associated 
with the carbon capture facility and CO2 geologic storage 
activities.

Public Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process under NEPA, 
which will guide the development of the Draft EIS. To ensure 
identification of issues related to DOE's proposed action with respect 
to the proposed FutureGen 2.0 program, DOE seeks public input to define 
the scope of the EIS. The public scoping period will end June 22, 2011. 
Interested government agencies, Native American Tribes, private-sector 
organizations, and the general public are encouraged to submit comments 
or suggestions concerning the content of the EIS, issues and impacts 
that should be addressed, and alternatives that should be considered. 
Scoping comments should clearly describe specific issues or topics that 
the EIS should address. Written, e-mailed, or faxed comments should be 
received by June 22, 2011 (see ADDRESSES). DOE will consider late 
comments to the extent practicable.
    DOE will conduct public scoping meetings according to the following 
schedule:

June 7, 2011--Taylorville High School, 815 W. Springfield Road, 
Taylorville, IL 62568.
June 8, 2011--Ironhorse Golf Club, 2000 Ironhorse Drive, Tuscola, IL 
61953.
June 9, 2011--The Jacksonville Elks Lodge, 231 West Morgan Street, 
Jacksonville, IL 62650.

    Each public scoping meeting will include an informal session from 5 
to 7 p.m, followed by a formal presentation at 7 p.m.
    Oral comments will be heard during the formal portion of the 
scoping meetings. The public is also invited to learn more about the 
project at an informal session at each location. DOE requests that 
anyone who wishes to speak at the public scoping meetings should 
contact Mr. Whyte, either by phone, e-mail, fax, or postal mail (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Those who do not arrange in advance to speak may register at the 
meeting (preferably at the beginning of the meeting) and would be given 
an opportunity to speak after previously scheduled speakers. Speakers 
will be given approximately five minutes to present their comments. 
Those speakers who want more than five minutes should indicate the 
length of time desired in their request. Depending on the number of 
speakers, DOE may need to limit all speakers to five minutes initially 
and provide additional opportunity as time permits. Individuals may 
also provide written materials in lieu of, or supplemental to, their 
presentations. DOE will give equal consideration to oral and written 
comments.
    DOE will begin the formal meeting with an overview of the proposed 
FutureGen 2.0 program. The meeting will not be conducted as an 
evidentiary hearing, and speakers will not be cross-examined. However, 
speakers may be asked questions to help ensure that DOE fully 
understands the comments or suggestions. A presiding officer will 
establish the order of speakers and provide any additional procedures 
necessary to conduct the meeting. A stenographer will record the 
proceedings, including all oral comments received.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 18th day of May 2011.
Charles D. McConnell,
Chief Operating Officer, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011-12632 Filed 5-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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