renewable energy anaerobic digester project

124 Pages·2012·20.71 MB·English

R E A D
ENEWABLE NERGY NAEROBIC IGESTER
P
ROJECT
Final Tiered Initial Study
ThefollowingInitialStudyhasbeenpreparedincompliancewithCEQA.
PreparedBy:
ENVIRONMENTALSTEWARDSHIPANDSUSTAINABILITY
UniversityofCalifornia
OneShieldsAvenue
436MrakHall
Davis,California95616

JuneOctober2012
Contact:A.SidneyEngland,AssistantViceChancellorforEnvironmental
StewardshipandSustainability
530-752-2432

TABLEOFCONTENTS
1 PROJECTINFORMATION 1
2 INTRODUCTION 3
2.1 InitialStudy 3
2.2 TieringProcess 3
2.3 PublicandAgencyReview 4
2.4 ProjectApprovals 5
2.5 OrganizationoftheInitialStudy 5
3 PROJECTDESCRIPTION 7
3.1 RegionalLocation 7
3.2 ProjectOverview 7
3.3 ProjectNeedandObjectives 8
3.4 ProjectElements 8
3.5 ConstructionMethods,Schedule,andStaging 16
4 CONSISTENCYWITHTHE2003LRDPAND2003LRDPEIR 17
4.1 2003LRDPScopeofDevelopment 17
4.2 2003LRDPLandUseDesignation 17
4.3 2003LRDPPopulationProjections 17
4.4 2003LRDPObjectives 18
4.5 2003LRDPEIRCumulativeImpactsAnalyses 18
5 ENVIRONMENTALRESOURCESPOTENTIALLYAFFECTED 19
6 DETERMINATION 20
7 EVALUATIONOFENVIRONMENTALIMPACTS 21
7.1 Aesthetics 22
7.2 AgriculturalandForestryResources 26
7.3 AirQuality 29
7.4 BiologicalResources 38
7.5 CulturalResources 43
7.6 GeologyandSoils 48
7.7 GreenhouseGasEmissions 52
7.8 Hazards&HazardousMaterials 65
7.9 Hydrology&WaterQuality 70
7.10 LandUse&Planning 80
7.11 MineralResources 83
RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECTi
7.12 Noise 84
7.13 Population&Housing 89
7.14 PublicServices 92
7.15 Recreation 96
7.16 Transportation/Traffic 99
7.17 Utilities&ServiceSystems 105
7.18 MandatoryFindingsofSignificance 111
8 FISH&GAMEDETERMINATION 112
9 REFERENCES 113
10 REPORTPREPARERS 115
AppendixA.ProposedNegativeDeclaration
AppendixB.RevisedAirQualityandGreenhouseGasEmissionsCalculations
AppendixC.GreenhouseGasRegulatoryConsiderations
AppendixD.GreenhouseGasPotentialofUreaforUsewithSelectiveCatalyticReductionSystems
AppendixE.CommentsandResponsestoComments
LISTOFFIGURES
Figure1.RegionalLocation 9
Figure2.ProjectLocation 14
Figure3.LRDPLandUseMap 11
Figure4.SitePlan 12
Figure5.ProcessFlowDiagram 35
LISTOFTABLES
Table1EstimatedEmissions-Operation 34
Table2TopFiveGHGProducerCountriesandtheEuropeanUnion(Annual) 55
Table3AnnualGHGEmissionsinCalifornia 57
Table4EstimatedOperationalGHGEmissions 62
Table5EstimatedGHGEmissionsReductions 63
Table6ThresholdsofSignificanceforNoiseEvaluations 85
iiRENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT
UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIA JuneOctober2012
DavisCampus
1 PROJECTINFORMATION
Projecttitle:
RenewableEnergyAnaerobicDigesterProject
Projectlocation:
UniversityofCalifornia,Davis
YoloCounty,California
Leadagency’snameandaddress:
TheRegentsoftheUniversityofCalifornia
1111FranklinStreet
Oakland,California94607
Contactperson:
A.SidneyEngland,AssistantViceChancellorforEnvironmental
StewardshipandSustainability,530-752-2432
Projectsponsor’snameandaddress:
EnvironmentalStewardshipandSustainability
UniversityofCalifornia
OneShieldsAvenue
436MrakHall
Davis,California95616-8678
Locationofadministrativerecord:
Seeleadagency.
Identificationofpreviousdocumentsrelieduponfortieringpurposes:
ThisenvironmentalanalysisistieredfromtheEnvironmentalImpactReport(EIR)fortheUCDavis2003
LongRangeDevelopmentPlan(2003LRDP)(StateClearinghouseNo.2002102092).The2003LRDPisa
comprehensivelanduseplanthatguidesphysicaldevelopmentoncampustoaccommodateprojected
enrollmentincreasesandexpandedandnewprograminitiativesthroughthe2015-16academicyear.
Section2.2providesadditionalinformationaboutthetieringprocess.The2003LRDPanditsEIRare
availableforreviewatthefollowinglocations:
 UCDavisEnvironmentalStewardshipandSustainabilityin436MrakHallontheUCDaviscampus
 ReservesatShieldsLibraryontheUCDaviscampus
 YoloCountyPublicLibraryat2801SecondStreet,inDavis
 Onlineathttp://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/progress/commitment/planning/lrdp.html
RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT1
Note:RevisionstotheInitialStudyandNegativeDeclaration
TheproposedprojectremainssubstantiallyunchangedfromtheprojectdescribedintheJuly2,2009DraftInitial
StudyandNegativeDeclaration.ThisversionoftheInitialStudy/NegativeDeclaration(datedOctober,2012)
includesupdatedtextregardingthecommentsthatwerereceivedduringthe30-daypubliccommentperiod,the
commentlettersandresponsestothecomments(inAppendixE),staffinitiatedchangesandcorrectionsmadeby
UCDavis,andminortextchangesdescribingitemssuchasthepubliccommentperiodinthepasttenseratherthan
thepresenttense.
SincetheDraftInitialStudy/NegativeDeclarationwascirculated,thepowergenerationtechnologyincludedinthe
proposedprojecthasbeenfurtherevaluatedandanothertechnologyhasbeenselected.Themicroturbinesareno
longerapartoftheproject.Instead,alowemissionsinternalcombustionengine(ICE)wouldbeusedtogenerate
electricity.Thischangeinpowergenerationtechnologyhasbeenincorporatedintotheprojectdescriptionsectionof
theInitialStudyandtheenvironmentaleffectsofusinganICEhavebeenevaluatedandincorporatedintotheInitial
Study,specificallySubsections7.3AirQualityand7.7GreenhouseGasEmissions.Theanalysisshowsthatthe
selectedtechnologywouldresultinreducedemissionsofnitrogenoxide,reactiveorganicgases,andcarbon
monoxidecomparedtothemicroturbines.Althoughtheemissionsofthreepollutants(particulatematter10microns
orlessindiameter[PM10],particulatematter2.5micronsorlessindiameter[PM2.5],andsulfurdioxide[SO ]),
2
wouldbeslightlygreaterthanpreviouslyreportedforthemicroturbines,theemissionswouldstillbesubstantially
belowthethresholdsestablishedbytheYolo-SolanoAirQualityManagementDistrict.Similarly,althoughthe
greenhousegas(GHG)emissionsfromtheICEwouldbeslightlygreaterthantheemissionsreportedpreviouslyfor
themicroturbines,thetotalGHGemissionsfromtheprojectwouldstillbesubstantiallybelowtheapplicable
threshold.Therefore,recirculationoftheInitialStudy/NegativeDeclarationisnotrequired.
WherechangeshavebeenmadetotheInitialStudyandNegativeDeclaration,theformatstyleofaddingunderline
markingforadditionaltextandstrikeoutmarkingfordeletingthepriortexthasbeenusedasshownonthefollowing
example:
Exampleoftextchanges:
“ThisInitialStudyandproposedNegativeDeclarationfortheRenewableEnergyandAnaerobic
DigesterprojectwillbewascirculatedforpublicandagencyreviewfromJuly2toAugust1,
2012.Copiesofthisdocument,the2003LRDP,andthe2003LRDPEIRareweremadeavailable
forreviewatthefollowinglocations:”
Changesweremade(asindicatedwithunderlinedandstrikeouttext)inthefollowingsectionsofthisdocument:
Section2,Section7,Section8,Section9,andAppendixA.ArevisedAppendixBhasbeenincorporatedintothe
InitialStudy.
2RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT
2 INTRODUCTION
2.1 INITIALSTUDY
PursuanttoSection15063oftheCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct(CEQA)Guidelines(Title14,
CaliforniaCodeofRegulations,Sections15000etseq.),anInitialStudyisapreliminaryenvironmental
analysisthatisusedbytheleadagencyasabasisfordeterminingwhetheranEIR,aMitigatedNegative
Declaration,oraNegativeDeclarationisrequiredforaproject.The StateCEQAGuidelinesrequirethat
anInitialStudycontainaprojectdescription,descriptionofenvironmentalsetting,identificationof
environmentaleffectsbychecklistorothersimilarform,explanationofenvironmentaleffects,discussion
ofmitigationforsignificantenvironmentaleffects,evaluationoftheproject’sconsistencywithexisting,
applicablelandusecontrols,andthenameofpersonswhopreparedthestudy.
2.2 TIERINGPROCESS
TheCEQAconceptof"tiering"referstotheevaluationofgeneralenvironmentalmattersinabroad
program-levelEIR,withsubsequentfocusedenvironmentaldocumentsforindividualprojectsthat
implementtheprogram.CEQAandtheStateCEQAGuidelinesencouragetheuseoftieredenvironmental
documentstoreducedelaysandexcessivepaperworkintheenvironmentalreviewprocess.Thisis
accomplishedintiereddocumentsbyeliminatingrepetitiveanalysesofissuesthatwereadequately
addressedintheProgramEIRandbyincorporatingthoseanalysesbyreference.
Section15168(d)oftheStateCEQAGuidelinesprovidesforsimplifyingthepreparationofenvironmental
documentsonindividualpartsoftheprogrambyincorporatingbyreferenceanalysesanddiscussionsthat
applytotheprogramasawhole.WhereanEIRhasbeenpreparedorcertifiedforaprogramorplan,the
environmentalreviewforalateractivityconsistentwiththeprogramorplanshouldbelimitedtoeffects
thatwerenotanalyzedassignificantinthepriorEIRorthataresusceptibletosubstantialreductionor
avoidance(StateCEQAGuidelinesSection15152[d]).
ThisInitialStudyistieredfromtheUCDavis2003LRDPEIRinaccordancewithSections15152and
15168oftheStateCEQAGuidelinesandPublicResourcesCodeSection21094.Thisenvironmental
documentincorporatesbyreferencethediscussionsinthe2003LRDPEIRandconcentrateson
project-specificissues.The2003LRDPEIRisaProgramEIRthatwaspreparedpursuanttoSection
15168oftheStateCEQAGuidelines.The2003LRDPisacomprehensivelanduseplanthatguides
physicaldevelopmentoncampustoaccommodateprojectedenrollmentincreasesandexpandedandnew
programinitiativesthroughthe2015-16academicyear.The2003LRDPEIRanalyzesfull
implementationofusesandphysicaldevelopmentproposedunderthe2003LRDP,anditidentifies
measurestomitigatethesignificantadverseprogram-levelandcumulativeimpactsassociatedwiththat
growth.Theproposedprojectisacampussupportusethatwouldservethegrowththatwasanticipatedin
the2003LRDPandevaluatedinthe2003LRDPEIR.
Bytieringfromthe2003LRDPEIR,thisTieredInitialStudywillreliesyonthe2003LRDPEIRforthe
following:
 adiscussionofgeneralbackgroundandsettinginformationforenvironmentaltopicareas;
 overallgrowth-relatedissues;
 issuesthatwereevaluatedinsufficientdetailinthe2003LRDPEIRforwhichthereisno
significantnewinformationorchangeincircumstancesthatwouldrequirefurtheranalysis;and
 assessmentofcumulativeimpacts.
RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT3
ThisInitialStudywillevaluatesthepotentialenvironmentalimpactsoftheproposedprojectwithrespect
tothe2003LRDPEIRtodeterminewhatlevelofadditionalenvironmentalreview,ifany,isappropriate.
AsshownintheDeterminationinSection6ofthisdocument,andbasedontheanalysiscontainedinthis
InitialStudy,ithasbeendeterminedthattheproposedprojectwouldnothaveanyadditionaleffectson
theenvironmentthatwerenotpreviouslyaddressedoradequatelyaddressedinthe2003LRDPEIR.
ThisInitialStudyconcludesthatmanypotentiallysignificantprojectimpactsareaddressedbythe
measuresthathavebeenadoptedaspartoftheapprovalofthe2003LRDP.Therefore,those2003LRDP
EIRmitigationmeasuresthatarerelatedto,andmayreducetheimpactsof,thisprojectareidentifiedin
thisInitialStudy.Sincethesemitigationmeasuresarealreadybeingcarriedoutaspartofimplementation
ofthe2003LRDP,theywillnotbereadopted,butratherareincorporatedaspartoftheproject.The
benefitsofthesemitigationmeasureswillbeachievedindependentlyofconsideringthemasspecific
mitigationmeasuresofthisproject.NothinginthisInitialStudyinanywayalterstheobligationsofthe
campustoimplementtheLRDPmitigationmeasures.
2.3 PUBLICANDAGENCYREVIEW
ThisInitialStudyandproposedNegativeDeclarationfortheRenewableEnergyandAnaerobicDigester
projectwillbewascirculatedforpublicandagencyreviewfromJuly2toAugust1,2012.Copiesofthis
document,the2003LRDP,andthe2003LRDPEIRareweremadeavailableforreviewatthefollowing
locations:
 UCDavisEnvironmentalStewardshipandSustainabilityin436MrakHallontheUCDavis
campus
 ReservesatShieldsLibraryontheUCDaviscampus
 YoloCountyPublicLibraryat315East14thStreetinDavis
 Onlineat
http://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/progress/commitment/environmental_review/index.html
CommentsonthisInitialStudyandproposedNegativeDeclarationmustbereceivedweredueby
5:00PMonAugust1,[email protected]
orsentto:
SidEngland
AssistantViceChancellorforEnvironmentalStewardshipandSustainability
UniversityofCalifornia,OneShieldsAvenue
436MrakHall
Davis,California95616
Duringthecommentperiod,commentletterswerereceivedfromthefollowingagencies:
 CaliforniaDepartmentofResourcesRecyclingandRecovery(CalRecycle)
 CaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation(Caltrans)
 Yolo-SolanoAirQualityManagementDistrict
ThecommentletterfromCalRecycleindicatedthattheProjectmayrequireaTransfer/Processingpermit
whichwillbehandledduringthepermittingprocess.CalRecyclenotedthattheprojectdescriptiondoes
notlistvehicletripsperdaynorhoursoffacilityoperation.Vehicletripstodeliverfeedstockare
4RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT
discussedintheairqualitysection,aswellasgreenhousegasemissions,noiseandtrafficsections.The
compostingandinternalcombustionengine(ICE)wouldoperate24hoursaday.Incomingandoutgoing
truckstypicallywouldobserveregularbusinesshours,MondaythroughFriday,8:00AMto5:00PM
exceptduringtimesformaintenance.InformationwasrequestedregardinguseoftheAgBagsystemfor
compostingofdigestateonsite.Additionaltextwasaddedtotheprojectdescriptionthatdescribesthe
location,sizeofthewindrowsneeded,amountofbulking(greenwaste)agent,designofleachatesystem,
biofilter,andodorcontrolfortheAgBagsystem.CalRecyclerequestedclarificationregardingon-site
storage.Noon-sitestorageofwastesisproposed.However,digestatecouldremainonsiteinAgBagsfor
upto90days.Thecommentletterdoesnotraiseissuesthathavenotbeenaddressedandanalyzedinthe
InitialStudy.
ThecommentletterfromCaltransrecommendedthatconstructionvehiclesremainoffofStateRoutes
duringpeaktravelperiods,whichwillbetakenintoconsiderationduringprojectconstruction.
ThecommentletterfromtheYolo-SolanoAirQualityManagementDistrictexpressedinterestinthe
amountofemissionsthebulkingagentwouldproduceifitwereusedduringcomposting.Inaddition,
estimatedemissionsfromtrucktransportofthebulkingagentwererequested.Additionalcalculationsfor
thebulkingagentandtransportofthebulkingagentwerecompletedandaddedtotheInitialStudy.The
designparameterswereclarifiedtoindicatethattheflarewouldonlybeinusewhentheICEisnot
functioning.TherevisedemissionsareincludedintherevisedInitialStudyandarelowerthanthe
emissionspreviouslyreported.
2.4 PROJECTAPPROVALS
Asapublicagencyprincipallyresponsibleforapprovingorcarryingouttheproposedproject,the
UniversityofCaliforniaistheLeadAgencyunderCEQAandisresponsibleforreviewingandcertifying
theadequacyoftheenvironmentaldocument.Itisexpectedthatapprovaloftheproposedprojectwillbe
consideredbytheUniversityofCaliforniaOfficeofthePresident(UCOP)pursuanttoStandingOrdersof
TheBoardofRegentsoftheUniversityofCalifornia(TheRegents)andPresidentialDelegationsof
Authority.ConsiderationbytheUCOPisanticipatedtooccurinAugustOctober2012.
2.5 ORGANIZATIONOFTHEINITIALSTUDY
ThisInitialStudyisorganizedintothefollowingsections:
Section1–ProjectInformation:providessummarybackgroundinformationabouttheproposedproject,
includingprojectlocation,leadagency,andcontactinformation.
Section2–Introduction:summarizestheInitialStudy'srelationshiptothe2003LRDPEIR,thescope
ofthedocument,theproject’sreviewandapprovalprocesses,andthedocument'sorganization.
Section3–ProjectDescription:includesadescriptionoftheproposedproject,includingtheneedfor
theproject,theproject’sobjectives,andtheelementsincludedintheproject.
Section4–Consistencywiththe2003LRDP:describestheconsistencyoftheproposedprojectwith
the2003LRDPand2003LRDPEIR.
Section5–EnvironmentalFactorsPotentiallyAffected:identifieswhichenvironmentalfactors,ifany,
involveatleastonesignificantorpotentiallysignificantimpactthathasnotbeenpreviouslyaddressedin
the2003LRDPEIRandcannotbereducedtoalessthansignificantlevel.
RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT5
Section6–Determination:indicateswhetherimpactsassociatedwiththeproposedprojectare
significant,andwhat,ifany,additionalenvironmentaldocumentationisrequired.
Section7–EvaluationofEnvironmentalImpacts:containstheEnvironmentalChecklistformforeach
resourcearea.Thechecklistisusedtoassistinevaluatingthepotentialenvironmentalimpactsofthe
proposedproject.Thissectionalsopresentsabackgroundsummaryforeachresourcearea,thestandards
ofsignificance,relevantimpacts,andmitigationmeasuresfromthe2003LRDPEIR,andanexplanation
ofallchecklistanswers.
Section8–FishandGameDetermination:indicatesiftheprojecthasapotentialtoimpactwildlifeor
habitatandifanassociatedFishandGamefilingfeewouldbepaid.
Section9–References:listsreferencesusedinthepreparationofthisdocument.
Section10–AgenciesandPersonsConsulted:providesthenamesofindividualscontactedin
preparationofthisdocument.
Section11–ReportPreparers:liststhenamesofindividualsinvolvedinthepreparationofthis
document.
6RENEWABLEENERGYANAEROBICDIGESTERPROJECT