NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
Kalama Manufacturing & Marine Export Facility
December 13th, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm; doors open at 5:00 pm.
Cowlitz County Event Center located at 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632
Purpose of this Notice: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Supplemental EIS) for the Kalama Manufacturing and Marine Export Facility (the proposed project) is being released for public review and comment. A public hearing will be conducted where the public may comment on the Draft Supplemental EIS. An expanded comment period will begin on November 13, 2018 and end on December 28, 2018. All comments received during the comment period will be reviewed and considered in the preparation of the Final Supplemental EIS.
Description of Proposal: NW Innovation Works, LLC – Kalama (NWIW) proposes to develop and operate a natural gas-to-methanol production plant and storage facilities on approximately 90 acres in the Port of Kalama (Port). The proposed project objective is the manufacture and shipment of methanol to global markets, primarily in Asia for use as a feedstock for manufacturing olefins used in the production of plastics and other materials. Natural gas will be delivered to the methanol plant via a proposed new transmission pipeline lateral. Northwest Pipeline GP will be responsible for obtaining permits for and constructing this pipeline, extending from its existing pipeline approximately three miles through unincorporated Cowlitz County and the City of Kalama. Methanol will be transferred by pipeline across Port property from the storage area to a deep draft marine terminal on the Columbia River including a new dock and new berth with associated dredging.
The Draft Supplemental EIS supplements the previously prepared Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued for the proposed project on 30 September 2016 with additional analysis and consideration of mitigation for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the project. The Supplemental EIS is being prepared to address findings by the Washington State Shoreline Hearings Board in its 15 September 2017 Order on Motions for Partial Summary Judgment (SHB No. 17‐010c) and the Cowlitz County Superior Court Order Affirming in Part and Reversing in Part the Shorelines Hearings Board Order dated 15 September 2017 (Superior Court Case No. 17-2-01269-08).
The Supplemental EIS includes a GHG life-cycle analysis covering the following sources of GHG emissions:
(1) GHG emissions attributable to construction of the project;
(2) On-site direct GHG emissions from the project;
(3) GHG emissions from purchased power, including consideration of the potential sources of generation that would satisfy the new load;
(4) GHG emissions potentially attributable to the project from natural gas production, collection, processing, and transmission;
(5) GHG emissions from shipping methanol product to a representative Asian port; and
(6) GHG emissions associated with changes in the methanol industry and related markets that may be induced by the proposed project’s methanol production.
Based on this GHG life cycle analysis and voluntary mitigation measures proposed by the applicant, the Draft Supplemental EIS finds that there are no unavoidable significant adverse impacts due to GHG emissions.
Proponent: Northwest Innovation Works LLC and the Port of Kalama.
Location of the Proposal: The project would be located on land leased from the Port. The site is located on the Columbia River in unincorporated Cowlitz County. It is accessible from Tradewinds Road, a private Port road.
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Co-Lead Agencies: The Port of Kalama and Cowlitz County are co-lead agencies. The Port is the nominal lead, responsible for complying with the SEPA lead agency duties for the SEPA review process.
Availability of Draft Supplemental EIS copies: The Draft Supplemental EIS and supporting documents are available for viewing and downloading at https://kalamamfgfacilitysepa.com and copies of the document are also available for review at the following locations:
Port of Kalama Administrative Office: 110 W. Marine Drive, Kalama, WA.
Kalama Public Library: 312 North 1st, Kalama, WA.
Cowlitz County Department of Building & Planning: 207 Fourth Ave N., Suite 119, Kelso, WA.
Longview Public Library: 1600 Louisiana Street, Longview, WA.
Kelso Public Library: 351 Three Rivers Drive, Kelso, WA
Copies of the Draft Supplemental EIS on disk may be requested by contacting the responsible official below. The Port reserves the option of charging for the costs of this reproduction.
Public Hearing: A public hearing will be held on December 13, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Event Center located at 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632. The public hearing venue is ADA accessible.
Public Comment Period: Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the Draft Supplemental EIS during the expanded comment period, which begins on November 13, 2018 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on December 28, 2018. Written comments will be accepted in the following manner:
Mail: KMMEF EIS, C/o SEPA Responsible Official, Port of Kalama, 110 West Marine Drive, Kalama, WA 98625
Email: seis@kalamamfgfacilitysepa.com
Website: https://kalamamfgfacilitysepa.com
SEPA Responsible Officials:
Ann Farr, Port of Kalama
Elaine Placido, Cowlitz County Director of Building and Planning
