Desert Rock Draft Environmental Impact Statement released

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A Draft Environmental Impact Statement recommending approval of the Desert Rock Energy Project and associated rights-of-way has been released by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The proposed coal-fired power plant, to be located about 30 miles southwest of Farmington, requires a 50-year lease between the Navajo Nation and Dine Power Authority, and a corresponding sublease between DPA and Desert Rock Energy Co. LLC, an affiliate of Sithe Global Power LLC.

Because the project would be located on land within the Navajo Nation held in trust by the federal government, the lease would require approval by BIA, the lead federal agency responsible for preparation of the EIS.

DPA and Desert Rock Energy Co. propose to develop, construct, and operate the plant, which would have a capacity to generate up to 1,500 megawatts of power. Supporting facilities would include a well field that would draw 4,500 acre-feet per year of water from the Morrison Aquifer for the project and an additional 450 af/yr for local municipal use.

The project also includes a water-supply pipeline from the well field to the power plant, 500 kilovolt transmission lines, other upgrades and ancillary facilities required for the production and transmission of electricity, and new access roads.

BHP Navajo Coal Co. (BNCC) proposes to expand existing surface-coal-mining operations at the Navajo Mine to provide fuel for the power plant. The coal would be mined from approximately 17,500 acres in Areas IV South and V and transported by conveyor system to a coal preparation facility to be located in Area IV North of the BNCC lease area near the power plant.

The Desert Rock project is expected to provide much needed power to the Southwest, significant job opportunities, and more than $50 million a year in revenue to the Navajo Nation, according to Frank Maisano, media liaison for Sithe.

"This is a very important step forward," said Desert Rock Energy Co. Executive Vice President Dirk Straussfeld.

The Draft EIS represents two years of detailed environmental studies and analysis.

"All-along, Desert Rock and DPA have committed to working with the Navajo Nation to develop the most environmentally sensitive and economically viable development project for the Nation. The draft EIS is further confirmation that we are close to achieving that objective," he said.

Three alternatives are evaluated in the Draft EIS:

• Alternative A is the no action alternative, meaning no project would be built.
  
  
• Alternative B is the action proposed by DPA, Desert Rock Energy Co., and BNCC, which calls for construction and operation of a 1,500 MW power plant and associated facilities, and expansion of Navajo Mine operations to support the plant.
  
  
• Alternative C is an alternative to the proposed action, and analyzes construction and operation of a 550 MW power plant and associated facilities, and expansion of Navajo Mine mining operations.

A number of alternative locations, technologies, and fuel sources were evaluated and eliminated before detailed analysis.

Public release of the Draft EIS will be followed by a Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register, which will start the official 60-day comment period. Public meetings are scheduled for the week of June 18-22, and will be held in Window Rock, Burnham, Sanostee, Shiprock, Farmington, Nenahnezad as well as in Durango and Cortez, Colo.

After the public meetings end and the comment period closes, the Department of the Interior will consider comments received from the public and will issue a Final EIS and Record of Decision later this year.

For information: http://www.desertrockenergy.com/