FOR RELEASE: November 1, 2002
CONTACT: Mike Thompson, Environmental Coordinator, (414) 263-8648, thompm@dnr.state.wi.us
SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Determination that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required for W.E. Power LLC Power The Future - Port Washington Power Plant Project
Please Note: All links to Wisconsin Statutes or Administrative Code exit the DNR.
W.E. Power LLC (W.E. Power) proposes to develop a 1,090-megawatt (MW) intermediate load, gas-fueled, combined-cycle, electric generating facility consisting of two 545-MW units at the existing 320 MW Port Washington coal-fueled power plant in the city of Port Washington, Wisconsin. W.E. Power has submitted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC). W.E. Power has submitted Air Pollutant Emissions Construction and operating permits (s. 285.60 Wis. Stats., Chs. NR 405, 406, 407, 408, Wis. Adm. Code and 40 CFR Part 52.21) and acid rain permit (Ch. NR 409, Wis. Adm. Code and 40 CFR Part 75); Water pollution discharge elimination system permit (s. 283, Wis. Stats.); Grading on an unbroken slope Ch. 30, Wis. Stats. permit; Pond within 500 feet of a navigable water Ch. 30, Wis. Stats. permit; Stormwater management during construction and operation Stormwater discharge permit (Ch. NR 216, Wis. Adm. Code); Trench dewatering Ch. 282, Wis. Stats.; Hydrostatic pressure test Ch. 282, Wis. Stats.; Stormwater discharge, Notice of intent for WPDES permit coverage. Ch. 283, Wis. Stats.; Stream and wetland crossing, Ch. 30, Wis. Stats., Chs. NR 102, 103, NR 115, NR 116, NR 117, and NR 299, Wis. Adm. Code, and 2001 Wis. Act 6; Structures on Lake Michigan Bed Permit, Ch. 30, Wis. Stats., Chs. NR 102, 103, NR 115, NR 116, NR 117, and NR 299, Wis. Adm. Code, and 2001 Wis. Act 6; Grading in excess of 10,000 square feet on the banks of navigable waterways, Ch. 30, Wis. Stats.; Structure below OHWM, Ch. 30, Wis. Stats.; and Endangered resource impact review Section 29.604 Wis. Stats., and Ch. NR 27, Wis. Adm. Code applications to the to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR and the PSC have prepared a joint Environmental Assessment of the proposal.
The proposed site is located on the Lake Michigan shoreline, just south of the harbor. The existing coal-fired generators and all coal-related facilities on site would be retired and removed. The generating facility would be owned by W.E. Power, a non-utility affiliate of Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC). Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WE) would operate the facility. The Port Washington Generating Station (PWGS) is one component of Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s Power the Future (PTF) proposal. Another 1,530 MW of coal-fired generation proposed at the existing Oak Creek Power Plant is the other generation component of the proposal.W.E. Power has proposed two alternative layouts for the proposed power plant at the Port Washington site. One layout has the long dimension of the plant parallel to the lakeshore and places the new power plant mostly within the bounds of the existing power plant building. The other layout has the plant perpendicular to the shore and parallel to the bluff to the south.
The proposed natural gas supply would be provided by a new 24-inch and 20-inch, 16.5-mile lateral connection to an existing ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) pipeline. This pipeline, to be built by Wisconsin Gas Company (WG), would be installed to serve both the PWGS and the Wisconsin Electric-Wisconsin Gas distribution system.
The American Transmission Company (ATC) proposes to rebuild three 138-kV electric transmission lines and make related substation improvements to provide electric transmission service for the new PWGS. Two of the lines are approximately 5 miles long and connect the Port Washington Substation to the Saukville Substation. The third line extends approximately 21 miles from PWGS to Milwaukee.
The PSC has reviewed the CPCN application. The DNR has received and preliminarily reviewed the Water and Air permit applications for regulatory compliance. The Air and Water regulatory review procedures allows additional opportunity for public review on specific program issues. The primary environmental effects of the proposal include changes in the power plant’s air emissions, cooling water discharge and intake, and regrading and road construction on the bluff south of the existing power plant. Use of the coal dock will be phased out and partially returned to public uses. There may be environmental effects to wetlands, surface waters, and threatened and endangered species associated with the new gas lateral and improvements to transmission lines. The environmental effects may be temporary and/or permanent.
The proposed PSC and DNR actions are not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects. Both the PSC and the DNR have made a preliminary determination that an environmental impact statement will not be required for their actions relating to this proposed power generation project.
Copies of the environmental assessment that led to the agencies’ preliminary determination can be downloaded by clicking on the following link:
Please be patient as the download may take a few minutes.Copies of the Environmental Assesment can also be obtained from the following locations:
The Jackson Village Hall
PLEASE NOTE: The public comment review period for the Port Washington Power Plant Project, either written or oral, has been officially closed!!
Any Questions?? contact:
Mike Thompson
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