Adage – Mason County

Notice of Construction (NOC) Application Review for ADAGE Mason LLC

Project Description:

ADAGE Mason LLC (ADAGE) is seeking approval to construct a biomass power plant near Shelton, Washington. The proposed plant is designed to produce a gross nominal electrical output of 65 megawatts (MW) by combusting clean woody biomass in a 758 MMBtu/hr bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler.

Application Review Process and Timeline

April 1, 2010 – ADAGE NOC Application was received
At least 30 days ORCAA engineering staff conducts an engineering review of the NOC application. Staff has 30 days to determine whether there is a complete application or whether more information is needed. An incomplete application will likely extend this 30-day period.  Staff is presently reviewing the application to determine if additional information is needed.
ORCAA drafts a Preliminary Determination
60 days Once the application is determined to be complete, staff has 60 days for review.

Upon completion of the engineering review ORCAA publishes it preliminary findings in a document called the Preliminary Determination.

The time required to review the NOC application and publish the Preliminary Determination varies from project to project; therefore, the estimates shown here are rough estimates and subject to change.
ORCAA Opens a 30-day Comment Period
A minimum of 30 days Upon issuance of the Preliminary Determination a 30-day public comment period begins. Public notice of the public comment period is through notice in the newspaper of record and through the ORCAA’s web site.
ORCAA Holds a Public Hearing
After the public comment period ORCAA will hold a public hearing.  Notice for the Public Hearing is through the newspaper of record and the ORCAA web site.  ORCAA’s Executive Director will serve as the Hearings Officer for the Public Hearing.  If the agency’s final determination concerning the final order for the Notice of Construction (NOC) is appealed, the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) would hear the appeal and make a determination. The PCHB is an independent Board appointed by the Governor.
ORCAA Responds to Comments
After the Public Hearing ORCAA evaluates the public comment and responds to each question and comment.
ORCAA Issues a final decision
In the event the final decision is to approve the project, ORCAA will issue a final Order of Approval only once a final State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination has been made.

The final decision by ORCAA can be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB). Information can be found hear http://www.eho.wa.gov/Documents/Pamphlet_PCHB.pdf

The full application received by ORCAA may be viewed by clicking on the files below (PDF Format). The full-file version is 178MB in size so may require considerable time to download, or you may view the individual chapters.

(A PDF-reader is needed to view these files. A FREE version of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be found here).