ADAGE: Response to President LWV Issues

Below is a statement from Tom DePonty of ADAGE in response to the
issues presented to him by Sandra Herndon, LWV President. Some of these
issues have been raised by individuals inclined in favor and some by
those opposed to the incinerator. Some of ADAGE responses are helpful
while many raise further questions and/or lack specific detail.
ADAGE indicates they have agreed to a public forum sponsored by
KMAS (tentative date of Thursday, May 27). Please use this information
to help prepare questions for ADAGE.
These issues should also be addressed by our elected officials,
before they lend support to a project of such major significance. For
those officials who have already voiced support, it is incumbent upon
them to show us in a public forum that they have done their homework and
to explain to us how they have resolved these matters.
We need thorough and complete answers since we who live and work
here in the county--and our children--will bear the consequences of
their actions, on our health and our economy.


April 30, 2010

Subject: Information prepared by ADAGE in regards to inquiry from the League of Women
Voters regarding specific aspects of the ADAGE Mason County biomass project. The issues
raised by the League of Women Voters are in bold, with the ADAGE information below.

1. Effects on the air quality, particulates, etc.

• The ADAGE biomass facility will provide an alternative forest management option
that will reduce the need for the permitted forest management practice of slash pile
burning and allow for the recovery of the energy potential of forest residue left to
decay in the forest.
• ADAGE is employing advanced emission control technology that will produce some
of the lowest emission rates of any biomass project in the U.S. This includes specific
technology to control for:
o Particulate matter - a fabric filter baghouse
o Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) – Selective Catalytic Reduction System
o Chloride Emissions – Dry Sorbent Injection System
• The project will meet all state and federal air quality standards, which are designed to
protect public health, specifically the most vulnerable populations (children, the
elderly, and asthmatics).
• ADAGE submitted its air resource permit application to the state regulator, the
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), on April 1.
o There will be a 30 day public comment period starting in approximately
early June
o Followed by a public hearing likely in early July
• The ADAGE project must demonstrate that is meets all federal and state air quality
standards as validated by ORCAA or a permit will not be issued.
o The ADAGE air permit application and review process is available on the
ORCAA website.
• The plant is equipped with a continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) that
assures the plant operates within the permit limits.
o The CEMS data will be provided to the state regulators on a regular basis to
ensure the plant operates within its limits.

2. Adequacy of water and sewer capacity as well as water supply

• During peak usage the City of Shelton delivers 7500 gallons per minute (gpm) of
water. ADAGE’s peak usage would roughly be only 1% of the total water use for the
City of Shelton.
• ADAGE will utilize technology designed to eliminate steam system cooling water
usage (the major use of water in power production facilities). According to the
Electric Power Research Institute a typical cooling tower system for a 55 MW facility
would require a water withdrawal of 550gpm and 480gpm would be lost to
evaporation (www.mydocs.epri.com/docs/public/000000000001006786.pdf).
• The ADAGE facility will not withdraw any water for steam cooling system purposes.
The facility will use approximately 35 to 50 gpm of which 25 to 45 gpm will be
returned to the City of Shelton’s treatment system for recovery.
• The maximum water use would be 60 to 80 gallons per minute during unusual
circumstances.
o For comparative purposes, a hose bibb (a garden faucet) is equivalent to
about 5 to 7 gpm.
o On average the ADAGE facility is equal to 126 to 180 typical family homes
(according to the EPA the typical family home uses 400 gallons of water per
day - http://epa.gov/watersense/pubs/supply.html)
• The water will be supplied by the city of Shelton – according to city officials, Shelton
has sufficient water supply to support the plant along with long-term expansion and
growth.
o The City of Shelton is extending a 16 inch water main to the John’s Prairie
area.
o This water line will have a capacity of 1500 gpm
o This capability will support long term growth in the John’s Prairie area as
well as meet the water needs for the ADAGE plant which will connect
directly into the new water line.
• ADAGE will make payments to the City of Shelton to cover its fare share of the
capital cost of the new water line.

3. Disposition of wastewater and pollution concerns

• On average the City of Shelton’s main wastewater treatment plant treats over 1000
gallons per minute, so the ADAGE facility on average would be roughly 3.5% of the
total water treated on average.
• The non-contaminated wastewater from the ADAGE facility will be in the range of
25 to 40 gallons per minute, will be discharged to an enclosed tank and then be
directed to the Shelton wastewater treatment plant via the sewer system.
o There will be no discharge into the rivers, lakes or Oakland Bay
o The wastewater will meet the city wastewater discharge specs including
temperature
o According to city officials, Shelton has sufficient wastewater capacity to
accommodate the facility
o New sewer line connections would be paid for by ADAGE
• ADAGE will mitigate stormwater runoff that may occur by installing holding basins.
A DOE-approved stormwater management plan is a necessary condition for both
construction and operation of projects in Washington State.

4. Ash residue, composition, use, and disposal

• The facility will produce non-hazardous wood ash similar to what can be found in a
typical household fireplace.
• There will be an average of 3 - 4 truckloads per day.
• ADAGE is exploring beneficial uses for the ash.
o Ash from clean wood biomass facilities has been used in other locations as a
soil enhancement and/or in road construction materials like cement.
• In the event that these alternative uses are not available, ADAGE will deliver the
material to the licensed Roosevelt Landfill in Klickitat County

5. Effects on traffic flow and road infrastructure

• There will be an average of 100 delivery/supply trucks per day, primarily for biomass
deliveries – Monday-Friday – an average of 6 trucks per hour between 7 am and 10
pm.
• ADAGE is currently performing a traffic study to determine the best method for
feedstock and supply delivery to the facility, while minimizing local traffic impact on
supply routes and major intersections.
• According to Mason County roads staff, the major supply road to the plant (John’s
Prairie Road) is heavy-duty, year-round winter road.

6. Actual permanent employment for the county residents, including level of
opportunities

• As early as the end of 2010 ADAGE could begin hiring local employees for the
construction of the facility for a ramp up to over 400 construction jobs.
• Over 125 direct jobs will be created in plant operations and feedstock supply
o 24 full time jobs in facility operations – These will be the plant managers
and operators.
o Over 100 jobs in the woods harvesting, processing and delivering the
feedstock for the facility – These will be jobs in the logging industry.
• In addition the project will provide create 75 jobs in the local community supporting
the operation of the plant and the employees – This will include businesses like
restaurants, service stations, and retail shops.
• It is in the best interest of ADAGE to hire local employees as much as possible.
ADAGE intends to work with local contractors and training organizations to support
the project.

7. Financial cost to county through “sweetheart” tax deals

• ADAGE has not made any agreements with the County or other municipality on tax
payments. ADAGE will pay its fare share of taxes to the applicable taxing authorities
and is researching the level of payments required.

8. Affordable electricity made available for the county

• ADAGE is currently marketing the power output of the project and would welcome
interest from local customers.