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Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

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<strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong>s of Alternatives<br />

For all the preceding reasons, the appropriate characterization of waste impacts from coal<br />

gasification is MODERATE; the impacts would be clearly noticeable but would not destabilize<br />

any important resource.<br />

* Human Health<br />

Power generation from coal introduces worker risks from coal and limestone mining, worker<br />

and public risks from coal and lime/limestone transportation, worker and public risks from<br />

disposal of coal combustion wastes, and public risks from inhalation of stack emissions.<br />

Emission impacts can be widespread and health risks difficult to quantify. The coal gasification<br />

alternative also introduces the risk of coal-pile fires and attendant inhalation risks.<br />

The staff stated in the GElS that there could be human health impacts (cancer and<br />

emphysema) from inhalation of toxins and particulates from a coal-fired plant, but did not<br />

identify the significance of these impacts (NRC 1996).<br />

Regulatory agencies, including the EPA and State agencies, set air emission standards and<br />

requirements based on human health impacts. These agencies also impose site-specific<br />

emission limits as needed to protect human health.<br />

I Overall, human health impacts from inhaling toxins and particulates generated by burning coal<br />

at a newly constructed coal gasification plant are characterized as SMALL.<br />

Socioeconomics<br />

Peak employment during construction would be approximately 1000 workers (Bily 2005).<br />

During construction of the coal gasification plant, the surrounding communities would<br />

experience demands on housing and public services that could have SMALL impacts. These<br />

impacts would be tempered by construction workers commuting to the site from other parts of<br />

Wright County or from other counties. After construction, the communities would be impacted<br />

by the loss of the construction jobs, although this loss would be possibly offset by other growth<br />

currently being projected for Wright and Sherburne counties (USCB 2004). The permanent<br />

operating staff would be between 100 to 150 workers (Bily 2005).<br />

Construction of a replacement coal gasification plant at an alternate greenfield site would<br />

relocate some socioeconomic impacts, but would not eliminate them. The communities around<br />

Monticello would still experience the impact of the loss of permanent employees, contractors,<br />

and temporary workers associated with Monticello operations. This would be partially offset by<br />

projected economic growth; the communities around the new site would have to absorb the<br />

impacts of a temporary work force and a permanent work force of approximately 100 to 150<br />

workers (Bily 2005). Communities in Wright County in particular would experience losses in<br />

both employment and tax revenues due to the Monticello site closure, assuming the plant is<br />

constructed outside the area. This impact could be MODERATE to LARGE. In the GELS, the<br />

staff stated that socioeconomic impacts at a rural site would be larger than at an urban site,<br />

NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 8-32 August 2006 1

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