Notice of Scoping Meetings and Request for Scoping Comments for the Project Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2)
Environmental Impact Statement
Regulations.gov Docket
Number: DOE-HQ-2024-0082
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess the potential environmental impacts for the proposed action of providing financial assistance to Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) to facilitate the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) in the Appalachian Region, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Battelle is the primary funding recipient and lead ARCH2 manager of a suite of demonstration projects by multiple project partners involving clean hydrogen production, transportation, and end uses within the Appalachian Region. DOE is issuing this notice to inform the public about the proposed action; announce plans to conduct public scoping meetings; invite public participation in the scoping process; and solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope of the EIS, including the range of reasonable alternatives and the potential environmental impacts to be analyzed.
More information on ARCH2 and the EIS (DOE/EIS-0569) can be found at this web address: https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0569-appalachian-hydrogen-hub-multiple-locations
EIS Scoping Process:
The scoping process identifies issues and potential alternatives for consideration and evaluation in the EIS. Throughout the scoping period, Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies and governments, and the public are invited to help DOE identify significant resources and issues, reasonable alternatives, mitigation measures, and other pertinent information that DOE should consider in the EIS.
DOE will hold one virtual scoping meeting at the following date and time:
• Thursday, January 16, 2025,
6 pm – 8 pm Eastern Time.
The virtual scoping meeting will include a brief presentation of the ARCH2 Project by DOE, followed by an opportunity for participants to provide comments on the scope of the EIS.
DOE will hold three in-person public scoping meetings. Dates, times, and locations are to be determined and will be shared on the DOE’s web page for this EIS no less than 15 days before the meetings.
All meetings are open to the public and free to attend. Details on how to participate in the virtual and in-person public scoping meetings are available on the DOE’s web page for this EIS: https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0569-appalachian-hydrogen-hub-multiple-locations
Comments may be broad in nature or restricted to specific areas of concern, but they should be directly relevant to the NEPA process or potential environmental impacts. DOE will consider the comments received on the scope of the EIS during the 75-day scoping period as it prepares the draft EIS. Oral or written comments may be provided at the scoping meetings.
In addition to the scoping meetings, written or electronic comments can be submitted during the scoping period in the following ways:
• Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to www.regulations.gov, search for Docket No. DOE-HQ-2024-0082, and follow the instructions for submitting comments; or
• Mail or Hand Delivery Service: Send comments in an envelope labeled “DOE/EIS-0569” and addressed to TRC Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Coordinator, Teays Corporate Centre, 135 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 540, Scott Depot, West Virginia 25560.
The scoping period will close on March 3, 2025. All mailed comments should be post marked no later than March 3, 2025. Comments will be accepted and considered to the extent practicable throughout the EIS process. However, commenters should be aware that their comments should be timely for them to be fully considered.
ID: 845311
