Environmental Review Report Brown Station Road Landfill: Landfill Gas to Energy Project

In September 2000, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) granted Prince George’s County a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to replace four existing engine-driven gas compressors with three larger, electric motor-driven gas compressors. The new combustion engines, with a total generating capacity of 4.2 Megawatts (MW), will be installed in a new generator building adjacent to an existing compressor building at the landfill site. The older engines will be permanently retired.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Power Plant Research Program (PPRP), coordinating with other State agencies, performed this environmental review of the Brown Station Road Landfill Gas to Energy Project during the PSC licensing process, pursuant to Section 3-304 of the Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The environmental review was conducted to evaluate the potential impacts to environmental and cultural resources from the proposed power plant expansion. The results of DNR’s analyses were used, as necessary, as the basis for establishing recommended licensing conditions for operating the facility, pursuant to Section 3-306 of the Natural Resources Article. DNR’s recommendations were made in concert with the Department of the Environment, Agriculture, Transportation, Business and Economic Development, and Planning, and the Maryland Energy Administration.

This report describes PPRP’s evaluation of the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the Brown Station Road facility, summarizes the results of these evaluations, and presents recommendations for license conditions which have been incorporated into Brown Station’s CPCN. The document includes the following:

• Description of the existing facility with the old engines, and the anticipated configuration after the new engines are installed;
• Discussions of existing environmental and socioeconomic conditions at and in the vicinity of the site; and
• Analysis of the potential air quality, surface water, biological, ground water, socioeconomic, cultural, and noise impacts from the installation of the new engines.