The purpose of the PEIS is to provide USDA decision-makers and the public with an analysis of the potential environmental benefits and impacts associated with implementing BCAP. BCAP is a new program authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) that supports the establishment and production of biomass crops for conversion to bio-energy and provides monetary assistance with collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of eligible materials for use in a biomass conversion facility within a BCAP Project Area. The contract duration under BCAP is 5 years for annual and perennial crops and 15 years for woody biomass. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers BCAP on behalf of the CCC with the support of other Federal and local agencies. The PEIS examines the potential environmental consequences of alternatives for administration and implementation of BCAP.
As part of the PEIS process, FSA solicited input about potential alternatives for program implementation and the potential associated environmental concerns. Public meetings were held in the following cities: Olympia, Washington (28 May 2009); Amarillo, Texas (02 June 2009); Alexandria, Louisiana (04 June 2009); Des Moines, Iowa (08 June 2009); Albany, Georgia (10 June 2009); and Syracuse, New York (11 June 2009). The comments received during public meetings were used in the development of the draft PEIS examining the potential environmental impacts of the proposed program. The public comment period for the draft PEIS ended 18 September 2009. Information gained from the comments received on the draft PEIS was used to finalize the analysis of the environmental impacts of the program. The alternatives analyzed in the Final PEIS include the No Action Alternative which addresses the potential effects from not implementing BCAP, a targeted implementation of BCAP, and a broad national implementation of BCAP.
FSA will be accepting comments on the Final PEIS for a period of 50 days following publication in the Federal Register. Following the end of the comment period, and a review of the comments by FSA, a Record of Decision for the BCAP will be issued.