USDA issues FONSI for proposed Velocys Mississippi biorefinery

In Mississippi, Velocys plc announced Aug. 7 that the USDA has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact on the environmental assessment report for Velocys’ planned Bayou Fuels biorefinery in Natchez, Mississippi. With the FONSI process completed, Velocys will now focus on the next steps in the project’s development, including securing the state-level permits that will be required to construct and operate the biorefinery.

The 160-page environmental assessment report details the impact of the proposed facility across 15 potential aspects, including land use, water resources, air quality, wildlife, visual impact, noise, transport and public and occupational health. In each case, the report concludes the plant would have “none”, “none to minor,” or “minor” impacts during construction and operation.

The FONSI was issued as part of Velocys’ ongoing development of a 100-acre site in Natchez that the company secured in October. The site will be home to a pioneering biorefinery that will use Velocys’ innovative technology to produce low-carbon transportation fuels from the wood wastes of lumber operations and tree plantations. The plant is expected to convert locally sourced woody biomass waste into enough renewable fuel to meet the demands of running around 40,000 diesel and gasoline trucks.