[Federal Register: January 11, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 8)]
[Notices]
[Page 2398]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ja01-43]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 2398]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., Notice of Availability of
an Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
is issuing an environmental assessment with respect to the potential
environmental impacts related to the construction of three 100-
megawatt, natural gas fired combustion turbine electric generators in
west-central Johnson County, Missouri. RUS may provide financing
assistance to Associated Electric Cooperative for the project.
FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities
Service, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-0468. Bob's e-mail address is
bquigel@rus.usda.gov. Information is also available from Jerry Bindel
of Associated Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 754, Springfield, Missouri
65801-0754 telephone (417) 885-9272. Jerry's e-mail address is
jbindel@aeci.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Associated Electric Cooperative proposes to
construct and operate three, 100-megawatt, simple cycle combustion
turbine generators on an 80 acre site in Johnson County, Missouri. The
entire plant would use about 11 acres of the site. The site is located
approximately 2 miles north of Holden, Missouri. State Highway 131
borders the eastern edge of the site.
The primary fuel for the units would be natural gas with fuel oil
backup. The generators are Siemens Westinghouse V84.2 dry low-nitrogen
combustors. Each generating unit would be approximately 60 feet wide
and 150 feet long. The exhaust stacks would be 90 feet high. An
electric substation, a 100-foot by 60-foot maintenance building, water
storage tanks, fuel oil storage tank and unloading area, a gas
conditioning area and pump house would be located near the combustion
turbines. A 150-foot microwave tower would be located on site to enable
controlling the plant from a remote location. A 1,300-foot natural gas
pipeline and approximately 2.6 miles of electric transmission line will
be needed at the site to supply natural gas to the units and connect
them to the existing electric transmission grid.
Subsequent to receiving a stormwater permit from the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Associated Electric Cooperative
initiated land clearing activities at the site. However, no permanent
foundations or plant structures can be constructed on the site until
Associated Electric Cooperative has received the air permit for the
project from the Air Quality Control Program of the MDNR.
Associated Electric Cooperative prepared an environmental analysis
for RUS which describes the project and assesses its environmental
impacts. RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of the
environmental analysis and believes that it accurately assesses the
impacts of the proposed project. This environmental analysis will serve
as RUS' environmental assessment of the project. No significant impacts
are expected as a result of the construction of the project.
The environmental assessment can be reviewed at the Associated
Electric Cooperative headquarters located at 2814 South Golden Street,
Springfield, Missouri 65807-3213. Copies of this document will also be
available at the Holden Public Library, 101 West Third Street, Holden,
Missouri 64040-1302, telephone (816) 732-4545. It can also be reviewed
at the headquarters of RUS at the address provided above.
Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address
provided. RUS will accept questions and comments on the environmental
assessment for at least 30 days from the date of publication of this
notice.
Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal
environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental
review procedures as prescribed by the 7 CFR part 1794, Environmental
Policies and Procedures.
Dated: January 4, 2001.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 01-783 Filed 1-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P