[Federal Register: August 10, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 155)]
[Notices]
[Page 42196-42197]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au01-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Southern Illinois Power Cooperative; Notice of Intent
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to hold scoping meeting and prepare an
environmental assessment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS),
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and RUS
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794) proposes to
hold a scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for
its Federal action related to a project proposed by Southern Illinois
Power Cooperative (SIPC) of Marion, Illinois. The project consists of
two simple-cycle electric combustion turbines and the associated
facilities. The proposed combustion turbines will have a total nominal
generating capacity of 166 megawatts (MW), with a summertime rating of
144 MW. The combustion turbines will be located across the road
immediately west of SIPC's existing Marion Station approximately 8
miles south of Marion, Illinois.
Meeting Information: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in open
house forum on Wednesday, September 5, 2001, at the Marion High School,
1501 South Carbon Street, Marion, Illinois 62959, from 5 p.m. until 8
p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection
Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1784, FAX:
(202) 720-0820, e-mail: nislam@rus.usda.gov. Information is also
available from Mr. Dick Myott, Environmental & Planning Department
Manager, Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, 11543 Lake of Egypt Road,
Marion, Illinois 62959, telephone (618) 964-1448 Ext. 268. His e-mail
address is: rmyott@sipower.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SIPC proposes to construct the facility in
Williamson County, Illinois. The primary purpose of the facility is to
meet SIPC peak electrical load during hot summer weather. Under those
conditions the facility's expected output is about 144 MW of power. The
proposed project will consist of two simple cycle combustion turbines.
The turbines will have a total gross rating of 166 MW. The primary fuel
will be natural gas and the Number 2 fuel oil will serve as the back-up
fuel. The plant will require approximately 15 acres of land. The
project will also require construction of a total of about five-mile
long new high-pressure gas line from the proposed generating station
east to an intersection of two natural gas pipelines. The Texas Eastern
Company and the Trunkline Gas Company own these lines. The construction
of the gas pipeline will need a right-of-way approximately 35 to 50
wide. A 12-inch pipe will be installed in the trench of approximately 4
feet deep. The combustion turbine uses demineralized water injection
for flue gas emissions control when firing with the Number 2 back up
fuel oil and they will use approximately 225 gallons of water per
minute. Water injection is not required when firing the natural gas
fuel.
Alternatives to be considered by RUS and SIPC include no action,
purchased power, upgrade of existing resources, new transmission
facilities, alternative sites, alternative routes, fossil fuel
technologies, customer-owned generation, energy conservation, renewable
resources, and emerging technologies.
SIPC has prepared an Alternative Evaluations and Siting Studies for
the project. The report is available for public review at the RUS or
SIPC at the addresses provided in this notice and at the following
location: Marion Carnegie Public Library, 206 South Market Street,
Marion, Illinois 62959, (618) 993-5935.
Federal, state and local agencies, private organizations, and the
public are invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the
proposed project. Representatives from RUS and SIPC will be available
at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS's environmental review process,
the proposed project and the alternatives being considered, scope of
the environmental issues to be considered, and answer questions. Oral
and written comments will be accepted at the scoping meeting. Written
comments regarding the proposed project will also be accepted for at
least 30 days after the scoping meeting. All written comments should be
sent to RUS at the address provided in this notice. 2
Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all
[[Page 42197]]
relevant Federal environmental laws and regulations and completion of
environmental review procedures as prescribed by the CEQ Regulations
and RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures.
Dated: August 2, 2001.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20122 Filed 8-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P