[Federal Register: April 5, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 66)]
[Notices]
[Page 16365-16366]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ap02-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc.; Notice of Intent
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to hold scoping meeting and prepare an
environmental assessment and/or an environmental impact statement.
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[[Page 16366]]
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 Golden Valley
Electric Association. Inc., (GVEA) of Fairbanks, Alaska. The project
consists of constructing a 138kV transmission line between the GVEA
generating facilities at the Williams Alaska Petroleum Refinery in
North Pole, Alaska, and the Carney Substation, which is approximately
28 miles southeast of North Pole.
Meeting Information: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in open house
forum on Thursday, April 25, 2002, at the North Pole City Hall, 125
Snowman Lane, North Pole, Alaska 99705, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection
Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, RUS, Engineering and
Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1414, FAX: (202) 720-0820, e-mail:
nislam@rus.usda.gov. Information is also available from Mr. Greg Wyman,
Manager of Construction Services, GVEA, POB 71249, Fairbanks, Alaska
99707-1249, telephone (907) 451-5629. His e-mail address is:
gwyman@gvea.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GVEA proposes to construct the North Pole-
Carney Substation 138kV Transmission Line Project, which is
approximately 28 miles in length. To accommodate the new transmission
line, either a new substation would be built next to the Williams
Refinery, or the existing generating/substation facilities at North
Pole would be modified to provide an additional breaker to feed the
transmission line and other breaker bays for future growth. In
addition, GVEA would modify the Carney Substation to provide an
additional breaker to allow for termination of the transmission line.
This substation work would take place within the existing substation
footprint. The primary purpose of the facility is to meet the projected
future increases in regional power requirements and to improve the
quality of service to existing customers.
Alternatives to be considered by RUS and GVEA include no action,
purchased power, upgrade of existing lines, new transmission
facilities, alternative sites, alternative routes, energy conservation.
GVEA has prepared an Alternative Evaluations and Macro-Corridor
Study for the project. The report is available for public review at RUS
or GVEA at the addresses provided in this notice and at the following
locations:
(1) Noel Wien Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701
(2) North Pole City Library, 601 Snowman Lane, North Pole, AK 99705
(3) GVEA Office, 758 Illinois Street, Fairbanks, AK 99707
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 GVEA will be available
at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS' 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 30
days after the scoping meeting. All written comments should be sent to
RUS at the address provided in 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 CEQ Regulations and RUS
Environmental Policies and Procedures.
Dated: March 29, 2002.
Mark S. Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-8202 Filed 4-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P