[Federal Register: September 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 172)] [Notices] [Page 48577-48578] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07se99-22] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. and Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA) with respect to the potential environmental impacts related to the [[Page 48578]] construction and operation of a 230 kV transmission line and associated facilities proposed by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State), of Westminster, Colorado. The project will extend from Walsenburg, Colorado, to an area near Gladstone, New Mexico. RUS may provide financing assistance for the project. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis E. Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-1953 or e-mail: drankin@rus.usda.gov.; Karl Myers, Tri-State, P.O. Box 33695, Denver, Colorado 80233, telephone: (303) 452-6111 or e-mail: kmyers@tristategt.org; or Richard Precek, Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 6551, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87197, telephone: (505) 889-7207 or e-mail: rwprecek@plainsgt.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project will extend from Tri-State's existing Walsenburg Substation located at Walsenburg, Colorado, to a proposed substation to be located near Gladstone, New Mexico. The proposed project will be located in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, Colorado, and Colfax and Union Counties, New Mexico. The project will interconnect with an existing transmission line which is presently owned by Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. (Plains). Tri-State and Plains are pursuing a merger. Alternatives to the proposed project include local generation, transmission system alternatives, alternative routes and no action. Greystone, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment (EA) which describes the project further and discusses the environmental impacts of the proposed project for RUS. RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of the EA and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No adverse impacts are expected with the construction of the project. RUS has accepted the document as its Environmental Assessment and is making it available for public review. Copies of the EA have been sent to Federal, State and local agencies and the public who have previously requested a copy. The EA also can be reviewed at libraries located in communities within the project area and at offices of electric cooperatives that provide service to the project area. Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address provided. RUS should receive comments on the Environmental Assessment in writing by October 6, 1999, to ensure that the comments are taken into consideration prior to RUS making its environmental determination. 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 Council on Environmental Quality Regulations and RUS environmental policies and procedures. Dated: August 31, 1999. Glendon D. Deal, Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff. [FR Doc. 99-23161 Filed 9-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P