[Federal Register: November 30, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 229)]
[Notices]               
[Page 66876]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30no99-51]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

 
Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, 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 and operation of a 
6.5 megawatt (MW) diesel electric generating plant at Dekehtik on the 
Island of Pohnpei. Pohnpei is the largest state in the Federated States 
of Micronesia. RUS may provide financing assistance to the Pohnpei 
Utilities Corporation (PUC) for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone: (202) 720-1414. His e-mail address is 
nislam@rus.usda.gov. Information is also available from Mr. Marcelino 
Actouka, General Manager, Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, P.O. Box C, 
Kolonia, Pohnpei FM96941 and Mr. Peter Howard, Executive Vice 
President, Oceanic Companies, Inc., 1287 Kalani Street, Suite 203, 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-4961, telephone (808) 874-0207.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dekehtik Generating Station will consist 
of a 6.5 MW diesel generating unit that will be located within an 
enclosed building. The same building could also house three smaller 
diesel units (2.4 MW total capacity) that may be relocated from the 
existing Nampohnmal Generating Station. Low sulfur light diesel fuel 
will be delivered via pipeline from the port facility and stored in 
four storage tanks. An existing substation and transmission line will 
distribute electricity generated by the facility to the island. The 
location of the proposed project is a 123,00 square feet section of the 
soon to be closed municipal waste dump site at Dekehtik. This area 
would be cleared of trash and refuse and filled with crushed coral or 
rock. Located in the immediate area, all of which has been designated 
as an industrial development zone, are the airport and the commercial 
port that serve Pohnpei.
    Oceanic Companies, Inc. prepared an environmental report for RUS, 
which describes the project and assesses its environmental impacts. RUS 
has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental report and 
believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed 
project. This environmental report 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 headquarters of 
Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, Oceanic Companies, Inc., and the 
headquarters of RUS, at the addresses 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: November 23, 1999.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 99-31083 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P