[Federal Register: July 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 41312-41313]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy08-45]
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Notices
Federal Register
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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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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Intent To Hold Public
Scoping Meetings and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Hold Public Scoping Meetings and Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency that delivers the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or
the Agency, intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with possible
impacts related to a proposed action by Minnkota Power Cooperative
(Minnkota Power), Otter Tail Power Company, and Minnesota Power to
construct a 230 kV electric transmission line from Bemidji to Grand
Rapids, Minnesota. To minimize duplication of effort pursuant to 40 CFR
1506.2, Rural Development is conducting an environmental review for the
proposed action jointly with the Minnesota Department of Commerce,
Office of Energy Security (OES). Rural Development and OES will jointly
prepare an environmental review document in compliance with federal
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
other federal statutes and regulations, and state responsibilities
under the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act and the Minnesota Power
Plant Siting Act.
DATES: USDA Rural Development and the State of Minnesota Department of
Commerce OES will conduct six public scoping meetings in an open house
format in order to provide information and solicit comments for the
preparation of the joint EIS. Presentations on the proposed action will
begin at the start of the second hour, followed by an opportunity for
public comment. The public meetings will be held on the dates, times
and locations provided below. All written questions and comments must
be received by Rural Development or OES by August 29, 2008.
Public Scoping Meetings for the Proposed Action to Construct a 230 kV Transmission Line from Bemidji, MN to Grand Rapids, MN
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Time (central daylight
Date time) Location
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August 11, 2008.......................... 5 p.m. CDT.................. Blackduck, Senior Center, 24 1st Street SE., Blackduck, MN 56630.
August 12, 2008.......................... 5 p.m. CDT.................. Cass Lake, Palace Casino & Hotel, 16599 69th Avenue, NW., Cass Lake, MN 56633.
August 13, 2008.......................... 5 p.m. CDT.................. Deer River, Morse Town Hall, 32775 State Hwy 46, Deer River, MN 56636.
August 14, 2008.......................... 1 p.m. CDT.................. Bemidji, Hampton Inn & Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South, Bemidji, MN 56601.
August 14, 2008.......................... 5 p.m. CDT.................. Bemidji, Hampton Inn & Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South, Bemidji, MN 56601.
August 15, 2008.......................... 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT.......... Walker, Hiawatha Beach Resort, 10904 Steamboat Loop NW., Walker, MN 56484.
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ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, contact Barbara
Britton, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA Rural Development
Utilities Programs, at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571,
Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1414, fax: (202) 690-
0629, e-mail Barbara.Britton@wdc.usda.gov or Suzanne Steinhauer,
Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy
Security, at 85 Seventh Place, Suite 500, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55010,
telephone (651) 296-2888, e-mail Suzanne.Steinhauer@state.mn.us. An
Alternatives Evaluation Study (AES) and the Macro-Corridor Study (MCS)
can be obtained from the Agency Web site at http://www.usda.gov/rus/
water/ees/ea.htm or by contacting Bob Lindholm of Minnesota Power at
(888) 373-4113, bemidjiinfo@capx2020.com, and at the public libraries
listed below:
Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave., NW., Bemidji, MN 56601.
Cass Lake Community Library, 223 Cedar Ave. NW., P.O. Box 836, Cass
Lake, MN 56633.
Grand Rapids Area Library, 140 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.
Blackduck Community Library, 72 First St., SE., P.O. Box 326,
Blackduck, MN 56630.
Margaret Welch Memorial Library, P.O. Box 106, 5051 State 84,
Longville, MN 56655.
Walker Public Library, 207 4th St., P.O. Box 550, Walker, MN 56484.
Bovey Public Library, Village Hall, 402 2nd Street, P.O. Box 130,
Bovey, MN 55709-0130.
Coleraine Public Library, Independent Building, 203 Cole Avenue, P.O.
Box 225, Coleraine, MN 55722-0225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minnkota Power, Otter Tail Power, and
Minnesota Power propose to construct a new transmission line from
Bemidji to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The proposal is designed to correct
a local load serving inadequacy for the Bemidji area and the northern
Red River Valley in West Central Minnesota. It is part of the CapX2020
long-range planning effort
[[Page 41313]]
that has identified a comprehensive framework for new transmission
infrastructure that will be needed to maintain reliability of the
transmission system throughout Minnesota and the surrounding region.
Minnkota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Minnesota Power are partners in
this investment, and Minnkota Power is seeking financing from Rural
Development Utilities Programs for its portion of the investment.
Prior to making a financial decision about whether to provide
financial assistance for a proposal, Rural Development is required to
conduct an environmental review under the NEPA in accordance with the
Agency policies and procedures codified in 7 CFR part 1794. These
regulations require the Agency to consider engineering alternatives
including no action, load management, conservation measures, and
reactive power supply and transmission line macro-corridor
alternatives. This proposal is classified in 1794.24(b)(1) as an
Environmental Assessment (EA) with a requirement for scoping meetings.
The State of Minnesota requires that an EIS be prepared in
association with a route permit in accordance with Chapter 216 E of the
Minnesota Power Plant Siting Act and the Minnesota Environmental Policy
Act.
Rural Development and the State of Minnesota have agreed to be co-
lead agencies on the proposal to prepare an EIS with the U.S. Forest
Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Bureau for Indian
Affairs participating as Cooperating Agencies. The Leech Lake Band of
Ojibwe has been invited to participate as a Cooperating Agency.
Using information from the Alternatives Evaluation Study (AES) and
the Macro-Corridor Study (MCS) and considering input provided by
government agencies, private organizations, and the public, Rural
Development and OES, in consultation with the cooperating agencies,
will determine the scope of the EIS. Notices announcing the
availability of the Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register
and local newspapers.
Any final action by the Agency related to the proposal will be
subject to, contingent upon, and in compliance with all relevant
Federal, State and local environmental laws and regulations, and
completion of the environmental review requirements will be conducted
as prescribed in the Rural Development regulations.
Dated: July 15, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-16493 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P