[Federal Register: February 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 6920-6921]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06fe08-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold
Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an
Environmental Assessment (EA).
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) an Agency delivering the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs,
hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, intends to
hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment
(EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project being
proposed by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Basin Electric), of
Bismarck, North Dakota. The proposal consists of the construction and
operation of a natural gas-fired combustion turbine generation facility
referred to as the Culbertson Unit 1 East Side Peaking Project,
consisting of a single maximum net 100 Megawatt (MW) unit, at a site
near Culbertson, Montana.
DATES: RUS will conduct the public scoping meeting in an open-house
format on February 26, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mountain Standard
Time, at the Culbertson American Legion, 119 2nd Street, East,
Culbertson, Montana.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental
Protection Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural
Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop
1571, Washington DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-5093 or e-mail:
richard.fristik@wdc.usda.gov , or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power
Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-
0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495 or e-mail: ksolie@bepc.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Basin Electric proposes to construct a new
80-100 MW, simple-cycle natural gas fired turbine less than (50 MW
average annual output), ancillary facilities and systems, a new natural
gas pipeline to connect to the existing Northern Border Pipeline, and
necessary equipment to allow connection to the Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA) transmission system. Basin Electric is requesting
RUS to provide financing for the proposed project. WAPA will construct
a new or modify an existing electrical substation, and construct up to
12 miles of new transmission line to facilitate connection of the
proposed facility to its grid, and as such has agreed to be a
cooperating agency in preparation of the EA. The Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) is also a cooperating agency due to its
responsibilities under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and
for air quality permitting.
Alternatives to be considered by RUS include no action, purchased
power, load management, renewable energy sources, distributed
generation, and alternative site locations. Comments regarding the
proposed project may be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public
scoping meeting or in writing within 30 days after the February 26,
2008, scoping meeting to RUS at the address provided in this notice.
A proposal development document--Alternative Evaluation and Site
Selection Study--is available for public review at RUS or Basin
Electric, at the addresses provided in this notice. This study is also
available at the Culbertson Public Library, 202 Broadway, Culbertson,
MT 59218.
From information provided in the study mentioned above, and using
input provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the
public, RUS will prepare a Draft EA. The Draft EA will be available for
review and comment for 45 days after distribution. A Final EA will then
be prepared that considers all comments received. The Final EA will be
available for review and comment for 30 days after distribution.
Following the 30-day comment period, RUS will prepare either a Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft and Final EA
and a FONSI, as appropriate, will be published in the Federal Register
and in local newspapers.
Any final action by RUS related to the proposed projects will be
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal,
State and local
[[Page 6921]]
environmental laws and regulations and completion of the environmental
review requirements as prescribed in the RUS Environmental Policies and
Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794).
Dated: January 31, 2008.
James R. Newby,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-2101 Filed 2-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P