Environmental statements; notice of intent: American Electric Cooperative, Inc.,

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Federal Register: September 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 186)NoticesPage 51334-51335From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr25se98-37

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Hold Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Statement.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (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 prepare an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

[Page 51335]for its Federal action related to a proposal by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., to construct a 500 megawatt two-on-one combined cycle gas-fired combustion turbine power plant in northeast Oklahoma.

MEETING INFORMATION: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in an open house forum on Thursday, October 29, 1998, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m at the Mid America Industrial Park Expo Center. The Center is located at the Mid America Industrial Park Airport, which is approximately 4.5 miles south of Pryor, Oklahoma, along highway 69.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Rankin, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1953. The E-mail address is drankin@rus.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., proposes to construct the plant at one of two potential sites. These sites are in Mayes County and Rogers County, Oklahoma. The Mayes County site is approximately 4 miles northeast of Chouteau, Oklahoma, and located in the Mid America Industrial Park along highway 412B. The Rogers County site is located approximately one mile northwest of Catoosa, Oklahoma, on the west side of highway 167.

The proposed project will be a 500 MW two-on-one combined cycle gas-fired combustion turbine power plant. The plant will consist of two Seimens V84.3A combustion turbines/generators and two heat recovery steam generators, which will supply steam to a single steam turbine. The plant will be located on a site of about 20 to 40 acres and will require about 2500 to 3000 gallons per minute of makeup water at full load. The plant will be subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) review and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations.

Alternatives considered by RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., to constructing the generation facility proposed include: (a) no action, (b) purchase of power, (c) load management, (d) construction of peaking capacity, and (e) renewable energy.

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., has developed a siting and alternative study which is available for public review at RUS at the address provided in this notice or at Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., 2814 South Golden, Springfield, Missouri, 65801-0754, phone (417) 881-1204. This document will also be available at the Pryor Public Library, 505 East Graham Ave., Pryor, Oklahoma, telephone 918-825-0777 and the Catoosa Public Library, 572 South Cherokee, Catoosa, Oklahoma, telephone 918-266-1684.

Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed project. Representatives from RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., will be available at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS's environmental review process, describe the project and alternatives under consideration, discuss the scope of environmental issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written comments. Written comments will be accepted for at least 30 days after the public scoping meeting. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address provided in this notice.

From information provided in the siting and alternative study, input that may be provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the public, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Burns and McDonnell will prepare an environmental assessment to be submitted to RUS for review. Should RUS determine that the preparation of an EIS is not warranted, it will prepare a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). The FONSI will be made available for public review and comment for 30 days. Public notification of a FONSI would be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers with a circulation in the project area. RUS will not take its final action related to the project prior to the expiration of the 30-day period.

Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review requirements as prescribed by CEQ and RUS environmental policies and procedures.

Dated: September 22, 1998. Blaine D. Stockton, Jr., Assistant Administrator, Electric Program.

FR Doc. 98-25731Filed9-24-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3410-15-P

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