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

[Federal Register: January 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 19)]

[Notices]

[Page 4636-4637]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29ja99-39]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Alabama 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 (EI) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its Federal action related to a proposal by Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., to construct and operate a 250 to 500 megawatt (MW) combined cycle electric generating plant in south Alabama.

MEETING INFORMATION: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in an open house forum on Monday, February 15, 1999, at the Jackson City Hall, 400 Commerce Street, Jackson, Alabama from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the Washington County site. A similar meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 1999, at Alabama Electric Cooperative's Boardroom, Highway 29 North, Andalusia, Alabama, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the Covington and Escambia County sites.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-0468. The E-mail address is bquigel@rus.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., proposes to construct the plant at one of three potential sites. These sites are the Damascus site in Escambia County, Alabama, along Highway 29 South in Township 2 North, Range 13 East, Section 6, the Lowman site in Washington County, Alabama, just off U.S. Highway 43 in Township 6 North, Range 1 East, Section 24, and at Alabama Electric Cooperative's existing McWilliams Plant located in Covington County, Alabama, along Highway 29 North in Township 5 North, Range 16 East, Section 17.

The project as proposed would consist of a 250 to 500 MW gas-fired combined cycle plant. The plant may be designed to use No. 2 diesel as a backup fuel for periods when natural gas may be in short supply. The plant will require air and water quality permits from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Plant water will be drawn from and released to the Conecuh River if either the Covington or Escambia County sites are selected, and from the Tombigbee River if the Washington County site is selected. Air impacts are anticipated to be minimal because the plant will utilize clean fuels and will be designed in accordance with Best Available Control Technology. The plant will require a site of 40 acres or more in size. The specific plant layout will be designed to avoid significant impact to threatened or endangered species, cultural resources, wetlands or other areas considered to be environmentally unique or sensitive.

Locating the project at the Damascus site would require construction of a 34-mile, 12-20 inch gas pipeline and 18 miles of double circuit 230 kV transmission line. Locating the project at the Lowman site would require the construction of a 32-mile, 12-20 inch gas pipeline and 1 mile each of double circuit 230 kV transmission line and single circuit 230 kV transmission line. Locating the plant at the McWilliams Plant would require the construction of a 69-mile, 10-12 inch gas pipeline, 1 mile of double circuit 230 kV transmission line and 17 miles of single circuit 230 kV transmission line.

Alternatives considered by RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., to constructing the generation facility proposed include: (a) no action, (b) power purchases, (c) coal fired technology, (d) alternative technology such as solar, wind, and biomass, and (e) non-generation alternatives such as conservation, interruptible loads, and load management.

Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., has developed a siting study/ alternative evaluation which is available for public review at RUS at the address provided in this notice or at Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., Highway 29 North, Andalusia, Alabama. This document will also be available at the Andalusia Public Library on South Three Notch Street in Andalusia, Alabama, and at the White Smith Memorial Library at 213 College Ave. in Jackson, Alabama.

Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed project. Representatives from RUS and Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., will be available at both scoping meetings to discuss RUS' 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 meetings. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address provided in this notice.

From information provided in the siting study/alternative evaluation, input that may be provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the public, Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., will prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to RUS for review. If RUS finds the environmental analysis acceptable, it will serve as RUS' environmental assessment of the

[[Page 4637]]

project. 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: January 22, 1999. Lawrence R. Wolfe, Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.

[FR Doc. 99-2110Filed1-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P