[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14980]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 21, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Electrification Administration

 

Central Iowa Power Cooperative; Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Electrification Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Electrification 
Administration (REA), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and REA Environmental Policies and Procedures 
(7 CFR Part 1794), has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
with respect to a project proposed by Central Iowa Power Cooperative 
(CIPCO), of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The proposed project consists of the 
construction of a 345 kV and a 161 kV transmission line and associated 
facilities. The facilities would be located in Scott and Muscatine 
Counties, Iowa.
    REA has concluded that the impacts from the proposed project would 
not be significant and that the proposed action is not a major Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence R. Wolfe, Chief, 
Environmental Compliance Branch, Electric Staff Division, room 1246, 
Agriculture South Building, Rural Electrification Administration, 
Washington, DC 20250-1500, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: REA, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that CIPCO prepare a Borrower's 
Environmental Report (BER) reflecting the potential impacts of the 
proposed facilities. The BER, which includes input from the Federal, 
State, and local agencies, has been adopted as REA's Environmental 
Assessment for the project in accordance with 7 CFR 1794.61. REA has 
concluded that the BER represents an accurate assessment of the 
environmental impacts of the project. The proposed project will not 
affect any known properties listed or eligible for listing in the 
National Register of Historic Places. Archaeological resource surveys 
for the sites of the 345 kV Walcott Switching Station and the 345/161 
kV substation at the IPSCO plant and the right-of-way of the 345 kV 
transmission line will be conducted. In compliance with Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act, the survey reports will be 
reviewed by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Officer and REA. 
Clearance must be obtained from both agencies before CIPCO can commence 
any ground disturbing activities associated with project construction. 
In addition, if previously unknown resources are discovered during 
project construction, CIPCO will halt construction while the 
significance of the find and proper mitigation is determined. Given 
these procedures, the project will not have any significant effect on 
cultural resources. The project should have no impact on floodplains, 
water quality, federally listed or proposed for listing threatened or 
endangered species or their critical habitat, and no significant impact 
on important farmland or wetlands.
    The purpose of this project is to provide electrical service to 
IPSCO's steel mill. This would be accomplished by the construction of a 
345 kV switching station, approximately 8 miles of 345 kV transmission 
line, 13 miles of 161 kV transmission line, and a 345/161 kV substation 
at the IPSCO plant and modification of an existing 345/161 kV 
substation.
    The 345 kV switching station, to be known as the Walcott Switching 
Station, would be constructed and operated by the Iowa Illinois Gas and 
Electric Company of Davenport, Iowa, on property to be owned by CIPCO. 
The 345 kV transmission line would extend from the Walcott Switching 
Station to the IPSCO plant site, a distance of about 8 miles and 
terminate at a 345 kV/161 kV substation on the IPSCO plant site. 
Approximately 2.4 miles of the proposed 345 kV line would be double-
circuited and share ROW with an existing 69 kV line. Generally a 120-
foot wide ROW would be needed to accommodate the 345 kV transmission 
line. The 345 kV/161 kV substation on the mill site would require a 
total area of about 3 acres. The CIPCO portion of the substation would 
require about 1.6 acres and it would include two transmission line 
terminations; one for the 345 kV line and one for the 161 kV line. 
Modifications to the existing substation would not require any 
additional land. The 161 kV transmission line would be constructed from 
an existing substation to the IPSCO plant site on an existing 69 kV 
transmission line ROW. The line would be rebuilt to a 161 kV 
specifications. However, no additional ROW would be needed for the 
proposed changes. The preferred structures are designed for a future 
second 161 kV circuit. However, building the second circuit is not a 
part of the proposed project.
    Alternatives considered to the project as proposed were no action, 
onsite generation, upgrading existing facilities, various transmission 
system additions, alternative transmission line routes, and alternative 
switching station sites. REA has considered these alternatives and 
concluded that the project as proposed will allow CIPCO to provide 
adequate and reliable electric service to the IPSCO steel mill with a 
minimum of adverse impact.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at REA at the 
aforementioned address, or may be reviewed at or obtained from the 
offices of CIPCO, P.O. Box 2517, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406, telephone 
(319) 366-8011.

    Dated: June 14, 1994.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 94-14980 Filed 6-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P