[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19718-19719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9732]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation; Finding of No Significant 
Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to the 
potential environmental impact related to the construction and 
operation of the Fletcher to Pioneer 115 kV Transmission Line Project 
by Sunflower Electric Power Corporation (Sunflower) of Hays, Kansas. 
The proposed project is [[Page 19719]] located in Kearny and Grant 
Counties, Kansas.
    RUS has concluded that the environmental 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 required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lawrence R. Wolfe, Chief, Environmental Compliance Branch, Electric 
Staff Division, room 1246, Ag Box 1569, South Agriculture Building, 
RUS, Washington, DC 20250, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that Sunflower prepare a Borrower's 
Environmental Report (BER) reflecting the potential impacts of the 
proposed facilities. The BER, which includes input from Federal, State 
and local agencies and the public, has been adopted as RUS' 
Environmental Assessment for the project in accordance with 7 CFR 
1794.61. RUS has concluded that the BER represents an accurate 
assessment of the environmental impacts of the project. The proposed 
project should have no impact on cultural resources, floodplains, 
important farmland and federally listed or proposed for listing 
threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat. The 
proposed route may impact wetland areas associated with the crossing of 
the Arkansas River. Sunflower will avoid placing structures in wetland 
habitat. RUS has determined that there is no practicable alternative to 
crossing wetland areas associated with the Arkansas River and the 
impact to these areas should be minimal.
    The proposed 115 kV transmission line would extend from the 
Fletcher Substation located in Kearny County south along section lines 
to the Pioneer Substation located in Grant County. The southern portion 
of the line in Grant County would be located on existing right-of-way. 
The primary structure type will be wood pole H-frame structures located 
on a 100-foot wide right-of-way.
    Alternatives considered to the project included no action, demand 
side management, local generation, the addition of capacitor banks at 
the Pioneer Substation, closing the Cimarron Interconnection with 
WestPlains Energy and alternative routes. RUS has considered these 
alternatives and concluded that the project as proposed meets the needs 
of Sunflower to provide adequate service to its member system, Pioneer 
Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at RUS at the 
address provided herein; or can be reviewed at or obtained from the 
offices of Sunflower, 301 West 13th Street, Hays, Kansas 67601, 
telephone (913) 628-2845, during normal business hours.

    Dated: April 13, 1995.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 95-9732 Filed 4-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M