[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 58041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28536]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


United Power Association; 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), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 
the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-
1508), and RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794), 
has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
project proposed by United Power Association (UPA), of Elk River, 
Minnesota. The proposed project consists of relocating a portion of an 
existing 230 kV transmission line in the vicinity of Minnewaukan and 
Devils Lake in Benson and Ramsey Counties, North Dakota. The line must 
be relocated to avoid areas flooded by the rising waters of Devils 
Lake. The planned reroute will move the line one mile north from its 
present location. This will require about 8.5 miles of new line 
construction. The new line will be located along the North side of 
Highway 19 in Townships 153 and 154 North, Ranges 66 and 67 West, 
Benson and Ramsey Counties, North Dakota.
    RUS 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, Senior 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, Rural Utilities Service, Agriculture South Building, Washington, 
DC 20250-1569, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that UPA 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 RUS's Environmental 
Assessment for the project in accordance with 7 CFR Section 1794.61. 
RUS 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. An archaeological resource survey 
for the transmission line was conducted and it found no known 
properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of 
Historic Places. However, if previously unknown resources are 
discovered during project construction, UPA 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 also should have no 
significant impact on floodplains, water quality, federally listed or 
proposed for listing threatened or endangered species or their critical 
habitat, important farmland or wetlands.
    Alternatives considered to the project as proposed were no action, 
rebuilding the flooded section of the line at its present location, and 
relocating the flooded section. RUS has considered these alternatives 
and concluded that the project as proposed will allow UPA to provide 
adequate and reliable electric service to the customers in the State of 
North Dakota with a minimum of adverse impact.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at RUS at the 
aforementioned address, or may be reviewed at or obtained from the 
offices of UPA, 17845 Highway 10 East, Elk River, Minnesota 55330, 
telephone (612) 441-3121.

    Dated: November 14, 1995.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-28536 Filed 11-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P