[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 345-346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-78]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


South Mississippi Electric 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) 
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to its 
action related to an expansion and repowering project by South 
Mississippi Electric Power Association (SMEPA) at its existing Moselle 
Generating Station. The FONSI is the conclusion of an Environmental 
Assessment prepared by RUS. The Environmental Assessment is based on a 
environmental analysis submitted to RUS by SMEPA. RUS conducted an 
independent evaluation of the environmental analysis and concurs with 
its scope and content.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence R. Wolfe, Senior 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, RUS, South Agriculture Building, Ag Box 1569, Washington, DC 
20250, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed expansion and repowering 
project would be installed at SMEPA's existing Moselle Generating 
Station located in Jones County, Mississippi, approximately 2 miles 
west of Interstate 59 on Mississippi Highway 589. Currently in 
operation at this station are three 59 megawatt (MW) gas/oil fired 
steam turbines. The proposed facilities will utilize the existing plant 
infrastructure such as the natural gas and oil supply, electric 
transmission lines, and water system. SMEPA has optioned to purchase 20 
acres contiguous with the north side of the Moselle site to accommodate 
the expansion needed for the additional generating facility.
    The proposed facility will consist of a simple cycle combustion 
turbine and air-cooled generator. The turbine will have a generating 
output estimated to be between 80 and 120 megawatts (MW). The FONSI 
includes a combined cycle facility also under consideration by SMEPA 
which would be designed and constructed at a future date. The combined 
cycle facility would have a generating output estimated to be between 
80 and 120 MW. This phase of the project would be conducted in 
conjunction with the repowering of the existing 59 MW number 3 steam 
turbine at the Moselle Generating Station. However, at this time RUS is 
only considering taking an action related to the simple cycle 
combustion phase of the proposed expansion and repowering which it 
considers to be justified by need.
    The new simple cycle generation facility would be made up of the 
following components: combustion turbine generator, fuel oil forwarding 
system, flue gas scrubber, demineralized water monitoring system, 
generator step-up transformer, station auxiliary transformer, medium 
voltage switchgear auxiliary station supply, secondary unit switchgear, 
including low voltage, switchgear, motor control centers, and bus duct.
    The facility will be designed to operate using natural gas as the 
primary fuel and number 2 fuel oil as the secondary fuel. Natural gas 
would be supplied via the existing gas pipeline at the site. Fuel oil 
will be shipped to the site by truck and stored on site in storage 
tanks.
    The future addition of the combined cycle facility would involve 
the following components: combustion turbine generator, heat recovery 
steam generator, boiler feedwater system, flue gas scrubber, 
demineralized water transfer pumps, continuous emissions monitoring 
system, generator step-up transformer, station auxiliary transformer, 
medium voltage switchgear auxiliary station supply, secondary unit 
switchgear including low voltage switchgear, motor control centers, and 
bus duct.
    The combined cycle facility would utilize many of the existing 

[[Page 346]]
    infrastructure systems at the Moselle Generating Station.
    A continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) system would be used to 
monitor flue gas emissions from both the simple cycle and the combined 
cycle facilities. The CEM would measure opacity, nitrogen oxides, 
carbon monoxide, oxygen, volatile organic compounds, and sulfur dioxide 
for the purpose of ensuring compliance with federal and State of 
Mississippi air quality standards.
    The alternatives of no action, demand side management, power 
purchases, hydroelectric units, wind and solar power, geothermal power, 
and alternative site locations were considered.
    Copies of the environmental assessment and FONSI are available for 
review at, or can be obtained from, RUS at the address provided herein 
or from Mr. Joey Ward, South Mississippi Electric Power Association, 
P.O. Box 15849, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, telephone (601) 268-2083. 
Interested parties wishing to comment on the adequacy of the 
Environmental Assessment should do so within 30 days of the publication 
of this notice. RUS will take no action that would approve clearing or 
construction activities related to this expansion and repowering 
project prior to the expiration of the 30-day comment period.

    Dated: December 27, 1995.
Blaine D. Stockton, Jr.,
Acting Deputy Administrator Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 96-78 Filed 1-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P