[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38433-38434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18807]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.; Finding 
of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
formerly the Rural Electrification

[[Page 38434]]

Administration, has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) 
with respect to the potential environmental impact related to the 
construction and operation of the Comanche to Walsenberg 230 kV 
Transmission Line Project by Tri-State Generation and Transmission 
Association, Inc. (Tri-State) of Denver, Colorado. The proposed project 
is located in Pueblo and Huerfano Counties, Colorado. The FONSI is 
based on an Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by RUS and an 
Environmental Analysis (EVAL) prepared by Tri-State and its 
environmental consultant, ENSR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lawrence R. Wolfe, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 independence 
Avenue SW., RUS, Washington, DC 20250, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its environmental review process, 
RUS held an interagency and two public information workshops in April 
1994. Tri-State was required by RUS to develop the EVAL and other 
documentation to support its proposal. RUS conducted an independent 
evaluation of the EVAL and concurs with its scope and content. The 
documentation provided by Tri-State and ENSR, input from the meetings, 
and input from Federal, state and local agencies have been used by RUS 
to develop its EA.
    The proposed 230 kV transmission line would extend approximately 50 
miles in a southerly direction on Alternative Corridor E from Public 
Service Company of Colorado's existing substation at the Comanche 
Generating Station located in Pueblo, Colorado, to Tri-State's 
Walsenberg Substation located west Walsenberg, Colorado. The primary 
structure type will be wood pole H-frame structures located on a 150 
foot wide right-of-way.
    Alternatives considered to the project included no action, demand 
side management, local generation, underground construction, 
transmission system alternatives, and corridor alternatives. RUS has 
considered these alternatives and concluded that the project as 
proposed meets the needs of Tri-State and San Isabel Electric 
Association, Inc. (a Tri-State member distribution system).
    The proposed project should have no impact on cultural resources, 
floodplains, wetlands, important farmlands and federally listed 
threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat. The 
proposed route will cross approximately 0.4 miles of floodplains and 
0.2 miles of wetland areas associated with river or stream crossings. 
These areas will be spanned and no structures will be placed in 
floodplain or wetland habitat. RUS has determined that there is no 
practicable alternative to crossing these areas and there should be no 
impacts to floodplain or wetland areas.
    Copies of the EVAL, EA and FONSI have been sent to persons on the 
mailing list and are available for review at, or can be obtained from, 
RUS at the address provided herein; Mr. Karl Myers, Tri-State, P.O. Box 
33695, Denver, Colorado 80233, telephone (303) 452-6111; or Mr. William 
Wood, San Isabel Electric Association, 893 East Enterprise Drive, 
Pueblo, Colorado 81002, telephone (719) 547-2160, during normal 
business hours.
    RUS will take no final action with respect to approval for the 
proposed project for at least thirty (30) days after publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general 
circulation in the counties previously identified. Any comments should 
be sent to RUS at the address given previously. All comments received 
will be considered.

    Dated: July 18, 1996.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 96-18807 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M