[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 165 (Friday, August 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43522-43523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21539]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


Alabama Electric Cooperative; 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 the construction of two, 113 megawatt (MW) combustion 
turbines and associated facilities by Alabama Electric Cooperative 
(AEC). 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 AEC. 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 1571, Washington, DC 
20250, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed new combustion turbines would 
be installed at AEC's existing McIntosh Power Plant located on the west 
side of Highway 43 at mile marker 41 in McIntosh, Alabama.
    The McIntosh Combustion Turbine Project consists of the 
installation of two Siemens v84.2 combustion turbine generators to be 
located adjacent to AEC's existing McIntosh Power Plant Unit 1 
(compressed air energy storage generating unit). The new units will be 
located south of the existing unit 1 in the area formerly reserved for 
a second compressed air energy storage unit which AEC has determined to 
not be cost-effective. The proposed two new units will be referred as 
McIntosh Power Plant Units 2 and 3. Each of the units will have a 
normal maximum output rating of 109 MWs at 950 deg. Fahrenheit. The 
units will be capable of burning either natural gas or fuel oil and 
have a maximum rating of approximately 113 MWs during peak firing mode. 
As part of the project, a new 1 million gallon fuel oil storage tank 
and a 1.8 million gallon demineralized water tank will be constructed 
at the western corners of Unit 1. There will also be modifications to 
the existing transmission substation on site to link the electric power 
output of the new units to the existing transmission line. The existing 
gas transmission system in the area has adequate capacity to serve 
Units 2 and 3. The existing 115 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission 
lines have adequate capacity to feed the power output of the new units 
to AEC's transmission grid. A 1.5-mile natural gas pipeline will be 
constructed within an existing pipeline to intertie with Bay Gas 
Storage's 20-inch market line.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS and Alabama Electric 
Cooperative to Alabama Electric Cooperative constructing the generation 
facility proposed include: (a) no action, (b) purchase of peaking 
capacity from independent power producers, co-generators, and other 
electric utilities, and (c) constructing the proposed generation 
facilities at alternative site locations.
    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. Mike Noel, Alabama Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 550, 
Andalusia, Alabama, telephone (334) 222-2571. 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 these new combustion turbine units prior to the expiration 
of the 30-day comment period.


[[Page 43523]]


    Dated: August 19, 1996.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator. Program Operations
[FR Doc. 96-21539 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P