[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23754-23755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11248]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Cooperative 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 three electric utilities: Cooperative Power 
Association (CPA) of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Otter Tail Power Company 
of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Missouri Basin Municipal Power Agency 
of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. These three utilities are collectively 
referred to as the Partners for the purpose of this project. They 
proposed to construct and operate a transmission line and associated 
facilities between Alexandria and Henning in Otter Tail and Douglas 
Counties, Minnesota. The line will originate at the Rush Lake Tap 
Switching Station, located about 2.6 miles northeast of Henning, 
Minnesota. The line will terminate at a new switching station to be 
located where the new line intersects the existing

[[Page 23755]]

Grant County-Douglas County 115 kV line in Alexandria Township.
    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: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 
720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that the Partners 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. The project will 
be constructed on an existing right-of-way for almost all its entire 
length, requiring only about one mile of new right-of-way. However, if 
previously unknown resources are discovered during construction, the 
Partners will halt construction while the significance of the finding 
and proper mitigation is determined. Construction of the line should 
have no impact on floodplains, air quality, and formally classified 
areas. The project should also have no significant impact on farmlands, 
water quality, wetlands, aesthetics, federally listed or proposed for 
listing threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat.
    Alternatives considered to the project included no action, power 
purchase from other sources, localized generating facilities, load 
management and energy conservation, alternative routes, construction 
method alternatives, design alternatives, and voltage alternatives. RUS 
has considered these alternatives and concluded that the project as 
proposed will meet the needs of the Partners to provide adequate 
service in the project area with a minimum of adverse impact.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at, or 
obtained from RUS at the address provided above or from the office of 
CPA, 14615 Lone Oak Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2287, telephone 
(612) 949-1551 during normal business hours.

    Dated: April 24, 1997.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-11248 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P