[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64558-64559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32030]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Kodiak Electric Association, Inc.; Finding of no Significant 
Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.


[[Page 64559]]


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 Kodiak Electric Association, Inc. (KEA), of Kodiak, 
Alaska. The proposed project consists of constructing a 5.0 to 7.5 
megawatt (MW) combustion turbine cogeneration power plant, a 
substation, a fuel storage tank, and an approximately four mile-long 69 
kV transmission line. The purpose of the project is to increase KEA's 
generation capacity to meet future power demand, to produce steam for 
the U.S. Coast Guard for space heating, and to increase reliability of 
electric power service to KEA customers including the U.S. Coast Guard. 
The need for this project was established in KEA's 1994 Power 
Requirements Study, 1994 Power Generation Study, and 1996 Power 
Generation Study Supplement.
    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, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone (202) 720-1784, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that KEA prepare a Borrower's 
Environmental Report (BER) reflecting the potential impacts of the 
proposed facilities. The BER, which includes input from federal, state, 
and local agencies, has been reviewed and adopted as RUS's 
Environmental Assessment for the project in accordance with 7 CFR 
1794.61. RUS has concluded that the BER represents an accurate 
assessment of the environmental impacts of the project. Based on 
coordination with appropriate federal and state agencies, potential 
impacts to water quality, air quality, wetlands, federally listed 
threatened or endangered species, cultural resources, noise levels, and 
visibility can either be avoided through project design or mitigated to 
less than significant levels. The project should have no impact on 
floodplains, important farmland, prime forest land, or formally 
classified areas and would be consistent with the policies of the 
Alaska Coastal Management Program.
    Alternatives to the project as proposed were considered, including 
alternative power generation sites, alternative transmission line 
routes, alternative fuel delivery and storage facilities, various 
alternative energy sources, power demand and load management 
alternatives, and the no-action alternative. RUS has considered these 
alternatives and has concluded that the project, as proposed, will 
allow KEA to provide adequate and reliable electric service to its 
customers on Kodiak Island, including the U.S. Coast Guard, with 
minimum adverse impacts.
    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 KEA, P.O. Box 787, Kodiak, Alaska, 99615, Telephone (907) 
486-7700. Copies are also available for public review at the Kodiak 
City Library and the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Command 
Administration Building, Second Deck.

    Dated: December 2, 1997.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-32030 Filed 12-5-97; 8:45 am]
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