[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32188-32189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15752]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Cordova Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Adoption of Environmental 
Documents & Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Adoption of Environmental Documents & 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 adopted the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and made a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a hydroelectric project 
proposed by Cordova Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEC), of Cordova, 
Alaska.
    CEC is anticipated to request financing assistance from RUS for the 
project to be located on Power Creek, a tributary to Eyak Lake, near 
Cordova, in southeast Alaska.
    The proposed project is a 6-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric generating 
plant and it consists primarily of (1) A diversion dam and intake 
structure located at stream mile 3.3; (2) a tunnel-and-pipeline power 
conduit conveying water approximately 5,900 feet; (3) a powerhouse 
containing 3 generating units with a total installed capacity of 6.0 
MW; (4) a 7.2 mile-long buried transmission line; and (5) approximately 
2.5 miles of access road. The project bypasses of about 1 mile of Power 
Creek. On January 6, 1997, Whitewater Engineering Corporation (WEC) of 
Bellingham, Washington, filed an application to FERC for a license for 
construction and operation of the Power Creek Project. WEC will 
transfer the license to CEC. CEC will be responsible for compliance 
with the terms and conditions of the license. WEC will construct the 
project for CEC.
    The FONSI is based on the final EA issued by FERC. RUS concurs with 
the FERC determination that issuing a license would not be a major 
Federal action significantly impacting the quality of the human 
environment. In accordance with Sec. 1794.83, RUS has adopted the final 
EA issued by FERC as its EA for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, RUS, Engineering and

[[Page 32189]]

Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250--1571, telephone (202)-720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with its regulations, FERC 
issued a notice of the application filed by WEC on March 3, 1997. 
Motions to intervene were filed by the National Marine Fisheries 
Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and were granted. FERC 
issued a draft EA for public comment on October 8, 1997. All comments 
received were considered by FERC prior to issuing the final EA and the 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on December 23, 1997. The 
license for the project was issued on December 24, 1997.
    RUS has reviewed the final EA issued by FERC and determined that 
the proposed project will have no significant effect on wetlands, 
floodplains, important farmlands, threatened or endangered species, 
formally classified areas, cultural resources, and water quality. RUS 
has identified no other potential significant impact resulting from 
construction and operation of the proposed hydroelectric plant.
    Alternatives examined for the proposed project included the 
proposed project, no action, and denial of license by FERC to build the 
project. RUS determined that the proposed project is an environmentally 
acceptable alternative that meets CEC's need with a minimum of adverse 
environmental impact. The project would allow CEC to construct and 
operate the project as a small but dependable source of renewable 
electrical energy and it would help meet the increasing demand for 
electric power in Cordova and avoid the need for an equivalent amount 
of fossil-fuel-fired electric generation and capacity, thereby 
continuing to help conserve these nonrenewable energy resources.
    RUS has concluded that approval of RUS financing for the project 
would not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment. Therefore, the preparation of an 
environmental impact statement is not necessary.
    In accordance with its regulations, FERC issued a notice of the 
application submitted by WEC. FERC issued a draft EA for public comment 
on October 8, 1997. FERC has adequately considered all comments 
received from interested agencies and individuals in issuing the final 
EA. A license was issued to WEC to construct the Power Creek Project on 
December 24, 1997. The notice published by FERC meets the RUS notice 
requirements contained in Sec. 1794.62.
    Copies of the FERC EA are available for review at, or may be 
obtained from RUS at the address provided above or from Cordova 
Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 20, Cordova, Alaska 99574, 
telephone (907) 424-5555 during normal business hours.
Blaine D. Stockton, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Program.
[FR Doc. 98-15752 Filed 6-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P