[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33908-33909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16521]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold scoping meeting and prepare an 
environmental assessment and/or environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) proposes to 
prepare an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for its Federal action related to a proposal by 
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., to construct a 100 megawatt 
simple cycle electric generating plant in Southeast Missouri.

Meeting Information

    RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in an open house forum on 
Thursday, July 23, 1998, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the commission 
courtroom at the Stoddard County Courthouse in Bloomfield Missouri. The 
courthouse is located at 305 East Court Street.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Engineering and 
Environmental Staff, Rural Utility Service, Stop 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 
720-0468. Bob's E-mail address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., 
proposes to construct the plant at one of two potential sites. These 
sites are in the Missouri counties of Butler and Stoddard. The site in 
Butler County is located on State Highway 51, 1.7 miles north and 1.0 
mile east of Fagus and the site in Stoddard County is located 1.2 miles 
east of Idalia on County Road E.
    The proposed project is a nominal 100 megawatt simple cycle 
combustion turbine. It will be a single fuel gas-fired combustion 
turbine that will be

[[Page 33909]]

permitted as a deminimus air pollution source. This project will be 
used as a peaking unit and the deminimus permit status will be 
maintained by limiting the hours of operation. The number of operating 
hours will depend on the emission rates ultimately guaranteed by the 
vendor. The simple cycle gas-fired combustion turbine requires minimal 
water for operation. Depending on temperature and humidity conditions, 
there may be some water discharges from the site. Such discharges will 
be permitted under the Missouri National Pollutant Discharge 
Elemination System program.
    Alternatives considered by RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., to constructing the generation facility proposed include: (a) no 
action, (b) purchase of power, (c) load management, (d) construction of 
additional base load capacity, and (e) renewable energy.
    To be presented at the public scoping meeting will be a siting and 
alternative study prepared by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. The 
siting and alternative study is available for public review at RUS at 
the address provided in this notice or at Associated Electric 
Cooperative, Inc., 2814 South Golden, Springfield, Missouri, 65801-
0754, phone (417) 881-1204. This document will also be available at the 
Bloomfield Public Library which is located at 200 Seneca Street.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed 
project. Representatives from RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., will be available at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS's 
environmental review process, describe the project and alternatives 
under consideration, discuss the scope of environmental issues to be 
considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written comments. 
Written comments will be accepted for at least 30 days after the public 
scoping meeting. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the siting and alternative study, 
input that may be provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., 
and Burns and McDonnell will prepare an environmental analysis to be 
submitted to RUS for review. If significant impacts are not evident 
based on a review of the environmental analysis and other relevant 
information, RUS will prepare an environmental assessment to determine 
if the preparation of an EIS is warranted.
    Should RUS determine that the preparation of an EIS is not 
warranted, it will prepare a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). 
The FONSI will be made available for public review and comment for 30 
days. Public notification of a FONSI would be published in the Federal 
Register and in newspapers with a circulation in the project area. RUS 
will not take its final action related to the project prior to the 
expiration of the 30-day period.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review 
requirements as prescribed by CEQ and RUS environmental policies and 
procedures.

    Dated: June 17, 1998.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 98-16521 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P