[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4636-4637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2110]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Alabama 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 (EI) and/or an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for its Federal action related to a proposal by Alabama 
Electric Cooperative, Inc., to construct and operate a 250 to 500 
megawatt (MW) combined cycle electric generating plant in south 
Alabama.

MEETING INFORMATION: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in an open 
house forum on Monday, February 15, 1999, at the Jackson City Hall, 400 
Commerce Street, Jackson, Alabama from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the 
Washington County site. A similar meeting will be held on Tuesday, 
February 16, 1999, at Alabama Electric Cooperative's Boardroom, Highway 
29 North, Andalusia, Alabama, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the 
Covington and Escambia County sites.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., proposes 
to construct the plant at one of three potential sites. These sites are 
the Damascus site in Escambia County, Alabama, along Highway 29 South 
in Township 2 North, Range 13 East, Section 6, the Lowman site in 
Washington County, Alabama, just off U.S. Highway 43 in Township 6 
North, Range 1 East, Section 24, and at Alabama Electric Cooperative's 
existing McWilliams Plant located in Covington County, Alabama, along 
Highway 29 North in Township 5 North, Range 16 East, Section 17.
    The project as proposed would consist of a 250 to 500 MW gas-fired 
combined cycle plant. The plant may be designed to use No. 2 diesel as 
a backup fuel for periods when natural gas may be in short supply. The 
plant will require air and water quality permits from the Alabama 
Department of Environmental Management. Plant water will be drawn from 
and released to the Conecuh River if either the Covington or Escambia 
County sites are selected, and from the Tombigbee River if the 
Washington County site is selected. Air impacts are anticipated to be 
minimal because the plant will utilize clean fuels and will be designed 
in accordance with Best Available Control Technology. The plant will 
require a site of 40 acres or more in size. The specific plant layout 
will be designed to avoid significant impact to threatened or 
endangered species, cultural resources, wetlands or other areas 
considered to be environmentally unique or sensitive.
    Locating the project at the Damascus site would require 
construction of a 34-mile, 12-20 inch gas pipeline and 18 miles of 
double circuit 230 kV transmission line. Locating the project at the 
Lowman site would require the construction of a 32-mile, 12-20 inch gas 
pipeline and 1 mile each of double circuit 230 kV transmission line and 
single circuit 230 kV transmission line. Locating the plant at the 
McWilliams Plant would require the construction of a 69-mile, 10-12 
inch gas pipeline, 1 mile of double circuit 230 kV transmission line 
and 17 miles of single circuit 230 kV transmission line.
    Alternatives considered by RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., to constructing the generation facility proposed include: (a) no 
action, (b) power purchases, (c) coal fired technology, (d) alternative 
technology such as solar, wind, and biomass, and (e) non-generation 
alternatives such as conservation, interruptible loads, and load 
management.
    Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., has developed a siting study/
alternative evaluation which is available for public review at RUS at 
the address provided in this notice or at Alabama Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., Highway 29 North, Andalusia, Alabama. This document will also be 
available at the Andalusia Public Library on South Three Notch Street 
in Andalusia, Alabama, and at the White Smith Memorial Library at 213 
College Ave. in Jackson, Alabama.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed 
project. Representatives from RUS and Alabama Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., will be available at both scoping meetings to discuss RUS' 
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 meetings. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the siting study/alternative 
evaluation, input that may be provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public, Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., will 
prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to RUS for review. If 
RUS finds the environmental analysis acceptable, it will serve as RUS' 
environmental assessment of the

[[Page 4637]]

project. 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: January 22, 1999.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 99-2110 Filed 1-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P