[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48577-48578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23161]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. and 
Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc.; Notice 
of Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
is issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA) with respect to the 
potential environmental impacts related to the

[[Page 48578]]

construction and operation of a 230 kV transmission line and associated 
facilities proposed by Tri-State Generation and Transmission 
Association, Inc. (Tri-State), of Westminster, Colorado. The project 
will extend from Walsenburg, Colorado, to an area near Gladstone, New 
Mexico. RUS may provide financing assistance for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis E. Rankin, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 
1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
telephone: (202) 720-1953 or e-mail: [email protected].; Karl Myers, 
Tri-State, P.O. Box 33695, Denver, Colorado 80233, telephone: (303) 
452-6111 or e-mail: [email protected]; or Richard Precek, Plains 
Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 6551, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87197, telephone: (505) 889-7207 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project will extend from Tri-State's 
existing Walsenburg Substation located at Walsenburg, Colorado, to a 
proposed substation to be located near Gladstone, New Mexico. The 
proposed project will be located in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, 
Colorado, and Colfax and Union Counties, New Mexico. The project will 
interconnect with an existing transmission line which is presently 
owned by Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. 
(Plains). Tri-State and Plains are pursuing a merger. Alternatives to 
the proposed project include local generation, transmission system 
alternatives, alternative routes and no action.
    Greystone, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental 
assessment (EA) which describes the project further and discusses the 
environmental impacts of the proposed project for RUS. RUS has 
conducted an independent evaluation of the EA and believes that it 
accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No adverse 
impacts are expected with the construction of the project. RUS has 
accepted the document as its Environmental Assessment and is making it 
available for public review.
    Copies of the EA have been sent to Federal, State and local 
agencies and the public who have previously requested a copy. The EA 
also can be reviewed at libraries located in communities within the 
project area and at offices of electric cooperatives that provide 
service to the project area.
    Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided. RUS should receive comments on the Environmental Assessment 
in writing by October 6, 1999, to ensure that the comments are taken 
into consideration prior to RUS making its environmental determination.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal 
environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental 
review procedures as prescribed by the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations and RUS environmental policies and procedures.

    Dated: August 31, 1999.
Glendon D. Deal,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 99-23161 Filed 9-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P