[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 1847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-715]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Freedom Power Station Plant: 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) for its Federal action 
related to a project proposed by Southwestern Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., (SWEC) of Greenville, Illinois. The project consists of 
constructing a natural gas-fired simple cycle, combustion turbine power 
generation facility near Wright's Corner in Fayette County, Illinois. 
RUS may provide financing assistance to SWEC for the project.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone: (202) 720-1414. His e-mail address is 
[email protected]. Information is also available from Mr. Joe 
Richardson, Business Development and Marketing Manager, SWEC, 525 US 
Route 40, Greenville, IL 62246, telephone (618) 664-1025. Questions and 
comments should be sent to RUS at the address provided. RUS should 
receive comments on the EA in writing within 30 days of the publication 
of this notice to insure that RUS prior to making its environmental 
impact determination considers them.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SWEC proposes to construct the Freedom Power 
Generation Plant near Wright's Corner in Fayette County, Illinois. The 
primary purpose of the facility is to meet SWEC peak electrical load. 
The generation unit consists of a turbine similar to those found in 
commercial airline engines. Natural gas will be used as generating fuel 
for the plant. The unit will have a peak capacity of 45 MW. The 
facility will be located on a 1.5-acre tract of land on the east side 
of County Highway 4 approximately six miles north of the city of St. 
Elmo, Illinois. The power generated from the facility will be 
distributed through an existing transmission line owned and operated 
jointly by SWEC and Ameren. No additional construction of the 
transmission facility will be required. Kansas-Nebraska Energy will 
provide natural gas fuel for the facility. The Kansas-Nebraska Energy's 
gas pipeline is located about 50 feet from the plant site.
    Environmental Audits and Consultants, Inc., of Vandalia, Illinois, 
prepared an environmental report on behalf of the SWEC and submitted it 
to RUS for its evaluation. The environmental report describes the 
project and assesses its potential environmental impacts. RUS has 
conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental report and 
believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed 
project. This environmental report will serve as RUS' EA of the 
project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of the 
construction of the project.
    The EA can be reviewed at the headquarters of SWEC and the RUS, at 
the addresses provided above in this notice.
    Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided in this notice. RUS will accept questions and comments on the 
EA for at least 30 days from the date of publication of this notice.
    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 7 CFR Part 1794, Environmental 
Policies and Procedures.

    Dated: January 6, 2000.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 00-715 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
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