[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 12508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5641]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Dekehtik Diesel Electric Plant on the Island of Pohnpei, Pohnpei 
Utilities Corporation, Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of 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 Polices and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794), 
has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
project proposed by Pohnpei Utilities Corporation (PUC) of Kolonia, 
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Pohnpei is the largest state 
in the Federated States of Micronesia. The proposed project consists of 
constructing a 6.5-megawatt diesel electric generating plant at 
Dekehtik on the Island of Pohnpei. The purpose of the project is to 
provide power for the residents of the Island. RUS proposes to provide 
financial assistance to PUC for the project.
    RUS has concluded that the impacts from the proposed project would 
not be significant and that the proposed action is not a major federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Stop 1571, Engineering and Environmental Staff, RUS, 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. Marcelino Actouka, General Manager, PUC, P.O. 
Box C, Kolonia, Pohnpei FM96941, telephone (691) 320-2374 and Mr. Peter 
Howard, Executive Vice President, Oceanic Companies, Inc., 1287 Kalani 
Street, Suite 203, Honolulu, Hawaii 966817-4961, telephone (808) 874-
0207.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that PUC prepare an Environmental 
Report (ER) reflecting the potential impacts of the proposed 
facilities. The ER, which includes input from federal, state, and local 
agencies, has been reviewed and accepted as RUS' Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the project in accordance with 7 CFR 1794.41. RUS 
and the PUC published notices of the availability of the EA and 
solicited public comments per 7 CFR 1794.42.
    RUS has received the following comments on the proposed project: A 
letter from the U.S. Embassy on Kolonia, dated January 4, 2000, 
addressed the use of the present solid waste dump site as the location 
of the new power plant with no arrangements for relocating the solid 
waste facility. Region 9 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) commented on the disposal and characterization of excavated 
material, stabilization of the present dump site, and accidental oil 
spills. Based on the information contained in the ER which RUS accepted 
as its EA, the responses of the Oceanic Companies, Inc., documented in 
a letter, dated February 16, 2000, to EPA Region 9, and the PUC 
commitments to follow mitigation, RUS does not believe that 
construction and operation of the Dekehtik Generating Station will 
result in any significant impact to the human environment.
    Copies of the EA and FONSI can be reviewed at the headquarters of 
RUS and the headquarters of PUC and Oceanic Companies, Inc., at the 
addresses provided in this notice.

    Dated: March 1, 2000.
Alex M. Cockey
Acting Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-5641 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
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