[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31300-31301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12440]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment.

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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 related to possible financial 
assistance to Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation for the 
construction of a 153 megawatt (MW) combustion turbine electric 
generating plant in southwest Arkansas.

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: Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation 
proposes to construct the plant at a 159 acre site east of Fulton, 
Arkansas. Fulton is located in Hempstead County.
    The project, as proposed, would consist of a 153 MW gas-fired, 
simple cycle combustion turbine and a water-cooled generator. The plant 
will have a 90-foot exhaust stack, step-up and auxiliary transformers, 
motor control centers, bus ductwork, an electric substation, and 
control, maintenance, and operations buildings. The project would 
require 4 miles of 115 kV transmission line to tie the plant to the 
existing transmission grid. (The transmission line will be built to 161 
kV specifications in anticipation that additional transmission line 
capacity may be needed in the future.)
    The facility will be designed to accommodate conversion of the 
plant to combined cycle operation, but will be initially operated as a 
simple cycle plant. The site will also be designed to accommodate the 
addition of one or more simple or combined cycle units. However, the 
Environmental

[[Page 31301]]

Assessment announced herein will cover only the initial 153 MW simple 
cycle plant and related electric transmission line as only the 153 MW 
unit is being considered for RUS financial assistance.
    The alternative to be considered by RUS to providing financial 
assistance to Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation for the 
construction of the 153 MW plant would be to take no action and, 
therefore, not provide financial assistance.
    Upon completion of the Environmental Assessment, the document will 
be made available for public review for 30 days. Should RUS determine 
that the overall impacts of the construction and operation of the plant 
will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment, it will prepare and publish a finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI).
    Availability of the Environmental Assessment and notification of a 
FONSI will be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers with 
a general circulation in the project area.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review 
requirements prescribed by CEQ and RUS regulations.

    Dated: May 11, 2000.
Mark Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 00-12440 Filed 5-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P