[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 38506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15562]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Dairyland Power Cooperative; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Hold Scoping Meeting and 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 (NEPA) of 1969 (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 
hold a scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
its Federal action related to a project proposed by Dairyland Power 
Cooperative (DPC) of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The project consists of 
constructing a natural gas-fired simple cycle, combustion turbine power 
generation facility in Wheaton Township in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. 
Total electrical output from the facility is expected to range from 71 
megawatts (MW) to 98 MW depending upon operating conditions.

DATES: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in open house forum on 
Tuesday, July 11, 2000, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the Chippewa County 
Courthouse, 711 North Bridge Street, Chippwea Falls, Wisconsin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1784, FAX: 
(202) 720-0820, e-mail: [email protected]; or George L. Johnston, 
Senior Environmental Biologist, DPC, 3200 East Avenue south, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin 54601, telephone (608) 787-1322, FAX: (608) 787-1241, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DPC proposes to construct the facility at a 
site in Wheaton Township in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The preferred 
site is the location of DPC's Elk Mound Substation. The primary purpose 
of the facility is to meet DPC peak electrical load during hot summer 
weather. Under those conditions the facility's expected output is about 
71 MW of power. The proposed project will consist of two simple cycle 
combustion turbines. The two turbines will have a maximum rating of 49 
MW each, with a summertime rating of 35.5 MW. The plant will require 
approximately 5 acres of land. The substation facilities will also 
require some upgrading. A 2.2 miles long new high-pressure gas line 
from the proposed generating station north to an existing gas line will 
provide gas supply. The total water usage will be approximately 3 
million gallons per year.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS and DPC include no action, 
purchased power, upgrade of existing resources, alternative sites, 
hydropower, fossil fuel technologies, customer-owned generation, energy 
conservation, renewable resources, and emerging technologies.
    DPC has prepared an Alternative Evaluation and Site Selection Study 
for the project. The Alternative Evaluation and Site Selection Study is 
available for public review at the RUS or DPC at the addresses provided 
in this notice or at the following locations:

Chippewa Falls Public Library, 105 West Central Street, Chippewa Falls, 
Wisconsin.

L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, 400 Eau Claire Street, Eau 
Claire, Wisconsin.
    Federal, state and local agencies, private organizations, and the 
public are invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the 
proposed project. Representatives from RUS and DPC will be available at 
the scoping meeting to discuss RUS's environmental review process, the 
proposed project and the alternatives being considered, scope of the 
environmental issues to be considered, and answer questions. Oral and 
written comments will be accepted at the scoping meeting. Written 
comments regarding the proposed project will also be accepted for at 
least 30 days after the scoping meeting. All written comments should be 
sent to RUS at the address provided in 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 CEQ Regulations and RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures.

    Dated: June 15, 2000.
Mark S. Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-15562 Filed 6-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P