[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 147 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46686-46687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19190]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


National Power 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 with respect to the potential 
environmental impacts related to the construction of a 510 megawatt, 
natural gas fired combustion turbine electric generation plant in 
northwest Ohio. RUS may provide financing assistance to National Power 
Cooperative for the project.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-
1571,

[[Page 46687]]

telephone: (202) 720-0468. Bob's e-mail address is 
[email protected]. Information is also available from Keith A. 
Crabtree of National Power Cooperative at (614) 846-5757. Keith's e-
mail address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National Power Cooperative, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, proposes to 
construct the natural gas fired electric generation plant at one of two 
potential sites. One site is located in Van Wert County near Convoy, 
just southwest of the intersection of Mentzer Road and Shaner Road. The 
other site is located in Allen County, east of Cairo, north of the 
Lincoln Highway between Stewart Road and Slabtown Road.
    The proposed project will be composed of three gas fired turbine 
generation units with an output of 170 megawatts each. The entire plant 
will require approximately 30 acres. No major natural gas pipeline or 
electric transmission line improvements will be needed at either site 
beyond the proposed site boundaries.
    National Power Cooperative prepared an environmental analysis for 
RUS which describes the project and assesses its environmental impacts. 
RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental 
analysis and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the 
proposed project. This environmental analysis will serve as RUS' 
environmental assessment of the project. No significant impacts are 
expected as a result of the construction of the project.
    The environmental assessment can be reviewed at the National Power 
Cooperative headquarters located at 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, 
Ohio. This document will also be available at the Lima Public Library, 
650 W. Market St., Lima, Ohio (419-228-5113) and it's Cairo Branch, 519 
Wall St., Cairo, Ohio (419-641-7744) and at the Brumback Library, 215 
W. Main St. in Van Wert, Ohio (419-238-2168) and it's Convoy Branch, 
116 E. Tully St., Convoy, Ohio (419-749-4000). It can also be reviewed 
at the headquarters of RUS at the address provided above.
    Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided. RUS will accept questions and comments on the environmental 
assessment 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: July 24, 2000.
Glendon D. Deal,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 00-19190 Filed 7-28-00; 8:45 am]
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