[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53289-53290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22510]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Sundance Energy Project, Coolidge, Arizona

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332, the Western 
Area Power Administration (Western) intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the proposal by PPL Global to 
construct an electric generating facility on private property and to 
interconnect this facility with an existing Western transmission line 
and Western's grid in the vicinity of Coolidge, Arizona. Two 4.5-mile 
long transmission lines would connect the proposed power generating 
facility with a point of interconnection on Western's Liberty-Coolidge 
230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line west of Coolidge. In addition, a 
1.5-mile, 230-kV transmission line would connect the power plant with 
Western's Signal Substation. An existing 115-kV transmission line from 
the Signal Substation to the Coolidge Substation would be upgraded to 
230-kV and other work inside the Signal Substation would be required to 
upgrade it.
    In this notice, Western announces its intention to prepare an EIS 
for the proposed project. Western's scoping efforts will include 
notification of the general public, Federal, State, local, and tribal 
agencies of the proposed action, public scoping meetings, and the 
solicitation of issues to be considered in the EIS.

DATES: The dates for scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 
days prior to the meeting date. The announcement will be published in 
the Federal Register, with the local media, and posted on Western's web 
page, www.wapa.gov. Written comments on the scope of the EIS for the 
proposed transmission interconnection and electric generating facility 
should be received within October 31, 2000 in order to be incorporated 
in the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: If you are interested in receiving future information for 
the proposed project or wish to submit written comments, please contact 
Mr. John Holt, Environment Manager, Desert Southwest Customer Service 
Region, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 
85005-6457, phone (602) 352-2780, fax (602) 352-2956, e-mail 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the U.S. 
Department of Energy's NEPA review procedures or status of a NEPA 
review, contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy 
and Compliance, EH-42, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 
472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PPL Global proposes to construct the 
Sundance Energy Project on private lands in Pinal County, approximately 
5 miles southwest of Coolidge, Arizona. The project would be a non-
utility merchant plant that would sell power during peak demand periods 
to wholesale-only contract or the on-the-spot market customers. All 
economic costs of the project will be borne by PPL Global.
    The Project would consist of a nominal 600-megawatt natural gas-
fired, simple cycle peaking facility and on-site supporting 
infrastructure including: an administration building, warehouse 
storage, water treatment facilities, inlet air cooling system to 
optimize inlet air combustion, gas conditioning equipment, and new on-
site access roads. The Project would be designed to operate primarily 
during on-peak hours. The Project's water consumption would be about 
600 acre/feet per year. The water source would be excess Central 
Arizona Project water delivered through an existing irrigation canal at 
the site, a new groundwater well, or a combination of both. The 
generating facility and infrastructure would occupy less than 40 acres 
of a 280-acre parcel of rural property controlled by PPL Global. 
Additional proposed on-site facilities would include an interconnection 
with an existing natural gas transmission pipeline that runs through 
the project property and the construction of 14 miles of natural gas 
pipeline to connect with another existing natural gas transmission 
pipeline southwest of the proposed power plant.

[[Page 53290]]

    The Project would entail construction of new 230-kV transmission 
lines and the upgrade of Western's Signal-Coolidge 115-kV transmission 
line to 230-kV to interconnect with Western's existing Liberty-Coolidge 
230-kV transmission Line.
    Because of the potential for incorporating new generation into 
Western's system, and the proposed interconnections with the existing 
system, Western has determined the need to prepare an EIS in accordance 
with U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) NEPA Implementing Procedures 
found at 10 CFR 1021, Appendix D6 to Subpart D. Although State and 
local agencies are responsible for issuing permits for the proposed 
electric generating facility, the EIS will include the analysis of 
effects from construction and operation of the generating facility as 
part of the proposed action.
    The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
NEPA and DOE's NEPA Implementing Procedures in conjunction with the 
Council of Environmental Quality regulations. Full public participation 
and disclosure are planned for the entire EIS process. Western 
anticipates the EIS process will take about 15 months. It will include 
public information/scoping meetings; coordination and involvement with 
appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies; 
public review and hearing on the published Draft EIS; a published Final 
EIS; a review period; and publication of a Record of Decision (ROD). 
Publication of the ROD is anticipated in the fall of 2001.

    Dated: August 22, 2000.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-22510 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P