[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 246 (Thursday, December 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80416-80417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32493]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


East Kentucky Power Cooperative; 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 and operation of an 
80 megawatt combustion turbine by East Kentucky Power Cooperative. RUS 
may provide financing assistance for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 
720-0468. Bob's e-mail address is [email protected]. Information is 
also available from Jeff Hohman, Manager of Natural Resources, East 
Kentucky Power Cooperative, P.O. Box 707, Winchester, Kentucky 40392-
0707, telephone (800) 238-3443.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project consists of the construction and 
operation of 80 megawatt, simple cycle, combustion turbine at East 
Kentucky Power Cooperative's J.K. Smith Combustion Turbine Site. The 
J.K. Smith Combustion Turbine Site is located in Clark County, 
Kentucky, approximately 9 miles southeast of Winchester, Kentucky, on 
Kentucky Highway 89. There are currently three 80 megawatt, simple 
cycle, combustion turbines located at the site. A fourth unit will soon 
be under construction. This project will be the fifth combustion 
turbine to be constructed and operated at the site. There are adequate 
natural gas transmission facilities at the site to power this 
additional unit. A 12-mile, 138 kV electric transmission line will need 
to be constructed as part of the project to feed the electric power 
generated by the Unit 5 to East Kentucky Power Cooperative's existing 
transmission grid.
    East Kentucky Power Cooperative prepared an environmental report

[[Page 80417]]

which describes the project further and discusses the environmental 
impacts of the proposed project. RUS has conducted an independent 
evaluation of the environmental report and believes that it accurately 
assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No adverse impacts are 
expected with the construction of the project. RUS has accepted the 
document as its Environmental Assessment and is making it available for 
public review.
    The Environmental Assessment can be reviewed at the Clark County 
Public Library, 370 South Burns Avenue, Winchester, Kentucky, telephone 
(606) 744-5661, the headquarters of East Kentucky Power Cooperative, 
4775 Lexington Road, Winchester, Kentucky, or 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 Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations and RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 
1794).

    Dated: December 14, 2000.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 00-32493 Filed 12-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P