[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42196-42197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20122]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Southern Illinois 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 Southern Illinois 
Power Cooperative (SIPC) of Marion, Illinois. The project consists of 
two simple-cycle electric combustion turbines and the associated 
facilities. The proposed combustion turbines will have a total nominal 
generating capacity of 166 megawatts (MW), with a summertime rating of 
144 MW. The combustion turbines will be located across the road 
immediately west of SIPC's existing Marion Station approximately 8 
miles south of Marion, Illinois.
    Meeting Information: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in open 
house forum on Wednesday, September 5, 2001, at the Marion High School, 
1501 South Carbon Street, Marion, Illinois 62959, from 5 p.m. until 8 
p.m.

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]. Information is also 
available from Mr. Dick Myott, Environmental & Planning Department 
Manager, Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, 11543 Lake of Egypt Road, 
Marion, Illinois 62959, telephone (618) 964-1448 Ext. 268. His e-mail 
address is: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SIPC proposes to construct the facility in 
Williamson County, Illinois. The primary purpose of the facility is to 
meet SIPC peak electrical load during hot summer weather. Under those 
conditions the facility's expected output is about 144 MW of power. The 
proposed project will consist of two simple cycle combustion turbines. 
The turbines will have a total gross rating of 166 MW. The primary fuel 
will be natural gas and the Number 2 fuel oil will serve as the back-up 
fuel. The plant will require approximately 15 acres of land. The 
project will also require construction of a total of about five-mile 
long new high-pressure gas line from the proposed generating station 
east to an intersection of two natural gas pipelines. The Texas Eastern 
Company and the Trunkline Gas Company own these lines. The construction 
of the gas pipeline will need a right-of-way approximately 35 to 50 
wide. A 12-inch pipe will be installed in the trench of approximately 4 
feet deep. The combustion turbine uses demineralized water injection 
for flue gas emissions control when firing with the Number 2 back up 
fuel oil and they will use approximately 225 gallons of water per 
minute. Water injection is not required when firing the natural gas 
fuel.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS and SIPC include no action, 
purchased power, upgrade of existing resources, new transmission 
facilities, alternative sites, alternative routes, fossil fuel 
technologies, customer-owned generation, energy conservation, renewable 
resources, and emerging technologies.
    SIPC has prepared an Alternative Evaluations and Siting Studies for 
the project. The report is available for public review at the RUS or 
SIPC at the addresses provided in this notice and at the following 
location: Marion Carnegie Public Library, 206 South Market Street, 
Marion, Illinois 62959, (618) 993-5935.
    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 SIPC 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. 2
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all

[[Page 42197]]

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: August 2, 2001.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20122 Filed 8-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P