[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52570-52571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25948]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Notice of Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding no significant impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 
the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794), 
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
wind energy project proposed by Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin 
Electric) of Bismarck, North Dakota, and East River Electric Power 
Cooperative (East River) of Madison, South Dakota. The wind facility 
will be constructed in Brule County, South Dakota and will consist up 
to three 1.3 MW wind turbine generators. Power produced by the facility 
will be transmitted via underground line to the existing Hilltop 
Substation owned by the East River Electric. RUS may provide financial 
assistance to Basin Electric for this project.
    RUS has concluded that the impacts of the proposed project would 
not be significant and the proposed action is not a major federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
necessary.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone: (202) 720-1414, e-mail: [email protected]. 
Information is also available from Mr. James A. Berg, Water Quality/
Waste Management Coordinator, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 1717 
East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, telephone (701) 
223-0441. His e-mail address is: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that Basin Electric prepare an 
Environmental Analysis reflecting the potential impacts of the proposed 
facilities. The Environmental Analysis, which includes input from 
federal, state, and local agencies, has been reviewed and accepted as 
RUS' Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project in accordance with 7 
CFR 1794.41. The proposed project will consist of constructing up to 
three 1.3 MW wind turbine generators. All three turbines would be 
located on a 160-acre quarter section of land that has been designated 
to build the facility. Electric power produced from the turbine will be 
delivered to the existing Hilltop Substation of East River Electric via 
12.47 kV underground feeder. The underground feeder line from the 
turbine site to the East River Hilltop Substation would be 
approximately 2.25 miles.
    The total amount of farmland that would be converted to non-
agricultural use would be about 1.56 acres including access roads. The 
nearest airport, the Chamberlain Airport, is located approximately five 
miles south of Site B (preferred site). The Federal Aviation 
Administration has determined that the proposed facility will not pose 
any hazards to air navigation. The South Dakota Department of 
Transportation, Aeronautics Commission, has issued a permit to build 
three wind turbines. Therefore, the construction of the proposed 
project is not in conflict with any other intended land uses in the 
area. There are no floodplains or wetlands in the vicinity of the 
project location; therefore, no impact is anticipated. The bald eagle, 
a threatened species, and the whooping crane, an endangered species may 
inhabit or migrate through the project area. No construction shall 
occur within 0.25 mile of any known active bald eagle nests. The 
whooping crane is considered to be primarily a migrant through the 
area, and is not anticipated to be affected by the proposed project. 
East River Electric will follow the mitigation measures proposed by the 
US Fish and Wildlife Service. Therefore,

[[Page 52571]]

RUS has determined that no threatened or endangered species would be 
likely to be impacted by the proposed construction. A Phase I cultural 
resources survey was performed for two locations for the proposed wind 
turbine project. The survey found no eligible sites. State Historic 
Preservation Officer (SHPO) has concurred with the findings in their 
letter dated April 2, 2001. Basin Electric has agreed to continue 
consultation with the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Lower Brule Sioux 
Tribe as the project progresses. RUS believes the project will have no 
impact on cultural and historic properties due to construction of the 
proposed project. The project is approved contingent on the following 
condition: if archaeological remains are discovered during construction 
activities, the work shall be stopped and the SHPO and RUS notified 
immediately. The project site is outside of the view shed of any public 
facilities. There are two residences to the north and east within one 
mile of the proposed site. It is estimated that the operational-related 
noise level at the nearest residence would be approximately 37 bBA. 
This noise level is below the acceptable federal standard. Based on 
this information RUS has determined that no adverse impacts are 
anticipated due to noise level produced during the operation of the 
proposed project.
    Basin Electric published notices of the availability of the EA and 
solicited public comments per 7 CFR 1792.42. Notices of availability of 
EA were published in the Central Dakota Times, Chamberlain, South 
Dakota and the Chamberlain-Oacoma Register, Chamberlain, South Dakota 
for a 30-day comment period. The 30-day comment period on the EA for 
the proposed wind facility project ended September 7, 2001. No comments 
were received on the EA.
    Based on the EA, RUS has concluded that the proposed action will 
not have a significant effect to various resources, including important 
farmland, floodplains, wetlands, cultural resources, threatened and 
endangered species and their critical habitat, and noise. RUS has also 
determined that there would be no negative impacts of the proposed 
project on minority communities and low-income communities as a result 
of the construction of the project.
    The EA and the FONSI are available for public review at the 
following locations:

Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 1717 East Interstate Avenue, 
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, Phone: (701) 223-0441
East River Electric Power Cooperative, 121 Southeast 1st Street, 
Madison, South Dakota 57042, Phone: (605) 256-4536
Central Electric Power Cooperative, 1420 North Main, Mitchell, South 
Dakota 57301, Phone: (605) 996-6516
Cozard Memorial Library, 110 East Laeler Avenue, Chamberlain, South 
Dakota 57325, Phone: (605) 734-4414
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering & 
Environmental Section, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2240, 
Washington, DC 20250-1571, Phone: (202) 720-1414

    Dated: October 10, 2001.
Alfred Rodgers,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-25948 Filed 10-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P