[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 66 (Friday, April 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16365-16366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8202]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc.; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold scoping meeting and prepare an 
environmental assessment and/or an environmental impact statement.

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[[Page 16366]]

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 Golden Valley 
Electric Association. Inc., (GVEA) of Fairbanks, Alaska. The project 
consists of constructing a 138kV transmission line between the GVEA 
generating facilities at the Williams Alaska Petroleum Refinery in 
North Pole, Alaska, and the Carney Substation, which is approximately 
28 miles southeast of North Pole.

Meeting Information: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in open house 
forum on Thursday, April 25, 2002, at the North Pole City Hall, 125 
Snowman Lane, North Pole, Alaska 99705, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, RUS, Engineering and 
Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1414, FAX: (202) 720-0820, e-mail: 
[email protected]. Information is also available from Mr. Greg Wyman, 
Manager of Construction Services, GVEA, POB 71249, Fairbanks, Alaska 
99707-1249, telephone (907) 451-5629. His e-mail address is: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GVEA proposes to construct the North Pole-
Carney Substation 138kV Transmission Line Project, which is 
approximately 28 miles in length. To accommodate the new transmission 
line, either a new substation would be built next to the Williams 
Refinery, or the existing generating/substation facilities at North 
Pole would be modified to provide an additional breaker to feed the 
transmission line and other breaker bays for future growth. In 
addition, GVEA would modify the Carney Substation to provide an 
additional breaker to allow for termination of the transmission line. 
This substation work would take place within the existing substation 
footprint. The primary purpose of the facility is to meet the projected 
future increases in regional power requirements and to improve the 
quality of service to existing customers.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS and GVEA include no action, 
purchased power, upgrade of existing lines, new transmission 
facilities, alternative sites, alternative routes, energy conservation.
    GVEA has prepared an Alternative Evaluations and Macro-Corridor 
Study for the project. The report is available for public review at RUS 
or GVEA at the addresses provided in this notice and at the following 
locations:

(1) Noel Wien Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701
(2) North Pole City Library, 601 Snowman Lane, North Pole, AK 99705
(3) GVEA Office, 758 Illinois Street, Fairbanks, AK 99707

    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 GVEA will be available 
at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS' 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 30 
days after the scoping meeting. All written comments should be sent to 
RUS at the address provided in 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 CEQ Regulations and RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures.

    Dated: March 29, 2002.
Mark S. Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-8202 Filed 4-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P