[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35789-35790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12639]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


East River Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., Notice of Finding of 
No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a finding of no significant impact in connection with a 
request from East River Electric Power Cooperative (EREPC) for 
assistance from RUS to finance the construction of an electrical 
substation, a short segment of 230kV transmission line, and a 
communication tower in Lincoln County, South Dakota.

FOR FURTHER 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, Fax (202) 
720-0820, e-mail [email protected]. Information is also 
available from Mr. Ronald W. Golden, Land Agent, East River Electric 
Power Cooperative, Inc., 121 Southeast First Street, Madison, South 
Dakota 5704, telephone (605) 256-4536, Fax (605) 256-8058, 
e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: East River Electric Power Cooperative 
(EREPC) proposes to construct an electrical substation, a short segment 
of 230 kV transmission line and a communication

[[Page 35790]]

tower in Lincoln County, South Dakota. The proposed Virgil Fodness 230 
kV Substation will be located in the southwest corner of the Southeast 
Quarter (SE1/4) of Section two, Township 99 North, Range 51 West in 
Lincoln County. The overall height of the communication tower with 
antenna will be 285 feet. The tower will be a self-supporting type with 
red obstruction lighting. The existing 230 kV transmission line will be 
rerouted and it will need the addition of four steel poles. The height 
of the poles will vary between 95 feet and 145 feet. The facility will 
require 20 acres to construct. It will make it possible for EREPC to 
provide transmission and transformation service to meet the increasing 
power requirements of its member distribution system. RUS may provide 
financial assistance to EREPC 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. RUS, in accordance 
with its environmental policies and procedures, required that EREPC 
prepare an Environmental Report 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. EREPC published notices of the availability of the 
EA and solicited public comments per 7 CFR 1794.42. The 30-day comment 
period on the EA for the proposed project ended May 6, 2002. No 
comments were received on the EA.
    Based on the EA, RUS has concluded that the proposed action will 
not have a significant effect on various resources, including important 
farmland, floodplains, wetlands, cultural resources, threatened and 
endangered species and their critical habitat, air and water quality, 
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 is available for public review at the RUS or the 
headquarters of EREPC at the addresses provided in this notice and at 
the following location: Lincoln County Courthouse, County Auditor's 
Office, 100 East Fifth Street, Canton, South Dakota 57013.

Blaine D. Stockton,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 02-12639 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P