[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38635-38636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14033]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Southern Illinois Power Cooperative; Notice of Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

[[Page 38636]]


ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
project proposed by Southern Illinois Power Cooperative (SIPC) of 
Marion, Illinois. SIPC is proposing the addition of two simple-cycle 
combustion turbine units, each with a generating capacity of 83 MW, to 
be located in Williamson County at their existing Marion Station.

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. Dick Myott, Environmental & 
Planning Department Manager, SIPC, 11543 Lake of Egypt Road, Marion, 
Illinois 62959, telephone (618) 964-1448 Ext. 268, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS, in accordance with its environmental 
policies and procedures, required that SIPC 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 be located in Williamson County, 
eight miles south of Marion, Illinois. The total amount of farmland 
that would be converted to non-agricultural use is estimated to be 
about 30 acres. Approximately 18 acres will be required for the units 
including the combustion turbines and support facilities. The proposed 
units will be constructed immediately west of the existing plant site 
on land owned by SIPC. The land was previously used for farming 
activities and is contained within sections 26, 27, and 35, Township 15 
South, Range 2 East. The nearest airport, Williamson County Airport, is 
located approximately 8 miles north of the proposed site. The CT 
project will require two new stacks, each stack will be less than 60 
feet tall. The height of the stacks is significantly lower than the 
height of nearby existing plant structures (stacks height varies 
between 200-400 ft.). No FAA permit will be required for the facility. 
We have determined that the proposed facility will not pose any hazards 
to air navigation.
    The existing transmission facilities are adequate for the 
additional power generated by the new CT units and no additional 
transmission facilities are considered at present. The CT project will 
require the routing of natural gas pipeline to the site. The proposed 
gas pipeline is approximately 5.75 miles long. Generally the 
construction of the pipeline will require a right-of-way approximately 
30 to 40 feet wide. The pipeline crossing of larger streams and 
wetlands will be accomplished with underground directional boring so 
that the stream channels, hydrology and vegetation will be least 
affected. The natural gas pipeline route will potentially affect only 
one parcel of jurisdictional wetland. The total area of crossing 
wetland due to natural gas pipeline is estimated to be about 5,750 
square feet. Underground boring through the wetlands will minimize the 
impacts. All permanent streams will be crossed by underground borings 
while the shallow/intermittent streams will be cut and trenched. There 
are no floodplains or wetlands in the vicinity of the project location 
(at CT location); therefore, no impact is anticipated. Based on results 
of the wetland delineation it is unlikely that the proposed project 
will require an individual permit from the Corps of Engineers. The U.S. 
Fish & Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural 
Resources identified no significant impacts to fish and wildlife 
resources due to construction of the proposed project. Therefore, RUS 
has determined that no threatened or endangered species are likely to 
be impacted by the proposed construction.
    The Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) has 
reviewed the project and determined that no historic properties will be 
impacted by the proposed facility. RUS believes the project will have 
no impact on cultural and historic properties due to construction of 
the proposed project. However, the project is approved contingent on 
the following condition: if archaeological remains are discovered 
during construction activities, the work shall be stopped and SIPC will 
notify the SHPO and RUS immediately.
    SIPC 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 Southern Illinoisan newspaper, a daily circular, on 
April 12 & 13, 2002. The 30-day comment period on the EA for the 
proposed facility ended on May 14, 2002. No comments were received on 
the EA.
    SIPC committed to follow Federal and state agency recommendations, 
and secure all necessary permits prior to constructing and operating 
the CT units. Based on the EA and SIPC's commitments to follow agency 
recommendations, 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, air pollution, 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. 
RUS believes that there are no significant unresolved environmental 
conflicts related to this project.

    Dated: May 30, 2002.
Blaine D. Stockton,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 02-14033 Filed 6-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P