[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14577-14578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7234]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Lawrence County Generation Project; Notice of Availability of 
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) for a project proposed by 
Hoosier Energy Electric Cooperative, Inc., (Hoosier) located in 
Bloomington, Indiana, and Wabash Valley Power Association, Inc., 
(Wabash) located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The project consists of 
constructing a 258 megawatt (MW) net, natural gas fired simple-cycle 
combustion turbine, electrical generating facility. The Lawrence County 
Generation Project (LCGP) is proposed to be located in Lawrence County, 
Indiana.

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 Ms. Shiela M. Wheeler, Burns & 
McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc., 9400 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 
64114, telephone: (816) 822-3250, Fax: (816) 822-3515, e-mail: 
[email protected]. All written comments regarding this project 
should be sent to Mr. Nurul Islam within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The joint project proposed by Hoosier and 
Wabash will consist of six (6) simple-cycle electric combustion 
turbines. The primary purpose of the LCGP is to meet the increasing 
power consumption requirements in their respective territories. Hoosier 
will own four (4) of the proposed turbines and Wabash will own the 
remaining two (2). The proposed combustion turbines will receive water 
from a well field that will be drilled near the project site. The 
project will utilize the existing gas pipeline and electric 
transmission line located near the proposed site for operating the 
facility. The LCGP will be fired on natural gas, 2 diesel fuel 
may be used as backup fuel. Hoosier and Wabash propose to construct the 
LCGP in Lawrence County, Indiana. The site is located in a rural 
portion of Lawrence County, approximately 3.5 miles southeast of 
Bedford, Indiana. The site consists of about 49 acres of pastureland; 
approximately 25 acres of this site will be dedicated to the turbine 
generating units and associated facilities.
    Alternatives to the proposed project, including the purchase of 
power, alternative methods of power generation, and alternative site 
locations, etc., were evaluated by Hoosier and Wabash. RUS, in 
accordance with its environmental policies and procedures, required 
that Hoosier and Wabash prepare an environmental report reflecting the 
potential impacts of the proposed project. The environmental report, 
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 RUS' Environmental Policies and Procures, 
Sec.  1794.41. The EA is available for public review at RUS, at the 
address provided in this notice, or the headquarters of Hoosier and 
Wabash, and also at the following public libraries:

Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., 7398 N. State Road 37, 
Bloomington, Indiana 47402. Tel: (812) 876-0374.
Wabash Valley Power Association, Inc., 722 North High School Road, 
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214. Tel: (317) 581-2842.
Bedford Public Library, 1323 K Street, Bedford, Indiana 47421. Tel: 
(812) 275-4471.
Mitchell Community Public Library, 804 Man Street, Mitchell, Indiana 
47446. Tel: (812) 849-2412.
    Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided in this notice. RUS will accept questions and comments on the 
EA for 30 days

[[Page 14578]]

from the date of publication of 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 7 CFR part 1794, Environmental 
Policies and Procedures.

    Dated: March 21, 2003.
Mark S. Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-7234 Filed 3-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P