[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40653-40654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17198]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Exira Station Project in Audubon County, Iowa

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western) has been 
approached by the Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (WMMPA) and 
Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) with a request for 
interconnection of the Exira Station Project (Project) with Western's 
electric transmission system. The Project, as proposed, would be a gas-
fired (with fuel oil backup) electrical peaking plant with an estimated 
yearly electrical output averaging less than 50 megawatts (MW). Project 
construction would expand an existing 0.03-acre pond to approximately 
0.18 acres for stormwater and process water retention and develop a new 
0.46-acre pond for stormwater retention. This represents a wetland 
action and Western will prepare a wetland assessment as part of its 
Environmental Assessment.

DATES: Comments on the proposed wetland action are due to the address 
below no later than July 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Nick Stas, Environment 
Manager, Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 35800, Billings, MT 59107-5800, fax (406) 247-
7408, e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dirk Shulund, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region, 
Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 35800, Billings, MT 59107-
5800, fax (406) 247-7408, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WMMPA and MRES are proposing to construct 
the Project in Audubon County, near the towns of Exira and Brayton, 
Iowa. The Project would occupy about 13 acres of a 76-acre parcel that 
would be owned by WMMPA. The Project would consist of two turbines, 
each with a net generating capacity of 45 MW. The turbines would also 
use diesel fuel oil as a backup during unforeseen natural gas 
curtailments or during times of high natural gas fuel cost. Other major 
plant features would include a switchyard, a 161-kilovolt (kV) 
transmission line, and a natural gas interconnection with an existing 
gas pipeline that crosses the property. The yearly electrical output of 
the plant would be less than 50 average MW. Electricity generated by 
the Project would be used to meet MRES customer's peak electrical 
demand which occurs primarily during the summer.
    Western's Creston-Dennison 161-kV Transmission Line crosses the 
northeast corner of the 76-acre parcel. The electrical output of the 
plant would be interconnected to this line by a new 2,000-foot long, 
161-kV transmission line that would travel almost straight east from 
the power plant along the northern border of the site. On-site

[[Page 40654]]

groundwater wells would supply the non-potable water for plant 
operation. Potable water would be brought to the site as bottled water.
    There are two small ephemeral ponds on the site. One is on the west 
side of the site and is about 0.03 acres. The other pond on the north 
side of the property is about 0.01 acres in size. All ponds eventually 
drain to the East Nishnabotna River. Plant process water effluents and 
stormwater runoff would be discharged to the larger pond, which would 
need to be expanded. The existing 0.03-acre pond would be excavated to 
provide a deeper basin and a larger surface area. The proposed action 
would raise the existing dike on the larger pond sufficient to increase 
the size of the pond to 0.18 acres. The result would be a 0.15-acre 
increase of wetland habitat in the project area. The new 161-kV 
transmission line would span the other pond which would not be impacted 
by the Project. Also, a new pond would be developed to capture 
stormwater runoff during construction and operation. The new pond would 
be constructed by excavating a low area just east of the proposed plant 
site and creating a berm near the northern property boundary. The 
resulting pond would be approximately 0.46 acres with a depth of 1 to 2 
feet during and after storm events.
    In accordance with the Department of Energy's Floodplain/Wetlands 
Review Requirements (10 CFR part 1022), Western will prepare a wetland 
assessment and will perform the proposed actions to avoid or minimize 
potential harm to or within the wetland. The wetland assessment will 
examine the use of the wetland as a stormwater and waste water 
retention basin and evaluate avoidance, mitigation, or compensation to 
minimize loss of wetland habitat. The wetland is located in Audubon 
County, Iowa, in T. 78 N., R. 35 W., section 31. Maps and further 
information are available from the contacts listed above.

    Dated: June 27, 2003.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-17198 Filed 7-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P