[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 63 (Monday, April 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17061-17062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6539]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Great River Energy; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold scoping meetings and prepare an 
environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural 
Development Utilities Programs, 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

[[Page 17062]]

RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) proposes to 
hold two scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for its Federal action related to a project proposed by Great River 
Energy (GRE) of Elk River, Minnesota. The project consists of 
constructing a natural gas-fired simple cycle, combustion turbine power 
generation facility in Cambridge Township in Isanti County, Minnesota. 
An alternative location for the plant is also being proposed for 
consideration and comment. The alternative site location is at GRE's 
Elk River headquarters in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Total electrical 
output from the facility is expected to range from 150 megawatts (MW) 
to 190 MW depending upon operating conditions. Construction of the 
project at the proposed Cambridge site would necessitate upgrading 
approximately 47 miles of existing 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines 
to the latest design standards. Construction at the alternative Elk 
River site would necessitate upgrading approximately 27 miles of 
existing 69-kV.
    Meeting Information: RUS will conduct two scoping meetings in open 
House forum as follows: Tuesday, April 19, 2005, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 
Cambridge Township Hall, Isanti County Fairgrounds, 3101 Hwy 95 NE., 
Cambridge, MN 55008, Telephone: 763-689-3768. Wednesday, April 20, 
2005, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Elk River Parks & Recreation, 1104 Lions Park 
Drive NW., Elk River, MN 55330, Telephone: 763-635-1150.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, 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]; or Mark Strohfus, 
Environmental Project Leader, GRE, 17845 East Highway 10, P.O. Box 800, 
Elk River, MN 55330-0800, telephone (763) 241-2491, FAX: (763) 241-
6033, e-mail: Mark [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GRE proposes to construct the facility in 
Cambridge Township in Isanti County, Minnesota. The primary purpose of 
the facility is to meet GRE peak electrical load during hot summer 
weather. Under those conditions, the facility's expected output is 
about 170 MW of power. The proposed project will consist of one simple 
cycle combustion turbine. The combustion turbine will be fueled with 
natural gas.
    The project is proposed to be constructed at Great River Energy's 
existing Cambridge Peaking Plant, 2438 349th Avenue, NE. A fuel oil-
fired combustion turbine rated at approximately 20 MW exists at the 
site and will remain in operation at the site after construction of the 
proposed combustion turbine. The existing peaking plant occupies 
roughly 11 acres south of 349th Avenue. Additional land totaling 
approximately seven acres may be acquired to the south and east to 
facilitate construction activities for the proposed combustion turbine. 
The proposed combustion turbine would be fueled only with natural gas. 
Four 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines are currently connected to the 
existing substation at the Cambridge site. Three of these lines 
totaling about 47 miles will be upgraded to state-of-the-art 69-kV 
design standards to allow the electricity from the new generator to be 
reliably delivered from the site.
    An alternative site for the plant is also being proposed at GRE's 
existing facilities at 17845 East Highway 10, Elk River, Minnesota 
GRE's headquarters and its 40-MW Elk River Station, which is fueled 
with refuse-derived fuel, are at this location and would remain if the 
proposed plant were to be constructed at the alternative site. No 
additional land would be purchased if the plant were to be constructed 
at this location. Due to constraints on natural gas availability, a 
combustion turbine at the Elk River site would be equipped to fire fuel 
oil as a backup fuel. The generator would be connected to the Elk River 
Substation. Approximately 27 miles of transmission line would have to 
be upgraded to allow the electricity from the new generator to be 
reliably delivered from the site.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS and GRE include no action, 
purchased power, upgrade of existing resources, new transmission 
facilities, alternative sites, alternative routes, fossil fuel 
technologies, customer-owned generation, energy conservation, renewable 
resources, and emerging technologies.
    GRE has prepared an Alternative Evaluation and Site Selection Study 
for the project. The Alternative Evaluation and Site Selection Study is 
available at GRE's Web site at http://www.greatriverenergy.com/projects/plants/proj_plants.html. The study is also available for 
public review at the RUS or GRE at the addresses provided in this 
notice or at the following locations: Cambridge Public Library, 244 
South Birch St., Cambridge, MN 55008, Phone 763-689-7390. Elk River 
Public Library, 413 Proctor Ave., Elk River, MN 55330, Phone 763-441-
1641.
    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 GRE will be available at 
the scoping meetings to discuss RUS's environmental review process, the 
proposed project and the alternatives being considered, the scope of 
the environmental issues to be considered, and answer questions. Oral 
and written comments will be accepted at the scoping meetings. Written 
comments regarding the proposed project will also be accepted for 30 
days after the scoping meetings. 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, 2005.
Glendon D. Deal,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6539 Filed 4-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P