[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46472-46474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15766]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold 
Public Scoping Meetings and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold public 
scoping meetings and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in 
connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by 
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), with headquarters in 
Springfield, Missouri. The proposal consists of the construction and 
operation of a nominal 660 megawatt coal-based electrical

[[Page 46473]]

generating plant and associated transmission facilities. A proposed and 
an alternate site both near the Missouri River in the northwest 
quadrant of Missouri have been identified by AECI. AECI is requesting 
RUS to provide financing for the proposed project.

DATES: RUS will conduct four public scoping meetings in an open-house 
format followed by a discussion period: August 22, 2005, Oregon, 
Missouri, at T.J. Hall Community Center, 104 S. Main; August 23, 2005, 
Sedalia, Missouri, at Missouri Electric Cooperatives Building, State 
Fair Grounds, 2503 W. 16th St.; August 24, 2005, Salisbury, Missouri, 
at Knights of Columbus Building, 311 E. Patterson Ave.; August 25, 
2005, Norborne, Missouri, at Goppert Community Building, 201 S. Pine. 
The open house will be held from 4-6 p.m. with the discussion period 
from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
    A Site Selection Study and Macro Corridor Study Report, prepared by 
Associated Electric Cooperative, will be presented at the public 
scoping meeting. The Report is available for public review at RUS at 
the address provided in this notice, at Associated Electric 
Cooperative, 2814 S. Golden, Springfield, Missouri 65807 and at:
Cameron Public Library
    312 N. Chestnut St.
    Cameron, MO 64429
    Phone: 816/632-2311
Concordia Library
    709 S. Main St.
    Concordia, MO 64020
    Phone: 660/463-2277
Hale Library & Museum
    321 Main St.
    Hale, MO 64643
    Phone: 660/565-2617
Mid-Continent Public Library, Kearney Branch
    100 S. Platte-Clay Way
    Kearney, MO 64060-7640
    Phone: 816/628-5055
Macon Public Library
    210 N. Rutherford St.
    Macon, MO 63552
    Phone: 660/385-3314
Carrollton Public Library
    1 N. Folger St.
    Carrollton, MO 64633
    Phone: 660/542-0183
 Mid-Continent Public Library, Excelsior Springs Branch
    1460 Kearney Road
    Excelsior Springs, MO 64024-1746
    Phone: 816/630-6721
Robertson Memorial Library
    19 W. 20th St.
    Higginsville, MO 64037
    Phone: 660/584-2880
Lexington Library
    1008 Main St.
    Lexington, MO 64067
    Phone: 660/259-3071
 Marshall Public Library
    214 N. Lafayette
    Marshall, MO 65340
    Phone: 660/886-3391
Maryville Public Library
    509 N. Main St.
    Maryville, MO 64468
    Phone: 660/582-5281
Little Dixie Regional Library
    111 N. 4th St.
    Moberly, MO 65270
    Phone: 660/263-4426
Oregon Public Library
    103 S. Washington St.
    Oregon, MO 64473
    Phone: 660/446-3586
Dulany Memorial Library
    501 S. Broadway
    Salisbury, MO 65281
    Phone: 660/388-5712
Boonslick Regional Library, Sedalia Branch
    219 W. 3rd St.
    Sedalia, MO 65301
    Phone: 660/827-7323
Carnegie Library
    316 Massachusetts St.
    St. Joseph, MO 64504
    Phone: 816/238-0526
East Hills Library
    502 N. Woodbine Road, Suite A
    St. Joseph, MO 64506
    Phone: 816/236-2136
Washington Park Library
    1821 N. Third St.
    St. Joseph, MO 64505
    Phone: 816/232-2052
Boonslick Regional Library
    950 E. Main St.
    Warsaw, MO 65355
    Phone: 660/438-5211
DeKalb County Public Library
    201 N. Polk St.
    Maysville, MO 64469
    Phone: 816/449-5695
Mound City Public Library
    205 E. 6th St.
    Mound City, MO 64470
    Phone: 660/442-5700
Ray County Library
    219 S. College St.
    Richmond, MO 64085
    Phone: 816/470-3291
Rolling Hills Consolidated Library: Savannah
    514 W. Main St.
    Savannah, MO 64485
    Phone: 816/324-4569
Sedalia Public Library
    311 W. Third St.
    Sedalia, MO 65301
    Phone: 660/826-1314
Downtown Library
    927 Felix St.
    St. Joseph, MO 64501
    Phone: 816/232-7729
Rolling Hills Consolidated Library: Eastside
    1904 N. Belt Highway
    St. Joseph, MO 64506
    Phone: 816/232-5479
Sweet Springs Public Library
    323 Spring St.
    Sweet Springs, MO 65351
    Phone: 660/335-4314
Norborne Public Library
    109 East 2nd Street
    Norborne, MO 64668
    Voice: 816/594-3514

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
telephone: (202) 720-0468 or e-mail: [email protected], or 
Charles Means, Senior Regulatory Policy Analyst, Associated Electric 
Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 754, Springfield, Missouri 65801 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AECI proposes to construct and operate a 
nominal 660-megawatt coal-based electric generating facility at one of 
two sites in northwest Missouri. Its proposed site is just west of 
Norborne, Missouri, in Carroll County. The alternate site is west of 
Big Lake, Missouri, along the Missouri River and just south of U.S. 
Highway 159 in Holt County. Fuel will be supplied to the plant at 
either site by rail; competing rail options will be evaluated.
    Construction of the project at either site will require the 
construction of new transmission facilities. Substation upgrades and 
approximately 135 miles of 345-kV transmission line would be required 
to connect the new plant to AECI's transmission system. For the 
proposed Norborne site, one line would go east to the existing Thomas 
Hill Substation, and one line would go south to Sedalia and then to a 
new substation in eastern Benton County. For the Holt County site, a 
double circuit 345-kV line would be required from the plant to the 
Fairport Substation in DeKalb County and a single circuit 345-kV line 
from the Fairport Substation to a new substation near Orrick, Missouri, 
in southwest Ray County. AECI's schedule calls for these facilities to 
be in commercial operation by May 2011.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS include no action, purchased 
power, renewable energy sources, distributed generation, and 
alternative site locations. Comments regarding the proposed project may 
be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public scoping meetings or 
in writing no later than September 26, 2005 to RUS at the address 
provided in this notice.

[[Page 46474]]

    RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public in the preparation of a Draft EIS. The 
Draft EIS will be available for review and comment for 45 days. A Final 
EIS will then be prepared that considers all comments received. The 
Final EIS will be available for review and comment for 30 days. 
Following the 30-day comment period, RUS will prepare a Record of 
Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft and 
Final EIS and the ROD will be published in the Federal Register and in 
local newspapers.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal, 
State and local environmental laws and regulations and completion of 
the environmental review requirements as prescribed in the RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: August 4, 2005.
Glendon D. Deal,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Water and Environmental 
Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15766 Filed 8-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P