[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57252-57253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19578]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Extension of 
Public Scoping Comment Period

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public scoping comment period.

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SUMMARY: Upon request the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) agrees to 
extend the public scoping comment period by 30 days prior to the 
preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection to 
a project proposed by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), 
with headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. A previous notice was 
published in the Federal Register on August 10, 2005 announcing RUS's 
intent to prepare an EIS and to hold public scoping meetings. The 
proposal consists of the construction and operation of a nominal 660 
megawatt coal-based electrical 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 
proposal.

DATES: Send comments to RUS, at the address listed below on or before 
October 28, 2005.
    A Site Selection Study and Macro Corridor Study Report, prepared by 
Associated Electric Cooperative, is available for public review on the 
RUS Web site http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/eis.htm, at Associated 
Electric Cooperative offices at, 2814 S. Golden, Springfield, Missouri 
65807, and at the following public repositories:

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.
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.
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.
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.
    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.
    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

[[Page 57253]]

and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, 
Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-0468 or email: 
[email protected], or Charles Means, Senior Regulatory Policy 
Analyst, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 754, 
Springfield, Missouri 65801 or email: [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 alternative 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.
    Four public scoping meetings in an open-house format followed by a 
discussion period were held: 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.
    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: September 23, 2005.
Mark S. Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Water and 
Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19578 Filed 9-29-05; 8:45 am]
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