[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59029-59030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20309]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold 
Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold a public 
scoping meeting and prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) in connection with possible impacts related to a 
project proposed by Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SECI), with 
headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The proposal consists of the 
construction of a nominal 750 megawatt coal-based electrical generating 
unit at the Seminole Generating Station (SGS). The Station is located 
in Putnam County, Florida, about six miles north of Palatka. SGS Unit 3 
will be constructed near the existing SGS Units 1 and 2. The new unit 
can be readily accommodated on the existing site. The financing and 
construction of the SGS Unit 1 and 2 was evaluated in a previous EIS. 
SECI is requesting RUS provide financing for the proposed project.

DATES: RUS will conduct a public scoping meeting in an open-house 
format, seeking the input of the public and other interested parties, 
on October 20, 2005, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Campbell Center at Ravine 
Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg Street, Palatka, Florida 32177, 386-329-
3721.
    A scoping document for the preparation of a supplemental 
environmental impact statement will be available for review at the 
public scoping meeting. The document also is available for public 
review at RUS at the address provided in this notice, at Seminole 
Electric Cooperative, 16313 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, Florida 
33618, at Seminole Generating Station, 890 North Highway 17, Palatka, 
Florida 32177, and at,
Putnam County Library System: Headquarters Palatka Library, 601 College 
Road, Palatka, Florida 32177-3873.
Crescent City Public Library Branch, 610 N. Summit, Crescent City, 
Florida 32212-2148.
Bostwick Community Library Branch, 125 Tillman Street, P.O. Box 489, 
Bostwick, Florida 32007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-0468 or e-
mail: [email protected], or James Frauen, Manager of 
Environmental Affairs, Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 
272000, Tampa, Florida 33688-2000 or e-mail: electric.com">jfrauen@seminole-electric.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SECI proposes to construct and operate a 
nominal 750-megawatt coal-based electric generating facility (Unit 3) 
at its existing Seminole Generating Station, located in Putnam County, 
Florida, about six miles north of Palatka on U.S. Highway 17. SECI 
intends to license the construction and operation of SGS Unit 3 in 
conjunction with the continued operation of the existing Units 1 and 2. 
Unit 1 began commercial operation in January 1984 and Unit 2 began 
commercial operation in January 1985. Unit 3, a high efficiency, 
advanced technology coal unit with state of the art emission controls, 
will be constructed near Units 1 and 2. Unit 3 proposes to start 
commercial operation by May 1, 2012. It has been determined that a 
third unit can be readily accommodated on the existing plant site. Fuel 
(coal and petroleum coke) for all three units will continue to be 
delivered to the site by rail.
    The Unit 3 project is estimated to cost $1.2 billion, which 
includes approximately $440 million for environmental controls. In 
addition, Seminole will also invest more than $200 million for advanced 
air emissions controls on Units 1 and 2 to remove additional amounts of 
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury. A new zero discharge 
system will be installed to reuse and evaporate process wastewater from 
all three units resulting in further improvement of the quality of the 
Station's water discharge to the St. Johns River.
    Alternatives considered 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 for 
receipt no later than November 21, 2005, to RUS at the address provided 
in this notice.
    As mentioned previously, the financing and construction of the 
existing SGS Units 1 and 2 were evaluated in a previous EIS prepared by 
the Rural Electrification Administration. The final EIS and Record of 
Decision for the Seminole Plant Unit 1 and 2 and Associated 
Transmission Facilities were published in 1979. This EIS evaluated the 
environmental effects of the construction of two 600 MW coal-fired 
electric generating units and associated 230 kV transmission 
facilities. This EIS will be supplemented to evaluate the environmental 
effects of the proposed action.
    RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public in the preparation of a Draft 
Supplemental EIS. The Draft Supplemental EIS will be available for 
review and comment for 45 days. A Final Supplemental EIS will then be 
prepared that considers all comments received. The Final Supplemental 
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). 
Public notices announcing the availability of the Draft and Final 
Supplemental EIS and the ROD will be

[[Page 59030]]

published in the Federal Register and in the Palatka Daily News.
    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: October 4, 2005.
Glendon D. Deal,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-20309 Filed 10-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P