[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67991-67992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22278]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Basin Electric Power 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.

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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 being proposed by 
Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Basin Electric), of Bismarck, 
North Dakota. The proposal consists of the construction and operation 
of a coal-fired electric generation facility referred to as the Dry 
Fork Station, consisting of a single maximum net 385 Megawatt (MW) 
unit, at a site in Gillette, Wyoming, and the construction of 130 miles 
of 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Campbell and Sheridan 
counties, referred to as the Hughes Transmission Project.

DATES: RUS will conduct the two public scoping meetings in an open-
house format on December 6, 2005, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Holiday 
Inn, 1809 Sugarland Drive, Sheridan, Wyoming, and on December 7, 2005, 
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Clarion Western Plaza, 2009 S. Douglas 
Highway, Gillette, Wyoming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural 
Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop 
1571, Washington DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-5093 or e-mail: 
[email protected], or Jim K. Miller, Basin Electric Power 
Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-
0564, telephone: (701) 223-0441 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Basin Electric proposes to construct and 
operate a (maximum net rating) 385 MW (422 MW maximum gross) base load 
coal-fired power plant and transmission line interconnection near 
Gillette, Wyoming. Basin Electric proposes to construct a facility in 
this area due to the proximity of the fuel source in the Powder River 
Basin (PRB) and delivery of the power to its membership. Basin Electric 
is requesting RUS to provide financing for the proposed project.
    The transmission line would consist of approximately 130 miles of 
230kV transmission line that will connect the Hughes Substation east of 
Gillette, Wyoming, to the Carr Draw Substation west of Gillette and a 
proposed substation northeast of Sheridan, Wyoming. The proposed 
schedule developed by Basin Electric would place the transmission line 
in operation by the end of 2008, while the generating facility would be 
commercially operational by 2011.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS include no action, purchased 
power, load management, renewable energy sources, distributed 
generation, and

[[Page 67992]]

alternative site locations. Comments regarding the proposed project may 
be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public scoping meetings or 
in writing within 30 days after the December 7, 2005, scoping meeting 
to RUS at the address provided in this notice.
    Proposal development documents--Alternative Evaluation Study, 
Macro-Corridor Analysis and Site Selection Study--are available for 
public review at RUS or Basin Electric, at the addresses provided in 
this notice. These studies are also available at the Campbell County 
Public Library located at 2101 South 4J Road in Gillette, Wyoming; the 
Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library located at 335 W. Alger Street in 
Sheridan, Wyoming; the Clearmont Branch Library located at 1240 Front 
Street, Clearmont, Wyoming; the Moorcroft Public Library located at 105 
E. Converse, Moorcroft, Wyoming; the Johnson County Library located at 
171 N. Adams, Buffalo, Wyoming; the PRECorp Corporate Headquarters 
located at 221 Main Street, Sundance, Wyoming; and at the Basin 
Electric office located at 2201 South Douglas Highway, Suite 160 in 
Gillette, Wyoming.
    From information provided in the studies mentioned above, and using 
input provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the 
public, RUS will prepare a Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will be available 
for review and comment for 45 days after distribution. 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 after 
distribution. 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 projects 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: November 1, 2005.
Nurul Islam,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 05-22278 Filed 11-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P