[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 125 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37038-37039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5803]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


East Kentucky Power Cooperative; Notice of Intent To Hold Public 
Scoping Meetings and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Programs (USDA Rural 
Development) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance 
to East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. (EKPC) of Kentucky for the 
proposed construction of approximately 35 miles of 345 kilovolt (kV) 
transmission line in Clark, Madison, and Garrard counties, KY. The 
proposed 345 kV transmission line project would be constructed within 
one of several corridors under consideration. The transmission line 
corridors originate at the J.K. Smith Power Station near the community 
of Trapp in Clark County, KY and terminate at the proposed location of 
a new 345 kV switching station. EKPC is requesting USDA Rural 
Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

DATES: USDA Rural Development will conduct a scoping meeting in an open 
house format from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2006. The 
purpose of the meeting is to provide information and solicit comments 
for the preparation of an EA.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Best Western-Holiday 
Plaza located at 100 Eastern Bypass, Richmond, KY 40475; Phone: 859-
623-9220.
    A Macro Corridor Study will be available for public review at USDA 
Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1571; at the USDA Rural Development's Web site 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm; at EKPC's headquarters office 
4775 Lexington Road, Winchester, Kentucky 40391; and at the following 
Public Library locations:

Clark County Library, 370 South Burns Avenue, Winchester, KY 40391. 
(859) 744-5661. Julie Maruskin, Director.

Madison County Public Library, 507 West Main St., Richmond, KY 40475. 
(859) 623-6704. Sue Hays, Director.

Garrard County Public Library, 101 Lexington St, Lancaster, KY 40444. 
(859) 792-3424. Joan Tussey.

    Written comments should be sent to: Stephanie Strength, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities 
Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-0468. Mrs. 
Strength's e-mail address is [email protected].

[[Page 37039]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EKPC proposes to construct a 345 kV 
transmission line between a source substation at the J.K. Smith Power 
Station in Clark County and a proposed switching station located near 
Lancaster, Kentucky. The proposed line would be constructed within one 
of several corridors under consideration. The proposed corridors are 
located in Clark, Madison, and Garrard counties. The proposed corridors 
extend southwesterly from the J.K. Smith Power Station near Trapp, KY. 
From Trapp, the corridors will extend towards the communities of Union 
City, Redhouse, and White Hall to the north side of Richmond. From 
Richmond the corridors head in the southwesterly direction near 
communities such as Roundhill, Kirksville, Ruthton, Teatersville, 
Mcreary, Nina, and Three Forks towards the proposed location of a 345kV 
switching station. The proposed switching station would be located west 
of the community of Lancaster. The transmission line would require a 
right-of-way of 150 feet. Depending on which route is chosen the 
approximate length of the transmission line would be from 35-37 miles. 
It is anticipated that this transmission line would be in service in 
late spring to early summer of 2009.
    Alternatives considered by USDA Rural Development and EKPC include: 
(a) No action, (b) alternative transmission improvements, and (c) 
alternative transmission line corridors.
    An Electric Alternative Evaluation and Macro Corridor Study Report, 
prepared by EKPC will be presented at the public scoping meeting. The 
Report is available for public review at the addresses provided in this 
notice.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed 
project. Representatives from USDA Rural Development and EKPC will be 
available at the scoping meeting to discuss USDA Rural Development's 
environmental review process, describe the project, the need for the 
project, the macro corridors under consideration, and discuss the scope 
of environmental issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept 
oral and written comments.
    Questions and comments should be received by USDA Rural Development 
in writing by August 10, 2006 to ensure that they are considered in 
this environmental impact determination.
    The comments received will be incorporated into the environmental 
analysis EKPC will submit to USDA Rural Development for review. USDA 
Rural Development will use the environmental analysis to determine the 
significance of the impacts of the project and may adopt it as its 
environmental assessment of the project. USDA Rural Development's 
environmental assessment of the project would be available for review 
and comment for 30 days. Should USDA Rural Development determine, based 
on the EA of the project, that the project would not have a significant 
environmental impact, it will prepare a finding of no significant 
impact. Public notification of a finding of no significant impact would 
be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers with a 
circulation in the project area. Any final action by USDA Rural 
Development related to the proposed project will be subject to, and 
contingent upon, compliance with environmental review requirements as 
prescribed by the Council on Environmental Quality and USDA Rural 
Development environmental policies and procedures.

    Dated: June 22, 2006.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. 06-5803 Filed 6-28-06; 8:45 am]
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