[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52045-52046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17916]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


East Texas Electric Cooperative: Notice of Intent To Hold a 
Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Hold a Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development, 
intends to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) related to possible financial assistance to East Texas 
Electric Cooperative (ETEC) of Nacogdoches, Texas, for the proposed 
construction of approximately 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine 
generation station in San Jacinto County, Texas. ETEC is requesting 
USDA Rural Development to provide financial assistance for the 
proposal.

DATES: USDA Rural Development will hold a scoping meeting in an open 
house format in order to provide information and solicit comments for 
the preparation of an EA. The meeting will be held on September 25, 
2007, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Shepherd ISD Administration Board Room, 
1401 S. Byrd Avenue, Shepherd, Texas 77371. Submit questions and 
comments in writing by October 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, contact: Dennis 
Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
telephone (202) 720-1953, or e-mail: [email protected].
    An Alternative Evaluation/Site Selection Study will be available 
for public review at USDA Rural Development offices at 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571, and at the 
following Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ETEC is constructing the Jacinto Peaking 
Power Facility (JPPF), a 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine 
generation station, in San Jacinto County, Texas. The project is 
located approximately 5 miles south of Shepherd and 2 miles east of 
U.S. Highway 59. Construction on the project is expected to commence in 
June 2008 with an expected completion date of May 2009. The generation 
facility will be constructed, owned, operated, and maintained by ETEC.
    The generation units at the JPPF will consist of two (2) natural 
gas fired combustion turbines that have a net output of 84 MW each. The 
project will require the construction of less than 500 feet of 
transmission line to interconnect with Entergy's existing 138 kV 
Jacinto-Poco transmission line that crosses the property where the JPPF 
will be located. The output of the JPPF will be used to meet ETEC's 
power and energy requirements in east Texas, along with providing added 
reliability and stability to the region's power and transmission 
system.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposal. 
Representatives from USDA Rural Development and ETEC will be available 
at the scoping meeting to discuss USDA Rural Development's 
environmental review process, describe the project, the purpose and 
need for the proposal, and discuss the scope of environmental issues to 
be considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written comments.
    Comments received by the due date will be incorporated into the 
environmental analyses ETEC prepares and submits to USDA Rural 
Development for review. USDA Rural Development will use the 
environmental analyses to determine the significance of the impacts of 
the project and may adopt it as its EA of the project. USDA Rural 
Development's EA of the proposal would be available for review and 
comment for 30 days.
    Should USDA Rural Development determine that the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary, it will prepare a 
Finding of

[[Page 52046]]

No Significant Impact. Any final action by USDA Rural Development 
related to the proposed proposal 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 procedures as prescribed by USDA Rural Development Environmental 
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: September 6, 2007.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-17916 Filed 9-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P