[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 52046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17917]


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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 Hardin 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 26, 
2007, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hardin County Commissioners' Courtroom, 
300 Monroe Street, Kountz, Texas 77625. 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; at the following Web site 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ETEC is constructing the Cypress Peaking 
Power Facility (CPPF), a 168 MW simple cycle combustion turbine 
generation station, in Hardin County, Texas. The project is located 
approximately 6 miles southeast of Kountze and one-half mile west of 
U.S. Highway 69/287, and will be adjacent to an existing Entergy 
electrical substation. 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 CPPF 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 a 1,200 foot 230 kV 
transmission line to interconnect with Entergy's existing Cypress 
substation. The output of the CPPF 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 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. E7-17917 Filed 9-11-07; 8:45 am]
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