[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3692-3693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-957]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc.: 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Brazos 
Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Brazos) of Waco, Texas, for the 
proposed construction of approximately 600 MW gas-fired unit at the 
existing Jack County Generating Facility. Brazos 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 January 31, 2008, 
from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Twin Lakes Community Center, 420 Highway 59, 
Jacksboro, Texas. All written questions and comments must be received 
by March 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, contact: Dennis 
Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-
mail: [email protected]. An Alternative Evaluation/Site 
Selection Study is 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: Brazos is proposing to construct an 
additional 500 MW gas-fired combustion turbine at its Jack County 
Generation Station. The site is located northeast of State Highway 199 
and FM 1156 in Jack County and southeast of the intersection of Shepard 
Road/Henderson Ranch Rd. and FM 1156.
    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 Brazos 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, discuss the scope of environmental

[[Page 3693]]

issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written 
comments.
    Written comments received by the due date will be incorporated into 
the EA Brazos and will be submitted to USDA Rural Development for 
review. USDA Rural Development will use the EA 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 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. Public notification of a Finding of 
No Significant Impact would be published in the Federal Register and in 
newspapers with circulation in the project area.
    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: January 14, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-957 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P