[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41312-41313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16493]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 139 / Friday, July 18, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 41312]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Minnkota 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), an Agency that delivers the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or 
the Agency, intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with possible 
impacts related to a proposed action by Minnkota Power Cooperative 
(Minnkota Power), Otter Tail Power Company, and Minnesota Power to 
construct a 230 kV electric transmission line from Bemidji to Grand 
Rapids, Minnesota. To minimize duplication of effort pursuant to 40 CFR 
1506.2, Rural Development is conducting an environmental review for the 
proposed action jointly with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, 
Office of Energy Security (OES). Rural Development and OES will jointly 
prepare an environmental review document in compliance with federal 
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
other federal statutes and regulations, and state responsibilities 
under the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act and the Minnesota Power 
Plant Siting Act.

DATES: USDA Rural Development and the State of Minnesota Department of 
Commerce OES will conduct six public scoping meetings in an open house 
format in order to provide information and solicit comments for the 
preparation of the joint EIS. Presentations on the proposed action will 
begin at the start of the second hour, followed by an opportunity for 
public comment. The public meetings will be held on the dates, times 
and locations provided below. All written questions and comments must 
be received by Rural Development or OES by August 29, 2008.

              Public Scoping Meetings for the Proposed Action to Construct a 230 kV Transmission Line from Bemidji, MN to Grand Rapids, MN
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                                              Time  (central daylight
                   Date                                time)                                                 Location
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August 11, 2008..........................  5 p.m. CDT..................  Blackduck, Senior Center, 24 1st Street SE., Blackduck, MN 56630.
August 12, 2008..........................  5 p.m. CDT..................  Cass Lake, Palace Casino & Hotel, 16599 69th Avenue, NW., Cass Lake, MN 56633.
August 13, 2008..........................  5 p.m. CDT..................  Deer River, Morse Town Hall, 32775 State Hwy 46, Deer River, MN 56636.
August 14, 2008..........................  1 p.m. CDT..................  Bemidji, Hampton Inn & Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South, Bemidji, MN 56601.
August 14, 2008..........................  5 p.m. CDT..................  Bemidji, Hampton Inn & Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South, Bemidji, MN 56601.
August 15, 2008..........................  9 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT..........  Walker, Hiawatha Beach Resort, 10904 Steamboat Loop NW., Walker, MN 56484.
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ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, contact Barbara 
Britton, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, 
Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-1414, fax: (202) 690-
0629, e-mail [email protected] or Suzanne Steinhauer, 
Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy 
Security, at 85 Seventh Place, Suite 500, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55010, 
telephone (651) 296-2888, e-mail [email protected]. An 
Alternatives Evaluation Study (AES) and the Macro-Corridor Study (MCS) 
can be obtained from the Agency Web site at http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm or by contacting Bob Lindholm of Minnesota Power at 
(888) 373-4113, [email protected], and at the public libraries 
listed below:

Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave., NW., Bemidji, MN 56601.
Cass Lake Community Library, 223 Cedar Ave. NW., P.O. Box 836, Cass 
Lake, MN 56633.
Grand Rapids Area Library, 140 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.
Blackduck Community Library, 72 First St., SE., P.O. Box 326, 
Blackduck, MN 56630.
Margaret Welch Memorial Library, P.O. Box 106, 5051 State 84, 
Longville, MN 56655.
Walker Public Library, 207 4th St., P.O. Box 550, Walker, MN 56484.
Bovey Public Library, Village Hall, 402 2nd Street, P.O. Box 130, 
Bovey, MN 55709-0130.
Coleraine Public Library, Independent Building, 203 Cole Avenue, P.O. 
Box 225, Coleraine, MN 55722-0225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minnkota Power, Otter Tail Power, and 
Minnesota Power propose to construct a new transmission line from 
Bemidji to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The proposal is designed to correct 
a local load serving inadequacy for the Bemidji area and the northern 
Red River Valley in West Central Minnesota. It is part of the CapX2020 
long-range planning effort

[[Page 41313]]

that has identified a comprehensive framework for new transmission 
infrastructure that will be needed to maintain reliability of the 
transmission system throughout Minnesota and the surrounding region. 
Minnkota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Minnesota Power are partners in 
this investment, and Minnkota Power is seeking financing from Rural 
Development Utilities Programs for its portion of the investment.
    Prior to making a financial decision about whether to provide 
financial assistance for a proposal, Rural Development is required to 
conduct an environmental review under the NEPA in accordance with the 
Agency policies and procedures codified in 7 CFR part 1794. These 
regulations require the Agency to consider engineering alternatives 
including no action, load management, conservation measures, and 
reactive power supply and transmission line macro-corridor 
alternatives. This proposal is classified in 1794.24(b)(1) as an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) with a requirement for scoping meetings.
    The State of Minnesota requires that an EIS be prepared in 
association with a route permit in accordance with Chapter 216 E of the 
Minnesota Power Plant Siting Act and the Minnesota Environmental Policy 
Act.
    Rural Development and the State of Minnesota have agreed to be co-
lead agencies on the proposal to prepare an EIS with the U.S. Forest 
Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Bureau for Indian 
Affairs participating as Cooperating Agencies. The Leech Lake Band of 
Ojibwe has been invited to participate as a Cooperating Agency.
    Using information from the Alternatives Evaluation Study (AES) and 
the Macro-Corridor Study (MCS) and considering input provided by 
government agencies, private organizations, and the public, Rural 
Development and OES, in consultation with the cooperating agencies, 
will determine the scope of the EIS. Notices announcing the 
availability of the Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register 
and local newspapers.
    Any final action by the Agency related to the proposal will be 
subject to, contingent upon, and in compliance with all relevant 
Federal, State and local environmental laws and regulations, and 
completion of the environmental review requirements will be conducted 
as prescribed in the Rural Development regulations.

    Dated: July 15, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-16493 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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