[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51439-51440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20418]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Associated Electric Cooperative Incorporated; Notice of Intent To 
Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, 
hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, intends to 
hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) in connection with potential impacts related to projects proposed 
by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) of Springfield, 
Missouri. The proposal consists of the construction of a new 540-
megawatt gas-fired combustion combined-cycle generation unit at the 
existing Chouteau Power Plant, a new substation approximately two miles 
east of the existing plant, a 161-kV transmission line from the 
existing plant to the new substation, and a single circuit 345-kV line 
from the new substation to the existing Grand River Dam Authority 
(GRDA) Coal-Fired Power Plant in Mayes County, Oklahoma. AECI is 
requesting financing assistance from the Agency for the proposed 
action.

DATES: The Agency will conduct a scoping meeting in an open house 
format seeking the input of the public and other interested parties. 
The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., on September 16, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: The September 16, 2008 meeting will be held at the Mid 
America Expo Center, Mid America Industrial Park, Pryor, Oklahoma 
74361. An Alternatives Report, prepared by Associated Electric 
Cooperative, Inc., will be available at the public scoping meetings, at 
the Agency's address provided in this notice, at the Agency's Web site: 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm, at Associated Electric 
Cooperative, Inc., 211 South Golden, Springfield, Missouri 65801 and at 
the: Pryor Public Library, 505 E Graham, Pryor, OK 74361, Phone: (918) 
825-0777.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. 
proposes to construct a new 540-megawatt gas-fired combustion combined-
cycle generation unit at the existing Chouteau Power Plant in Mayes 
County, Oklahoma with an in-service date of early 2011. The proposed 
540 MW generating project will be connected to a new 161/345-kV 
substation that will serve both the existing and proposed generating 
facilities. This substation will be located approximately two miles 
east of the Chouteau Power Plant on 16.7 acres. A single circuit 161-kV 
transmission line would be constructed from the existing Chouteau Power 
Plant to the new 345/161-kV substation and a single circuit 345-kV line 
will be constructed from the new substation to the existing Grand River 
Dam Authority (GRDA) Coal-Fired Power Plant. Government agencies, 
private organizations, and the public are invited to participate in the 
planning and analysis of the proposed project. Representatives from the 
Agency and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. will be available at 
the scoping meeting to discuss the environmental review process, 
describe the proposal, discuss the scope of environmental issues to be 
considered, answer questions, and accept comments. Comments regarding 
the proposed action may be submitted (orally or in writing) at the 
public scoping meetings or in writing for receipt no later than October 
16, 2008 to the Agency at the address provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the Alternatives Report, input that 
may be provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the 
public, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. will prepare an 
environmental analysis to be submitted to the Agency for review. The 
Agency will review the environmental analysis to determine the 
significance of the impacts of the proposal and if acceptable will 
adopt it as its environmental assessment (EA) of the proposal. The 
Agency's EA would be available for review and comment for 30 days. 
Should the Agency determine, based on the EA for the proposal, that 
impacts associated with the construction and operation of the proposal 
would not have a significant environmental impact, it will prepare a 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI). Public notification of a 
FONSI would be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers with 
circulation in the proposal area.

[[Page 51440]]

    Any final action by the Agency related to the proposed project will 
be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental 
review requirements as prescribed by the Agency's environmental 
policies and procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: August 28, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-20418 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
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