[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 47 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10721-10722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5375]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Associated Electric Cooperative Incorporated: Notice of 
Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an Environmental Assessment for 
public review.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an Agency delivering the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, 
hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, has 
prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities 
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR 1794 
related to possible financial assistance to Associated Electric 
Cooperative Incorporated (AECI) for the construction of a new 540-
megawatt (MW) gas-fired combustion combined-cycle generation unit at 
the existing Chouteau Power Plant in Mayes County, Oklahoma. The 
proposed new unit is needed to provide additional electric generating 
capacity that would allow AECI to meet its projected electrical peaking 
demand in 2011-2016. AECI is also proposing to construct a new 
substation approximately two miles east of the existing plant, a 161-
kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the existing plant to the new 
substation, and a single circuit 345-kV line from the new substation to 
the nearby Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) Coal-Fired Power Plant I, 
Mayes County, Oklahoma. The proposed new transmission facilities are 
needed to provide an outlet for the additional electric power that 
would be generated at the Chouteau Power Plant as a result of the 
installation of the proposed new combustion turbine (CT). AECI is 
requesting financial assistance from the Agency for the proposed 
action.

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before 
April 13, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the EA or for 
further information, contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 
20250-1571, or e-mail [email protected].
    A copy of the EA may be viewed online at the Agency's Web site: 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm and at AECI's headquarters 
office located at 211 South Golden, Springfield, Missouri 65801-4775 
and at the: Pryor Public Library, 505 E Graham, Pryor, OK 74361, (918) 
825-0777. Comments may be submitted to Ms. Strength at the address 
provided in this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. 
proposes to construct a new 540-MW 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 existing plant 
includes a 522 MW combined cycle generation unit. The proposed 540 MW 
generating plant 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.
    The proposed CTs would employ an industrial frame advanced 
technology CT equipped with dry low-nitrogen oxide combustors. The CT 
would operate on natural gas as a fuel source. The construction of the 
proposal is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2009 and the estimated 
duration of construction would be 2 years.
    A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EA and Hold a Scoping Meeting was 
published in the Federal Register at 73FR51439, on September 3, 2008, 
The Paper on September 8, 2008, and The Daily Times on September 7, 
2008. A public meeting was held on September 16, 2008, at the Mid 
America Expo Center, Mid America Industrial Park in Pryor, Oklahoma 
74361. A summary of public comments can be found at the Agency Web site 
listed in this Notice.
    As part of its broad environmental review process, the Agency must 
take into account the effect of the proposal on historic properties in 
accordance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' 
(36 CFR part 800). Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), the Agency is using 
its procedures for public involvement under NEPA to meet its 
responsibilities to solicit and consider the views of the public during 
section 106 review. Accordingly, comments submitted in response to 
scoping will inform Agency decisionmaking in section 106 review. Any 
party wishing to participate more directly with the Agency as a 
``consulting party'' in section 106 review may submit a written request 
to do so to the Agency contact provided in this notice.
    Alternatives considered by Rural Development and AECI included for 
the CTs were (a) no action, (b) alternate sources of power, (c) load 
management, (d) renewable energy sources, (e) non-renewable energy 
sources, and (f) alternate sites. The alternatives considered for the 
transmission facilities were (a) no action and (b) alternate routes. An 
environmental report that describes the proposal in detail and 
discusses its anticipated environmental impacts has been prepared by 
AECI. Rural Development has reviewed and accepted the document as its 
EA of the proposal. The EA is available for public review at the 
addresses provided in this Notice.
    Questions and comments should be sent to Rural Development at the 
mailing or e-mail addresses provided in this Notice. Rural Development 
should receive comments on the EA in writing by April 13, 2009 to 
ensure that they are considered in its environmental impact 
determination.
    Should Rural Development determine, based on the EA of the 
proposal, that the impacts of the construction and operation of the 
proposal would not have a significant environmental impact, it will 
prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact. Public notification of a 
Finding of No Significant Impact would be published

[[Page 10722]]

in the Federal Register and in newspapers with circulation in the 
proposal area.
    Any final action by Rural Development related to the 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 requirements as prescribed in 
Rural Development's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 
1794).

    Dated: March 6, 2009.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
 [FR Doc. E9-5375 Filed 3-11-09; 8:45 am]
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