[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 101 (Thursday, May 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25485-25486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12407]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Dairyland Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement and Hold Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and Hold Public Scoping Meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and hold public scoping meetings 
and in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed 
by Dairyland Power Cooperative in the CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La 
Crosse Transmission Line Project. The proposal consists of the 
construction of a 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated 
infrastructure between Hampton, Minnesota and the La Crosse area in 
Wisconsin. The project also includes construction of new 161-kV 
transmission lines and associated facilities in the area of Rochester, 
Minnesota. The total length of 345-kV and 161-kV transmission lines 
associated with the proposed project will be approximately 150 miles. 
Proposed and alternate transmission segments and locations for proposed 
and alternate associated facilities have been identified by Dairyland 
Power Cooperative. Dairyland Power Cooperative is requesting RUS to 
provide financing for its portion of the proposed project.

DATES: RUS will conduct six public scoping meetings in an open-house 
format followed by a discussion period:

[[Page 25486]]

June 16, 2009, Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School, 500 West 
Broadway, Plainview, Minnesota; June 17, 2009, Wanamingo Community 
Center, 401 Main Street, Wanamingo, Minnesota; June 18, 2009, City of 
St. Charles Community Meeting Room, 830 Whitewater Avenue, St. Charles, 
Minnesota; June 23, 2009, La Crescent American Legion, 509 N. Chestnut, 
La Crescent, Minnesota; June 24, 2009, Centerville/Town of Trempealeau 
Community Center, W24854 State Road 54/93, Galesville, Wisconsin; and 
June 25, 2009, Cochrane-Fountain City High School, S2770 State Road 35, 
Fountain City, Wisconsin. All meetings will be held between 6-8:00 PM 
local time. Comments regarding the proposed project may be submitted 
(orally or in writing) at the public scoping meetings or in writing to 
RUS at the address listed in this notice no later than June 29, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, contact 
Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural 
Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
telephone: (202) 720-0468 or e-mail: [email protected].
    An Alternative Evaluation Study (AES) and Macro Corridor Study 
(MCS), prepared by Dairyland Power Cooperative, will be presented at 
the public scoping meetings. The reports are available for public 
review at the RUS address provided in this notice and at Dairyland 
Power Cooperative, 3251 East Avenue, South, La Crosse, WI 54602. In 
Addition, the reports will be available at RUS' Web site, http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/eis.htm and at the following repositories:

Alma Public Library, 312 North Main Street, Alma, WI 54610, Phone: 608-
685-3823.
Arcadia Public Library, 406 E Main Street, Arcadia, WI 54612, Phone: 
608-323-7505.
Blair-Preston Library, 122 Urberg Street, Blair, WI 54616, Phone: 608-
989-2502.
Campbell Library, 2219 Bainbridge Street, La Crosse, WI 54603, Phone: 
608-783-0052.
Cannon Falls Library, 306 West Mill Street, Cannon Falls, MN 55009, 
Phone: 507-263-2804.
Dairyland Power Cooperative, 500 Old State Highway 35, Alma, WI 54610, 
Phone: 608-685-4497.
Galesville Public Library, 16787 South Main Street, Galesville, WI 
54630, Phone: 608-582-2552.
Hokah Public Library, 57 Main Street, Hokah, MN 55941, Phone: 507-894-
2665.
Holmen Area Library, 16787 South Main Street, Galesville, WI 54630, 
Phone: 608-526-4198.
Kenyon Public Library, 709 2nd Street, Kenyon, MN 55946, Phone: 507-
789-6821.
Riverland Energy Cooperative, N28988 State Road 93, Arcadia, WI 54612, 
Phone: 608-323-3381.
Rochester Public Library, 101 2nd Street SE., Rochester, MN 55963, 
Phone: 507-328-2309.
Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library, 11455 Fremont Street, Trempealeau, 
WI 54650, Phone: 608-534-6197.
St. Charles Public Library, 125 W 11th Street, St. Charles, MN 55927, 
Phone: 507-932-3227.
Tri-County Electric, 31110 Cooperative Way, Rushford, MN 55971, Phone: 
507-864-7783.
La Crescent Public Library, 321 Main Street, La Crescent, MN 55947, 
Phone: 507-895-4047.
La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 
608-789-7109.
Onalaska Public Library, 741 Oak Avenue, South, Onalaska, WI 54650, 
Phone: 608-781-9568.
People's Cooperative Services, 3935 Hwy 14 E, Rochester, MN 55903, 
Phone: 507-288-4004.
Plainview Public Library, 115 SE 3rd Street, Pine Island, MN 55963, 
Phone: 507-534-3425.
Van Horn Public Library, 115 SE 3rd Street, Pine Island, MN 55963, 
Phone: 507-356-8558.
Winona Public Library, 151 West 5th Street, Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 
507-452-4582.
Xcel Energy, 5050 Service Drive, Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 800-422-0782.
Xcel Energy, 1414 West Hamilton Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701, Phone: 
715-839-2621.
Zumbrota Public Library, 100 West Avenue, Zumbrota, MN 55992, Phone: 
507-732-5211.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Preliminary proposed transmission line 
corridors and siting areas for substations have been identified. The 
EIS will address the construction, operation, and management of the 
proposed project, which includes a 345-kV transmission line and 
associated infrastructure between Hampton, Minnesota and the La Crosse 
area of Wisconsin; 161-kV transmission lines in the vicinity of 
Rochester, Minnesota; construction and maintenance of access roads for 
all proposed transmission lines; construction of up to three new 
substations, and expansion of up to three existing substations. Total 
length of the transmission lines for the proposed project will be 
approximately 150 miles. The project study area includes part or all of 
the following counties in Minnesota: Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, 
Houston, Olmsted, Rice, and Dodge. In Wisconsin, the project area 
includes parts of the following counties: La Crosse, Trempealeau, and 
Buffalo.
    Among the alternatives RUS will address in the EIS is the No Action 
alternative, under which the project would not be undertaken. In the 
EIS, the effects of the proposed project will be compared to the 
existing conditions in the area affected. Alternative transmission line 
corridors and substation locations will be refined as part of the EIS 
scoping process and will be addressed in the Draft EIS. RUS will 
carefully study public health and safety, environmental impacts, and 
engineering aspects of the proposed project and all related facilities.
    RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public in the preparation of the Draft EIS. The 
Draft EIS will be available for review and comment for 45 days. A Final 
EIS that considers all comments received will subsequently be prepared. 
The Final EIS will be available for review and comment for 30 days. 
Following the 30-day comment period, RUS will prepare a Record of 
Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft EIS, 
the Final EIS, and the ROD will be published in the Federal Register 
and in local newspapers.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project 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 the RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: May 22, 2009.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12407 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
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