[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 30044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14773]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Availability of 
an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible 
impacts related to a project proposed by Basin Electric Power 
Cooperative, Inc. (Basin), of Bismarck, North Dakota. The proposal 
includes the construction and operation of a wind turbine generation 
facility referred to as the Prairie Winds-ND1 Project consisting of a 
77-turbine, 115 megawatt (MW) facility at a site near Minot, North 
Dakota.

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before 
July 24, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the EA or for 
further information, contact Dennis E. Rankin, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, USDA, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-mail: 
[email protected]; or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power 
Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-
0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495, or e-mail: [email protected]. A copy of 
the EA may be viewed on line at the Agency's Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm and at the following locations:

Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2244, 
Washington, DC 20250.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 1717 East Interstate Ave., Bismarck, 
ND 58503-0564.

    Questions and comments should be sent to Mr. Rankin at the address 
provided.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Basin Electric proposes to construct a new 
115 MW wind generation facility in north-central North Dakota. The 
project will include seventy-seven (77) 1.5 MW wind turbine generators.
    Tetra Tech, an environmental consultant, prepared an EA for RUS 
that describes the project and assesses the proposed project's 
environmental impacts. RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of 
the EA and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the 
proposed project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of 
the construction of the project.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal 
environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental 
review procedures as prescribed by 7 CFR Part 1794, Environmental 
Policies and Procedures.

    Dated: June 17, 2009.
Richard Fristik,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. E9-14773 Filed 6-23-09; 8:45 am]
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