[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 146 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38166-38167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18249]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
request from Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) for 
assistance to finance the construction, operation, and maintenance of a 
new 540-MW gas-fired combustion combined-cycle generation unit, a new 
161/345-kV substation, a new 161-kV transmission line, and a new 345-kV 
transmission line in Mayes County, Oklahoma.

ADDRESSES: The FONSI is available for public review at the USDA Rural 
Utilities Service's Web site--http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm 
or at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, 
DC 20250-1571; and at AECI's headquarters office located at 211 South 
Golden, Springfield, Missouri 65801-4775 or the Pryor Public Library at 
505 E. Graham, Pryor, OK 74361. To obtain copies of the FONSI or for 
further information, contact Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (202) 
720-0468 or e-mail: [email protected]. or AECI's 
headquarters office located at 211 South Golden, Springfield, Missouri 
65801-4775.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AECI proposes to construct a 540-megawatt 
(MW) combined-cycle, gas-fired generation unit at the Mid America 
Industrial Park Chouteau Power Plant in Mayes County, Oklahoma. A new 
substation will also be constructed, to be located approximately two 
miles east of the existing plant, to be connected by a single circuit 
161-kV line. A single circuit 345-kV line will further connect the 
substation to the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) Coal-Fired Power 
Plant, located in Mayes County, Oklahoma. Burns and McDonnell 
Engineering Company, Inc., an environmental consulting firm, prepared 
an Environmental Report for RUS. RUS conducted an independent 
evaluation of the Environmental Report and agreed that it accurately 
assessed the impacts of the proposal. RUS accepted the document as its 
Environmental Assessment and published the document for a 30-day public 
comment period. The applicant is responsible for obtaining all permits 
required to construct the proposal.
    Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1) of the regulations (36 CFR part 800) 
implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470f, RUS made a finding that this project will not 
affect historic properties. RUS received no objection to this finding 
of effect from the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office or other 
consulting parties. RUS has determined this finding of no historic 
properties affected made pursuant to Section 106 of NHPA to be 
consistent with its FONSI.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, as 
amended

[[Page 38167]]

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and RUS' Environmental Policies and 
Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794), RUS has determined that the environmental 
impacts of the proposal have been adequately addressed and that no 
significant impacts to the quality of the human environment would 
result from the construction and operation of the proposal. Any final 
action by RUS related to the proposal will be subject to, and 
contingent upon, compliance with all relevant federal and state 
environmental laws and regulations. Since RUS' action will not result 
in significant impacts to the quality of the human environment, the 
preparation of an environmental impact statement related to the 
proposed project is not necessary.

    Dated: July 23, 2009.
James R. Newby,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E9-18249 Filed 7-30-09; 8:45 am]
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