[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 42227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20076]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Basin Electric Power Cooperative; 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 Basin Electric Power Cooperative for assistance to finance
the construction, operation, and maintenance of a 115.5 MW wind-powered
electric generating facility (the Proposal) in Ward County, North
Dakota.
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 Basin's headquarters office located at 1717 East
Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-0564.
Contacts: To obtain copies of the FONSI or for further information,
contact Dennis Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural
Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571 Washington,
DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (202) 720-1953 or e-mail:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Basin Electric proposes to construct a new
115.5 MW wind generation facility in north-central North Dakota. The
project will include seventy-seven (77) 1.5 MW wind turbine generators
and be located approximately 15 miles south of Minot, North Dakota.
Tetra Tech, 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 Proposal will not
affect historic properties. RUS received no objection to this finding
of effect from the North Dakota 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.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, as
amended (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: August 14, 2009.
Nivin Elgohary,
Acting Assistant Administrator--Electric, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E9-20076 Filed 8-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P