[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