[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78235-78236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32337]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La 
Crosse Transmission Line Project

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Notice of Public Hearings.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its 
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
7 CFR 1794 related to providing financial assistance to Dairyland Power 
Cooperative (Dairyland) for its share in the construction of a proposed 
345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated infrastructure 
between Hampton, Minnesota and the La Crosse area in Wisconsin (the 
proposed project). Dairyland is participating in the proposed project 
with a number of other utilities (Applicants).
    The purpose of the proposed project is to: (1) Improve community 
reliability of the transmission system in Rochester, Winona, La Crosse, 
and the surrounding areas, which include areas served by Dairyland; (2) 
improve the regional reliability of the transmission system; and (3) 
increase generation outlet capacity.

DATES: Written comments on this Draft EIS will be accepted 45 days 
following the publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
notice of receipt of the Draft EIS in the Federal Register.
    RUS will conduct five public meetings in an open-house format 
followed by a discussion period: January 9, 2012, Alma High School Gym, 
S1618 State Rd 35, Alma, Wisconsin; January 10, 2012, Wanamingo 
Community Center, 401 Main Street, Wanamingo, Minnesota; January 11, 
2012, Cannon Falls High School Cafeteria, 820 Minnesota St. E, Cannon 
Falls, Minnesota; January 12, 2012, American Legion Hall, 215 3rd 
Street SW., Plainview, Minnesota; and January 13, 2012, Centerville/
Town of Trempealeau Community Center, W24854 State Road 54/93, 
Galesville, Wisconsin.
    All meetings will be held as follows: open house from 5:00 to 6 
p.m. followed by the discussion period from 6:00 to 8 p.m. local time. 
A court reporter will be available.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft EIS may be viewed online at the 
following Web

[[Page 78236]]

site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-CapX2020-Hampton-Rochester-LaCrosse.html 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.
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.
Holmen Area Library, 103 State Street, Holmen, WI 54636. 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 55904. 
Phone: 507-328-2300.
Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library, 11455 Fremont Street, Trempealeau, 
WI 54661. Phone: 608-534-6197.
Tri-County Electric, 31110 Cooperative Way, Rushford, MN 55971. Phone: 
507-864-7783.
La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601. Phone: 
608-789-7100.
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, 345 1st Avenue Northwest, Plainview, MN 
55964. Phone: 507-534-3425.
Van Horn Public Library, 115 SE. 3rd Street, Pine Island, MN 55963. 
Phone: 507-356-8558.
Xcel Energy, 5050 Service Drive, Winona, MN 55987. Phone: 507-457-1236.
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To obtain copies of the Draft EIS or for 
further information, contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are participating in the EIS 
as cooperating agencies, with RUS as the lead Federal agency. The Draft 
EIS addresses the construction and operation of the proposed project, 
which, in addition to the 345-kV transmission line and associated 
infrastructure, includes 161-kV transmission lines in the vicinity of 
Rochester, Minnesota; construction of two new and expansion of three 
substations, with a total transmission line length of approximately 150 
miles. Counties through which the proposed project may pass include 
Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, and Olmsted in Minnesota, and La Crosse, 
Trempealeau, and Buffalo in Wisconsin. The Draft EIS also addresses 
rebuilding an existing Dairyland 39-mile long 161-kV line that extends 
from Alma to north La Crosse, Wisconsin, which may be co-located in 
whole or in part with the 345-kV line.
    Among the alternatives addressed in the Draft EIS is the No Action 
alternative, under which the proposed project would not be undertaken. 
Additional alternatives addressed in the Draft EIS include route 
alternatives also considered in the EISs prepared for the Proposed 
project by the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. RUS has carefully 
studied public health and safety, environmental impacts, and 
engineering aspects of the Proposed project.
    RUS used input provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public in the preparation of the Draft EIS. RUS 
will prepare a Final EIS that considers all comments received on the 
Draft EIS. Following the 30-day comment period for the Final EIS, RUS 
will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the 
availability of the Final EIS and the ROD will be published in the 
Federal Register and in local newspapers.
    In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of 
Historic Properties'' (36 CFR 800) and as part of its broad 
environmental review process, RUS must take into account the effect of 
the proposed project on historic properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3), RUS is using its procedures for public involvement under 
NEPA to meet its responsibilities to solicit and consider the views of 
the public during Section 106 review. Any party wishing to participate 
more directly with RUS as a ``consulting party'' in Section 106 review 
may submit a written request to the RUS contact provided in this 
notice.
    The proposed project involves unavoidable impacts to wetlands and 
floodplains; this Notice of Availability also serves as a statement of 
no practicable alternatives to impacts on wetlands and floodplains, in 
accordance with Executive Orders 11990 and 11988, respectively (see 
Draft EIS Sections 3.2 and 3.5).
    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 promulgated in RUS' 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR 1794).

Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32337 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]
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