[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 135 (Friday, July 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41369-41370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17127]



[[Page 41369]]

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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 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its 
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
RUS' implementing regulations, 7 CFR 1794, and other applicable 
environmental requirements 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 Final EIS will be accepted 30 days 
following the publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
notice of receipt of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final EIS may be viewed online at the 
following Web 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 CONTACT: To obtain copies of the Final 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 Final 
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 171 
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. Among the alternatives addressed 
in the Final EIS is the No Action alternative, under which the proposed 
project would not be undertaken. Additional alternatives addressed in 
the EIS include route alternatives 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 Final EIS. RUS has considered all 
comments received on the Draft EIS, and revised the EIS accordingly. 
Following the 30-day comment period for the Final EIS, RUS will prepare 
a Record of Decision (ROD). A notice announcing the availability of the 
ROD will be published in the Federal Register.
    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 
Final 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).


[[Page 41370]]


    Dated: July 5, 2012.
James R. Newby,
Chief of Staff, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17127 Filed 7-12-12; 8:45 am]
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