[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 34639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13694]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Restart 
of Healy Power Plant Unit 2

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Supplemental Final Environmental 
Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS), has issued a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(SFEIS) for the restart of Healy Power Plant's Unit 2 in 
Healy, Alaska. The (SFEIS) supplements a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS), completed by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 1993 
to evaluate potential impacts to the human environment from DOE's 
proposal to partially fund construction of Unit 2 of the Healy 
Power Plant to demonstrate emissions control technologies. In 1994, the 
DOE published a Record of Decision (ROD) for their FEIS in the Federal 
Register, Volume 59, Issue 54 (March 21, 1994). In 1997, Healy Unit 
2 was constructed as a major modification to the existing 
Healy Power Plant's Unit 1, using funding from DOE and the 
Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). Healy Unit 
1 is a 25 megawatt (MW) coal-fired boiler that has been owned 
and operated by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) since 1967. 
Healy Unit 2 is a 50 MW coal-fired steam generator owned by 
AIDEA, which underwent test operation for two years as part of DOE's 
project. Unit 2 has been in warm layup since late 1999. The 
SFEIS updates information in DOE's FEIS and considers impacts of 
restarting Unit 2 for commercial operation. The SFEIS is 
available for a 30-day public review and comment period. Subsequent to 
the comment period RUS may issue a ROD.

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before 
July 10, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deirdre M. Remley, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, RUS, Water and Environmental Programs, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 
1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (202) 720-9640 or email: 
[email protected]. The SFEIS is available online at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm or you may contact Ms. Remley for a 
hard copy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS makes loans and loan guarantees to 
finance new infrastructure and upgrades to existing facilities in the 
areas of electricity, telecommunications, and water and wastewater in 
rural areas that qualify for federal assistance. During the 1994 USDA 
reorganization, the former Rural Electrification Administration (REA) 
utility programs were consolidated under RUS. The RUS Electric Program 
is authorized to make loans and loan guarantees that finance electric 
distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including 
construction, system improvements, and replacements required to furnish 
and improve electric service in rural areas. RUS's predecessor, REA, 
was a cooperating agency on DOE's FEIS, because it had administrative 
actions related to its lien interests in GVEA holdings.
    GVEA is a not-for-profit cooperative formed in 1946 with financing 
from REA to provide electric service to rural communities in interior 
Alaska. Because GVEA is an RUS borrower, RUS holds liens on GVEA 
assets, and GVEA is eligible for RUS financing to construct or improve 
its distribution, transmission, and generation facilities. AIDEA 
provides support for the Alaska Energy Authority whose mission is to 
reduce the cost of energy in Alaska. AIDEA partially funded 
construction of Unit 2, and currently owns this power 
generation facility that is built adjacent to and interconnected with 
GVEA's Unit 1 at the Healy Power Plant.
    Unit 2 has been costly for both AIDEA and GVEA to maintain 
without income from commercial generation to offset the costs of 
keeping the facility in warm layup. AIDEA wishes to sell Unit 
2 to GVEA, and GVEA wishes to purchase the facility and bring 
it into commercial production to reduce GVEA's reliance on oil-fired 
generation by providing a lower cost option for meeting power demand 
within its service territory.
    As part of the restart of Unit 2, GVEA proposes to install 
additional emission controls to both Unit 1 and Unit 
2 and to operate Unit 2 for the remainder of the 
plant's operational life. GVEA plans to request administrative and 
financial assistance from RUS to facilitate its purchase of Unit 
2 and improvements to the Healy Power Plant, which include the 
installation of additional emission control equipment.
    The SFEIS updated the DOE FEIS by documenting changes in the 
affected environment, regulatory requirements, and environmental 
consequences related to the commercial operation of Unit 2, 
which have occurred since the FEIS was published in 1993. RUS's SFEIS 
incorporates the DOE FEIS by reference. Both the FEIS and the SFEIS are 
available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm.

    Dated: April 25, 2013.
Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, USDA, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13694 Filed 6-7-13; 8:45 am]
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