70 FR 153 pgs. 46472-46474 - Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meetings and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 153Pages: 46472 - 46474
FR document: [FR Doc. 05-15766 Filed 8-9-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Agriculture Department
Sub Agency: Rural Utilities Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meetings and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY:
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION:
Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS).
SUMMARY:
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), with headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. The proposal consists of the construction and operation of a nominal 660 megawatt coal-based electrical generating plant and associated transmission facilities. A proposed and an alternate site both near the Missouri River in the northwest quadrant of Missouri have been identified by AECI. AECI is requesting RUS to provide financing for the proposed project.
DATES:
RUS will conduct four public scoping meetings in an open-house format followed by a discussion period: August 22, 2005, Oregon, Missouri, at T.J. Hall Community Center, 104 S. Main; August 23, 2005, Sedalia, Missouri, at Missouri Electric Cooperatives Building, State Fair Grounds, 2503 W. 16th St.; August 24, 2005, Salisbury, Missouri, at Knights of Columbus Building, 311 E. Patterson Ave.; August 25, 2005, Norborne, Missouri, at Goppert Community Building, 201 S. Pine. The open house will be held from 4-6 p.m. with the discussion period from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
A Site Selection Study and Macro Corridor Study Report, prepared by Associated Electric Cooperative, will be presented at the public scoping meeting. The Report is available for public review at RUS at the address provided in this notice, at Associated Electric Cooperative, 2814 S. Golden, Springfield, Missouri 65807 and at:
Cameron Public Library
312 N. Chestnut St.
Cameron, MO 64429
Phone: 816/632-2311
Concordia Library
709 S. Main St.
Concordia, MO 64020
Phone: 660/463-2277
Hale Library Museum
321 Main St.
Hale, MO 64643
Phone: 660/565-2617
Mid-Continent Public Library, Kearney Branch
100 S. Platte-Clay Way
Kearney, MO 64060-7640
Phone: 816/628-5055
Macon Public Library
210 N. Rutherford St.
Macon, MO 63552
Phone: 660/385-3314
Carrollton Public Library
1 N. Folger St.
Carrollton, MO 64633
Phone: 660/542-0183
Mid-Continent Public Library,Excelsior Springs Branch
1460 Kearney Road
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024-1746
Phone: 816/630-6721
Robertson Memorial Library
19 W. 20th St.
Higginsville, MO 64037
Phone: 660/584-2880
Lexington Library
1008 Main St.
Lexington, MO 64067
Phone: 660/259-3071
Marshall Public Library
214 N. Lafayette
Marshall, MO 65340
Phone: 660/886-3391
Maryville Public Library
509 N. Main St.
Maryville, MO 64468
Phone: 660/582-5281
Little Dixie Regional Library
111 N. 4th St.
Moberly, MO 65270
Phone: 660/263-4426
Oregon Public Library
103 S. Washington St.
Oregon, MO 64473
Phone: 660/446-3586
Dulany Memorial Library
501 S. Broadway
Salisbury, MO 65281
Phone: 660/388-5712
Boonslick Regional Library, Sedalia Branch
219 W. 3rd St.
Sedalia, MO 65301
Phone: 660/827-7323
Carnegie Library
316 Massachusetts St.
St. Joseph, MO 64504
Phone: 816/238-0526
East Hills Library
502 N. Woodbine Road, Suite A
St. Joseph, MO 64506
Phone: 816/236-2136
Washington Park Library
1821 N. Third St.
St. Joseph, MO 64505
Phone: 816/232-2052
Boonslick Regional Library
950 E. Main St.
Warsaw, MO 65355
Phone: 660/438-5211
DeKalb County Public Library
201 N. Polk St.
Maysville, MO 64469
Phone: 816/449-5695
Mound City Public Library
205 E. 6th St.
Mound City, MO 64470
Phone: 660/442-5700
Ray County Library
219 S. College St.
Richmond, MO 64085
Phone: 816/470-3291
Rolling Hills Consolidated Library: Savannah
514 W. Main St.
Savannah, MO 64485
Phone: 816/324-4569
Sedalia Public Library
311 W. Third St.
Sedalia, MO 65301
Phone: 660/826-1314
Downtown Library
927 Felix St.
St. Joseph, MO 64501
Phone: 816/232-7729
Rolling Hills Consolidated Library: Eastside
1904 N. Belt Highway
St. Joseph, MO 64506
Phone: 816/232-5479
Sweet Springs Public Library
323 Spring St.
Sweet Springs, MO 65351
Phone: 660/335-4314
Norborne Public Library
109 East 2nd Street
Norborne, MO 64668
Voice: 816/594-3514
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-0468 or e-mail: stephanie.strength@usda.gov , or Charles Means, Senior Regulatory Policy Analyst, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 754, Springfield, Missouri 65801 or e-mail: cmeans@aeci.org .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AECI proposes to construct and operate a nominal 660-megawatt coal-based electric generating facility at one of two sites in northwest Missouri. Its proposed site is just west of Norborne, Missouri, in Carroll County. The alternate site is west of Big Lake, Missouri, along the Missouri River and just south of U.S. Highway 159 in Holt County. Fuel will be supplied to the plant at either site by rail; competing rail options will be evaluated.
Construction of the project at either site will require the construction of new transmission facilities. Substation upgrades and approximately 135 miles of 345-kV transmission line would be required to connect the new plant to AECI's transmission system. For the proposed Norborne site, one line would go east to the existing Thomas Hill Substation, and one line would go south to Sedalia and then to a new substation in eastern Benton County. For the Holt County site, a double circuit 345-kV line would be required from the plant to the Fairport Substation in DeKalb County and a single circuit 345-kV line from the Fairport Substation to a new substation near Orrick, Missouri, in southwest Ray County. AECI's schedule calls for these facilities to be in commercial operation by May 2011.
Alternatives to be considered by RUS include no action, purchased power, renewable energy sources, distributed generation, and alternative site locations. Comments regarding the proposed project may be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public scoping meetings or in writing no later than September 26, 2005 to RUS at the address provided in this notice.
RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the public in the preparation of a Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will be available for review and comment for 45 days. A Final EIS will then be prepared that considers all comments received. The Final EIS will be available for review and comment for 30 days. Following the 30-day comment period, RUS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft and Final EIS and the ROD will be published in the Federal Register and in local newspapers.
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 prescribed in the RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).
Dated: August 4, 2005.
Glendon D. Deal,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15766 Filed 8-9-05; 8:45 am]
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