Notices. Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS)

1,112 words·~5 min read·/register/2005/08/10/05-15766

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 3410-22-P 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]

Connections1 off-index

1 reference not yet in our index

7 CFR 1794

Citation graph

cites case law

Notices

Notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS)

Cite7 CFR 1794

Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources