[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 4147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1421]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation; Finding of No
Significant Impact
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to its
action related to the construction and operation of a hydropower
project on the Arkansas River by Arkansas Electric Cooperative
Corporation (AECC). The FONSI is based on a Borrower's Environmental
Report submitted to RUS by AECC. RUS conducted an independent
evaluation of the report and concurs with its scope and content. In
accordance with Environmental Policies and Procedures published by the
Rural Electrification Administration, the predecessor of RUS, at 7 CFR
1794.61, RUS has adopted the borrower's environmental report as its
environmental assessment for the project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence R. Wolfe, Chief,
Environmental Compliance Branch, Electric Staff Division, RUS, South
Agriculture Building, Washington, D.C. 20250, telephone (202) 720-1784.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The hydropower project is to be constructed
at the existing Corps of Engineers Dam #2 in Desha County, Arkansas,
approximately 12 miles northeast of Dumas, Arkansas. It will have an
installed capacity of 108 megawatts. The powerhouse for the project
will be located on the west side of the Arkansas River west of the
right abutment of Dam #2. The powerhouse will be approximately 180 feet
wide and 225 feet long. Water to operate the turbines in the powerhouse
will be diverted from the Arkansas River via a headrace channel and
back into the river via a tailrace channel. The turbines will operate
under a net head ranging from 5 to 37 feet. The project will include a
115 kV switching station and one span of 115 kV transmission line. The
entire project will require approximately 180 acres of land all of
which is government owned.
RUS considered the alternative of no action as opposed to approving
AECC's request to use its general funds or provide a lien accommodation
for financing construction of the project. Under the no action
alternative, RUS would not approve AECC's use of general funds or
provide AECC a lien accommodation. The no action alterative was not the
selected alternative as AECC believes that it has an opportunity to
construct a renewable generation resource at the Corps of Engineers Dam
#2 and reduce its overall dependence on fossil fuel fired generation
plants and that such construction is consistent with the objectives of
the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Copies of the environmental assessment and FONSI are available for
review at, or can be obtained from, RUS at the address provided herein
or from Mr. Curtis Q. Warner, Principle Engineer, Arkansas Electric
Cooperative Corporation, 8000 Scott Hamilton Drive, Little Rock,
Arkansas, 72219-4208, telephone (501) 570-2462.
Dated: January 13, 1995.
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 95-1421 Filed 1-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
