[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 59278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29435]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Associated Electric Cooperative; 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 with respect to its action
related to the construction of a 100 megawatt simple cycle combustion
turbine electric generation plant in Southeast Missouri by Associated
Electric Cooperative (Associated). The finding of no significant impact
is the conclusion of an environmental assessment prepared by RUS. The
environmental assessment is based on an environmental analysis
submitted to RUS by Associated. RUS conducted an independent evaluation
of the environmental analysis and concurs with its scope and content.
The environmental analysis has been incorporated by reference in the
environmental assessment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Engineering and Environmental Staff, RUS, Stop 1571, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250, telephone (202) 720-
0468, E-mail bquigel@rus.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preferred site for the plant is located
in Stoddard County, Missouri, approximately 1.2 miles east of Idalia on
County Road E. As proposed, the project is a 100-MW, simple-cycle
combustion turbine generator. It will be powered by a Westinghouse
501D5A simple cycle/dry low-nitrogen oxides combustor. Fuel for the
plant will be natural gas. No backup source of fuel, such as number 2
fuel oil, is proposed. The plant will occupy approximately three acres
and will be located at an existing 12 acre electric distribution
substation site. The main generator unit will be approximately 40 feet
wide and 140 feet long. The exhaust stack will be 50 feet high. This
type of combustion turbine is typically used for peak power generation
and would normally be expected to operate only a few hundred to a few
thousand hours per year.
Alternatives considered to constructing the project as proposed
included no action, conservation and load management, power purchases,
combined cycle combustion turbine technology, and an alternative site
location.
Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no
significant impact along with the environmental analysis are available
for review at, or can be obtained from, RUS at the address provided
herein or from Jerry Bindel, Associated Electric Cooperative, PO Box
754, Springfield, Missouri, 65801-0754 telephone (417) 885-9272. Mr.
Bindel's E-mail address is jbindel@aeci.org. These documents are also
available at Bloomfield Public Library, 200 Seneca Street, Bloomfield,
Missouri. Interested parties wishing to comment on the adequacy of the
environmental assessment should do so within 30 days of the publication
of this notice. RUS will take no action that would approve clearing or
construction activities related to proposed combined cycle power plant
prior to the expiration of the 30-day comment period.
Dated: October 27, 1998.
Thomas L. Eddy,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Electric Program.
[FR Doc. 98-29435 Filed 11-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
