[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 66876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31083]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, Notice of Availability of an
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
is issuing an environmental assessment with respect to the potential
environmental impacts related to the construction and operation of a
6.5 megawatt (MW) diesel electric generating plant at Dekehtik on the
Island of Pohnpei. Pohnpei is the largest state in the Federated States
of Micronesia. RUS may provide financing assistance to the Pohnpei
Utilities Corporation (PUC) for the project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental
Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone: (202) 720-1414. His e-mail address is
nislam@rus.usda.gov. Information is also available from Mr. Marcelino
Actouka, General Manager, Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, P.O. Box C,
Kolonia, Pohnpei FM96941 and Mr. Peter Howard, Executive Vice
President, Oceanic Companies, Inc., 1287 Kalani Street, Suite 203,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-4961, telephone (808) 874-0207.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dekehtik Generating Station will consist
of a 6.5 MW diesel generating unit that will be located within an
enclosed building. The same building could also house three smaller
diesel units (2.4 MW total capacity) that may be relocated from the
existing Nampohnmal Generating Station. Low sulfur light diesel fuel
will be delivered via pipeline from the port facility and stored in
four storage tanks. An existing substation and transmission line will
distribute electricity generated by the facility to the island. The
location of the proposed project is a 123,00 square feet section of the
soon to be closed municipal waste dump site at Dekehtik. This area
would be cleared of trash and refuse and filled with crushed coral or
rock. Located in the immediate area, all of which has been designated
as an industrial development zone, are the airport and the commercial
port that serve Pohnpei.
Oceanic Companies, Inc. prepared an environmental report for RUS,
which describes the project and assesses its environmental impacts. RUS
has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental report and
believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed
project. This environmental report will serve as RUS' environmental
assessment of the project. No significant impacts are expected as a
result of the construction of the project.
The environmental assessment can be reviewed at the headquarters of
Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, Oceanic Companies, Inc., and the
headquarters of RUS, at the addresses provided above.
Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address
provided. RUS will accept questions and comments on the environmental
assessment for at least 30 days from the date of publication of this
notice.
Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal
environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental
review procedures as prescribed by the 7 CFR Part 1794, Environmental
Policies and Procedures.
Dated: November 23, 1999.
Lawrence R. Wolfe,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 99-31083 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
