Alabama Electric Cooperative; Finding of No Significant Impact

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Alabama 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 (FONSI) with respect to its

action related to the construction of two, 113 megawatt (MW) combustion

turbines and associated facilities by Alabama Electric Cooperative

(AEC). The FONSI is the conclusion of an Environmental Assessment

prepared by RUS. The Environmental Assessment is based on a

environmental analysis submitted to RUS by AEC. RUS conducted an

independent evaluation of the environmental analysis and concurs with

its scope and content.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence R. Wolfe, Senior

Environmental Protection Specialist, Engineering and Environmental

Staff, RUS, South Agriculture Building, Ag Box 1571, Washington, DC

20250, telephone (202) 720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed new combustion turbines would

be installed at AEC's existing McIntosh Power Plant located on the west

side of Highway 43 at mile marker 41 in McIntosh, Alabama.

The McIntosh Combustion Turbine Project consists of the

installation of two Siemens v84.2 combustion turbine generators to be

located adjacent to AEC's existing McIntosh Power Plant Unit 1

(compressed air energy storage generating unit). The new units will be

located south of the existing unit 1 in the area formerly reserved for

a second compressed air energy storage unit which AEC has determined to

not be cost-effective. The proposed two new units will be referred as

McIntosh Power Plant Units 2 and 3. Each of the units will have a

normal maximum output rating of 109 MWs at 950 deg. Fahrenheit. The

units will be capable of burning either natural gas or fuel oil and

have a maximum rating of approximately 113 MWs during peak firing mode.

As part of the project, a new 1 million gallon fuel oil storage tank

and a 1.8 million gallon demineralized water tank will be constructed

at the western corners of Unit 1. There will also be modifications to

the existing transmission substation on site to link the electric power

output of the new units to the existing transmission line. The existing

gas transmission system in the area has adequate capacity to serve

Units 2 and 3. The existing 115 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission

lines have adequate capacity to feed the power output of the new units

to AEC's transmission grid. A 1.5-mile natural gas pipeline will be

constructed within an existing pipeline to intertie with Bay Gas

Storage's 20-inch market line.

Alternatives to be considered by RUS and Alabama Electric

Cooperative to Alabama Electric Cooperative constructing the generation

facility proposed include: (a) no action, (b) purchase of peaking

capacity from independent power producers, co-generators, and other

electric utilities, and (c) constructing the proposed generation

facilities at alternative site locations.

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. Mike Noel, Alabama Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 550,

Andalusia, Alabama, telephone (334) 222-2571. 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 these new combustion turbine units prior to the expiration

of the 30-day comment period.

[[Page 43523]]

Dated: August 19, 1996.

Adam M. Golodner,

Deputy Administrator. Program Operations

[FR Doc. 96-21539 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P