Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold scoping meeting and prepare an

Environmental Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS),

pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and RUS

Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) proposes to

prepare an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) for its Federal action related to a proposal by

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., to construct two, 100 megawatt

simple cycle electric turbines in Northwest Missouri.

MEETING INFORMATION: RUS will conduct a scoping meeting in an open

house forum on Tuesday, September 8, 1998, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m at

the headquarters of United Electric Cooperative in Maryville, Missouri.

The headquarters is located on Highway 136 East approximately 2.5 miles

east of Maryville.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Engineering and Environmental

Staff, Rural Utility Service, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-0468. Bob's E-mail

address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.,

proposes to construct the plant at one of two potential sites. These

sites are in the Nodaway County, Missouri. One site is approximately

5.5 miles southeast of Maryville about 0.5 miles south of the

intersection of County Highways N and F along County Highway N. The

other site is located approximately 1.5 miles east of Graham along

County Highway A then 1 mile north up a gravel road.

The proposed project will be composed of two nominal 100 megawatt

simple cycle combustion turbines. They will be primarily gas-fired

combustion turbines with the option to burn fuel oil. The combustion

turbines will be used for peaking capacity. The hours of operation of

the combustion turbines will be limited. The number of operating hours

will depend on the emission rates ultimately guaranteed by

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the vendor. The project will be permitted as a minor air pollution

source (less than 250 tons of any criteria pollutant). The simple cycle

gas-fired combustion turbines require minimal water for operation.

Depending on temperature and humidity conditions, there may be some

water discharges from the site. Such discharges will be permitted under

the Missouri National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program.

Alternatives considered by RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative,

Inc., to constructing the generation facility proposed include: (a) No

action, (b) purchase of power, (c) load management, (d) construction of

additional base load capacity, and (e) renewable energy.

To be presented at the public scoping meeting will be a siting and

alternative study prepared by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. The

siting and alternative study is available for public review at RUS at

the address provided in this notice or at Associated Electric

Cooperative, Inc., 2814 South Golden, Springfield, Missouri, 65801-

0754, phone (417) 881-1204. This document will also be available at the

Maryville Public Library which is located at 5th and Main Street in

Maryville.

Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are

invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed

project. Representatives from RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative,

Inc., will be available at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS's

environmental review process, describe the project and alternatives

under consideration, discuss the scope of environmental issues to be

considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written comments.

Written comments will be accepted for at least 30 days after the public

scoping meeting. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address

provided in this notice.

From information provided in the siting and alternative study,

input that may be provided by government agencies, private

organizations, and the public, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.,

and Burns and McDonnell will prepare an environmental analysis to be

submitted to RUS for review. If significant impacts are not evident

based on a review of the environmental analysis and other relevant

information, RUS will prepare an environmental assessment to determine

if the preparation of an EIS is warranted.

Should RUS determine that the preparation of an EIS is not

warranted, it will prepare a finding of no significant impact (FONSI).

The FONSI will be made available for public review and comment for 30

days. Public notification of a FONSI would be published in the Federal

Register and in newspapers with a circulation in the project area. RUS

will not take its final action related to the project prior to the

expiration of the 30-day period.

Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be

subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review

requirements as prescribed by CEQ and RUS environmental policies and

procedures.

Dated: July 29, 1998.

Lawrence R. Wolfe,

Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.

[FR Doc. 98-20735 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]

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