Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Alabama 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 (EI) and/or an Environmental Impact

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

Electric Cooperative, Inc., to construct and operate a 250 to 500

megawatt (MW) combined cycle electric generating plant in south

Alabama.

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

house forum on Monday, February 15, 1999, at the Jackson City Hall, 400

Commerce Street, Jackson, Alabama from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the

Washington County site. A similar meeting will be held on Tuesday,

February 16, 1999, at Alabama Electric Cooperative's Boardroom, Highway

29 North, Andalusia, Alabama, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the

Covington and Escambia County sites.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Engineering and

Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, Stop 1571, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202)

720-0468. The E-mail address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., proposes

to construct the plant at one of three potential sites. These sites are

the Damascus site in Escambia County, Alabama, along Highway 29 South

in Township 2 North, Range 13 East, Section 6, the Lowman site in

Washington County, Alabama, just off U.S. Highway 43 in Township 6

North, Range 1 East, Section 24, and at Alabama Electric Cooperative's

existing McWilliams Plant located in Covington County, Alabama, along

Highway 29 North in Township 5 North, Range 16 East, Section 17.

The project as proposed would consist of a 250 to 500 MW gas-fired

combined cycle plant. The plant may be designed to use No. 2 diesel as

a backup fuel for periods when natural gas may be in short supply. The

plant will require air and water quality permits from the Alabama

Department of Environmental Management. Plant water will be drawn from

and released to the Conecuh River if either the Covington or Escambia

County sites are selected, and from the Tombigbee River if the

Washington County site is selected. Air impacts are anticipated to be

minimal because the plant will utilize clean fuels and will be designed

in accordance with Best Available Control Technology. The plant will

require a site of 40 acres or more in size. The specific plant layout

will be designed to avoid significant impact to threatened or

endangered species, cultural resources, wetlands or other areas

considered to be environmentally unique or sensitive.

Locating the project at the Damascus site would require

construction of a 34-mile, 12-20 inch gas pipeline and 18 miles of

double circuit 230 kV transmission line. Locating the project at the

Lowman site would require the construction of a 32-mile, 12-20 inch gas

pipeline and 1 mile each of double circuit 230 kV transmission line and

single circuit 230 kV transmission line. Locating the plant at the

McWilliams Plant would require the construction of a 69-mile, 10-12

inch gas pipeline, 1 mile of double circuit 230 kV transmission line

and 17 miles of single circuit 230 kV transmission line.

Alternatives considered by RUS and Associated Electric Cooperative,

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

action, (b) power purchases, (c) coal fired technology, (d) alternative

technology such as solar, wind, and biomass, and (e) non-generation

alternatives such as conservation, interruptible loads, and load

management.

Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., has developed a siting study/

alternative evaluation which is available for public review at RUS at

the address provided in this notice or at Alabama Electric Cooperative,

Inc., Highway 29 North, Andalusia, Alabama. This document will also be

available at the Andalusia Public Library on South Three Notch Street

in Andalusia, Alabama, and at the White Smith Memorial Library at 213

College Ave. in Jackson, Alabama.

Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are

invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed

project. Representatives from RUS and Alabama Electric Cooperative,

Inc., will be available at both scoping meetings to discuss RUS'

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 meetings. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address

provided in this notice.

From information provided in the siting study/alternative

evaluation, input that may be provided by government agencies, private

organizations, and the public, Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc., will

prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to RUS for review. If

RUS finds the environmental analysis acceptable, it will serve as RUS'

environmental assessment of the

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project. 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: January 22, 1999.

Lawrence R. Wolfe,

Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.

[FR Doc. 99-2110 Filed 1-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P