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[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 228 (Monday, November 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70692-70693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30096]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative; Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and the RUS' Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 
1794) proposes to prepare an Environmental Assessment for possibly 
granting financial assistance to Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (Old 
Dominion) to construct a 510 megawatt, natural gas-fired combustion 
turbine electric generation plant in Cecil County, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Engineering and 
Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service, at (202) 720-0468. Bob's 
E-mail address is: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Old Dominion proposes to construct the 
natural gas-fired electric generation plant in the community of Rock 
Springs, located in northwestern Cecil County, Maryland. The proposed 
plant site is at the intersection of Old Mill Road and U.S. Route 222.
    The Old Dominion ownership portion of the project will consist of 
three natural gas-fired combustion turbine generation units with an 
output of 170 megawatts each. The entire plant layout will be designed 
and permitted to

[[Page 70693]]

accommodate 6 combustion turbine units and would have a total output of 
1,020 megawatts. The environmental impact has been described for 6 
units. The entire plant will be situated on approximately 26 acres of 
the 93-acre site. No major natural gas pipeline or electric 
transmission line improvements will be needed at either location beyond 
the proposed site boundaries. A short electric transmission line span 
will be constructed on a 5-acre parcel owned by Old Dominion and is 
adjacent to the plant to tie the plant to an existing 500 kilovolt 
transmission line located southwest of Old Mill Road.
    Alternatives considered by RUS and Old Dominion to constructing the 
generation facility as proposed include: (a) No action, (b) load 
management, (c) purchased power, (d) renewable energy, (e) a combined 
cycle combustion turbine plant, and (f) alternative site locations.
    Old Dominion is preparing an environmental analysis to be submitted 
to RUS for review. RUS will use the environmental analysis to determine 
the significance of the impacts of the project and may adopt it as its 
environmental assessment of the project. RUS' environmental assessment 
of the project will be available for review and comment for 30 days. 
Notice of availability of the environmental assessment will be 
published in the Federal Register and in newspapers with a circulation 
in the project area. It is anticipated that the environmental 
assessment will be available in November or December of this year.
    RUS will determine, based on the environmental assessment of the 
project, whether or not the impacts of the construction and operation 
of the plant poses a significant impact. Public notification of RUS' 
finding will be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers 
with a circulation in the project area.
    Any final action related to the proposed project will be subject 
to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review 
requirements prescribed by the Council on Environmental Quality and the 
Rural Utilities Service's regulations.

    Dated: November 17, 2000.
Mark S. Plank,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 00-30096 Filed 11-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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