[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 34630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16946]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.; Finding of No Significant 
Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 
the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794), 
has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
project proposed by two electric utilities: Minnkota Power Cooperative, 
Inc., (MPC) of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Otter Tail Power Company 
(OTPC) of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. These two utilities are collectively 
referred to as the Partners for the purpose of this project. MPC is a 
RUS borrower and anticipates to requesting financing assistance for its 
portion of the proposed transmission line. MPC and OTPC have proposed 
to construct and operate a transmission line and associated facilities 
between Oslo in Walsh County, North Dakota and Thief River Falls in 
Pennington County, Minnesota. The line will originate at an existing 
substation located approximately two miles west of Oslo in Walsh 
County, North Dakota. The line will terminate at an existing substation 
located in Pennington County, Minnesota.
    RUS has concluded that the impacts from the proposed project would 
not be significant and that the proposed action is not a major Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nurul Islam, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250--1571, telephone (202)-
720-1784.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RUS, in accordance with its 
environmental policies and procedures, required that the MPC prepares a 
Borrower's Environmental Report (BER) reflecting the potential impacts 
of the proposed facilities. The BER which includes input from the 
Federal, state, and local agencies, has been adopted as RUS's 
Environmental Assessment for the project in accordance with 
Sec. 1794.61.
    The RUS has concluded that the BER represents an accurate 
assessment of the environmental impacts of the project. The proposed 
project will not affect any known properties listed or eligible for 
listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The project will 
be constructed on an existing right-of-way for about 24.5 miles. Of the 
56 mile total length of the proposed route, 54 miles share rights-of-
way with existing highways or roadways. Two miles will be along 
entirely new rights-of-way. However, if previously unknown resources 
are discovered during construction, the Partners will halt construction 
while the significance of the finding and proper mitigation is 
determined. Construction of the line should have no impact on 
floodplains, air quality, and formally classified areas. The project 
should also have no significant impact on farmlands, water quality, 
wetlands, aesthetics, federally listed or proposed for listing 
threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat.
    Alternatives considered to the project included no action, power 
purchase from other sources, localized generating facilities, load 
management and energy conservation, alternative routes, construction 
method alternatives, design alternatives, and voltage alternatives. RUS 
has considered these alternatives and concluded that the project as 
proposed will meet the needs of the MPC to provide adequate service in 
the project area with a minimum of adverse impact.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at, or may be 
obtained from RUS at the address provided above or from the office of 
MPC, P.O. Box 13200, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58208-3200, telephone 
(701) 795-4000 during normal business hours.

    Dated: June 19, 1998.
Blaine D. Stockton, Jr.
Assistant Administrator--Electric Program.
[FR Doc. 98-16946 Filed 6-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P