52810 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 177 / Thursday, September 11, 2008 / Notices 

Section 301.86–3 of the regulations 

sets out the procedures for determining 

the areas quarantined for PCN. 

Paragraph (a) of § 301.86–3 states that, 

in accordance with the criteria listed in 

§ 301.86–3(c), the Administrator will 

designate as a quarantined area each 

field that has been found to be infested 

with PCN, each field that has been 

found to be associated with an infested 

field, and any area that the 

Administrator considers necessary to 

quarantine because of its inseparability 

for quarantine enforcement purposes 

from infested or associated fields. 

Paragraph (c) provides that the 

Administrator will designate a field as 

an infested field when PCN is found in 

the field. Paragraph (c) also provides 

that the Administrator will designate a 

field as an associated field when PCN 

host crops, as listed in § 301.86–2(b), 

have been grown in the field in the last 

10 years and the field shares a border 

with an infested field; the field came 

into contact with a regulated article 

listed in § 301.86–2 from an infested 

field within the last 10 years; or, within 

the last 10 years, the field shared 

ownership, tenancy, seed, drainage or 

runoff, farm machinery, or other 

elements of shared cultural practices 

with an infested field that could allow 

spread of the PCN, as determined by the 

Administrator. 

Paragraph (b) describes the conditions 

for the designation of an area less than 

an entire State as a quarantined area. 

Less than an entire State will be 

designated as a quarantined area only if 

the Administrator determines that: 

1. The State has adopted and is 

enforcing restrictions on the intrastate 

movement of the regulated articles that 

are equivalent to those imposed by the 

regulations on the interstate movement 

of regulated articles; and 

2. The designation of less than the 

entire State as a quarantined area will 

prevent the interstate spread of PCN. 

We have determined that it is not 

necessary to designate the entire State of 

Idaho as a quarantined area. Idaho has 

adopted and is enforcing restrictions on 

the intrastate movement of regulated 

articles from that area that are 

equivalent to those we are imposing on 

the interstate movement of regulated 

articles. 

Paragraph (d) provides for the 

removal of fields from quarantine. An 

infested field will be removed from 

quarantine when a 3-year biosurvey 

protocol approved by APHIS has been 

completed and the field has been found 

to be free of PCN. An associated field 

will be removed from quarantine when 

the field has been found to be free of 

PCN according to a survey protocol 

approved by the Administrator as 

sufficient to support removal from 

quarantine. Any area other than infested 

or associated fields which has been 

quarantined by the Administrator 

because of its inseparability for 

quarantine enforcement purposes from 

infested or associated fields will be 

removed from quarantine when the 

relevant infested or associated fields are 

removed from quarantine. 

Paragraph (a) of § 301.86–3 further 

provides that the Administrator will 

publish the description of the 

quarantined area on the Plant Protection 

and Quarantine (PPQ) Web site, http:// 

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ 

plant_pest_info/potato/pcn.shtml. The 

description of the quarantined area will 

include the date the description was last 

updated and a description of the 

changes that have been made to the 

quarantined area. The description of the 

quarantined area may also be obtained 

by request from any local office of PPQ; 

local offices are listed in telephone 

directories. Finally, paragraph (a) 

establishes that, after a change is made 

to the quarantined area, we will publish 

a notice in the Federal Register 

informing the public that the change has 

occurred and describing the change to 

the quarantined area. 

We are publishing this notice to 

inform the public of changes to the PCN 

quarantined area in accordance with 

§ 301.86–3(a). On June 27, 2008, we 

updated the quarantined areas to release 

nine fields from designation as 

quarantined areas and add four fields to 

the quarantined area. 

Eight of the nine fields were removed 

from quarantine as associated fields 

after being found to be free of PCN 

according to a survey protocol approved 

by the Administrator as sufficient to 

support removal from quarantine, under 

paragraph (d)(2) of § 301.86–3. The 

ninth field was removed from 

quarantine because we determined that 

it did not meet the criteria for an 

associated field listed in § 301.86–

3(c)(2). The fields removed from 

quarantine were in Bonneville and 

Bingham Counties. 

The four fields added to the 

quarantine areas were designated as 

associated fields because they share a 

border with an infested field. Paragraph 

(c)(2) of § 301.86–3 indicates that such 

fields will be considered associated 

fields and therefore will be added to the 

quarantined area. The fields designated 

as quarantined areas are in Bonneville 

County. 

The current map of the quarantined 

area can be viewed on the PPQ Web site 

at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ 

plant_health/plant_pest_info/potato/ 

pcn.shtml. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–

7786; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of 

September 2008. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–21115 Filed 9–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Request for Proposals for Woody 

Biomass Utilization Grant—Forest 

Restoration Activities on National 

Forest System Lands 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Request for proposals. 

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, 

State and Private Forestry, Technology 

Marketing Unit, located at the Forest 

Products Laboratory, requests proposals 

for forest product projects that increase 

the use of woody biomass from National 

Forest System lands. The woody 

biomass utilization grant program is 

intended to help improve forest 

restoration activities by using and 

creating markets for small-diameter 

material and low-valued trees removed 

from forest restoration activities, such as 

reducing hazardous fuels, handling 

insect and diseased conditions, or 

treating forestlands impacted by 

catastrophic weather events. These 

funds are targeted to help communities, 

entrepreneurs, and others turn residues 

from forest restoration activities into 

marketable forest products and/or 

energy products. 

DATES: Pre-application Postmark 

Deadline: November 7, 2008. Full 

application Postmark Deadline: 

February 13, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: All pre- and full-application 

packages must be sent to the following 

address: ATTN: Patricia Brumm, Grants 

and Agreements Specialist, Forest 

Products Laboratory, One Gifford 

Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726–

2398. Detailed information regarding 

what to include in the pre- and fullapplication, definitions of terms, 

eligibility and Federal restrictions are 

available at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu 

(under Woody Biomass Grants), and at 

http://www.grants.gov). Paper copies of 

the information are also available by 

contacting the USDA Forest Service, 

S&PF Technology Marketing Unit, One 

Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, 

Wisconsin 53726–2398, 608–231–9504. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 177 / Thursday, September 11, 2008 / Notices 52811 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

questions regarding the grant 

application or administrative 

regulations, contact Patricia Brumm, 

Grants and Agreements Specialist, 608–

231–9298, pbrumm@fs.fed.us; for 

program and technical questions, 

contact Susan LeVan, Program Manager, 

608–231–9504, slevan@fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To 

address the mutual goals of Public Law 

109–58, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, 

and the anticipated Department of the 

Interior, Environment, and Related 

Agencies Appropriation Act of 2009, the 

agency is requesting proposals to 

address the nationwide challenge in 

dealing with low-valued material 

removed from hazardous fuel reduction 

activities, restoration of insect and 

diseased conditions or catastrophic 

weather events. The Woody Biomass 

Utilization Grant Program has a preapplication submission process, and 

upon notification, selected preapplicants will be asked to submit a full 

application. Goals of the grant program 

are the following: 

• Help reduce forest management 

costs by increasing value of biomass and 

other forest products generated from 

forest restoration activities. 

• Create incentives and/or reduce 

business risk for increased use of 

biomass from national forestlands (must 

include National Forest System lands, 

however, may also include other lands 

such as, BLM, Tribal, State, local, and 

private). 

• Institute projects that target and 

help remove economic and market 

barriers to using small-diameter trees 

and woody biomass. 

• Help generate renewable energy 

from woody biomass, including the use 

of new technologies. 

• Build industry infrastructure 

around national forestlands where no or 

limited industry infrastructure exists. 

• Expand working relationships 

between local forest products businesses 

and Forest Service offices. 

Woody Biomass Grants Program 

1. Eligibility Information 

a. Eligible Applicants. Eligible 

applicants are State, local, and Tribal 

governments, school districts, 

communities, non-profit organizations, 

businesses, companies, corporations, or 

special purpose districts, e.g., public 

utilities districts, fire districts, 

conservation districts, or ports. Only 

one application per business or 

organization will be accepted. If 

applicants have received a Woody 

Biomass Utilization Grant within the 

last 3 years, they are not eligible. 

Construction projects involving a 

permanent building or infrastructure 

item, such as roads, are not allowed 

with these Federal funds; however 

construction funds can be part of the 

non-Federal cost share. For Alaska, only 

applicants on the Seward Ranger 

District on the Chugach National Forest 

are eligible to apply for this grant. 

Cordova and Glacier Ranger Districts on 

the Chugach are not eligible. Ranger 

Districts on the Tongass National Forest 

are not eligible. 

b. Cost Sharing (Matching 

Requirement). Applicants must 

demonstrate at least a 20% match of the 

total project cost. This match must be 

from non-Federal sources, which can 

include cash or in-kind contributions. 

2. DUNS Number 

All applicants must include a Dun 

and Bradstreet (D&B), Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) number in 

their full application. For the purpose of 

this requirement, the applicant is the 

entity that meets the eligibility criteria 

and has the legal authority to apply for 

an award. For assistance in obtaining a 

DUNS number at no cost, call the DUNS 

number request line (1–866–705–5711) 

or register on-line at http:// 

fedgov.dnb.com/webform. By 

submission of an application, the 

applicant acknowledges the requirement 

that prospective awardees shall be 

registered in the Central Contractor 

Registration (CCR) database prior to 

award, during performance, and through 

final payment of any grant resulting 

from this solicitation. Further 

information can be found at http:// 

www.ccr.gov. For assistance, contact the 

CCR Assistance Center (1–888–227–

2423). 

3. Award Information 

At least $4 million are available for 

granting under this program. Individual 

grants will not be less than $50,000 or 

more than $250,000. Funds are 

presently not available for this grant 

program. The Government’s obligation 

under this program is contingent upon 

the availability of 2009 appropriated 

funds from which payment for grant 

purposes can be made. No legal liability 

on the part of the Government for any 

payment may arise until funds are made 

available to the Grants Officer for this 

program, and until the Cooperator 

receives notice of such availability, to be 

confirmed in writing by the Grants 

Officer. Successful applicants will be 

announced by early April 2009. The 

maximum length of the award is 3 years 

from the date of award. Written annual 

financial performance reports and semiannual project performance reports shall 

be required. Applicants should be aware 

that the grant funds are regarded as 

taxable income and a form 1099 will be 

sent by the Forest Service to the IRS. 

Awardees are expected to follow all 

OSHA requirements regarding safe 

working practices and all applicable 

State and Federal regulations pertinent 

to the proposed project. 

4. Application Review Process 

A two-step technical evaluation 

process is used for applications 

submitted under this solicitation. The 

first step requires the applicant to 

submit a preliminary application (preapplication). Pre-applications are 

evaluated on criteria discussed in 

section 5. All pre-applications shall be 

screened to ensure compliance with the 

administrative requirements as set forth 

in the RFP. Applications found to be 

non-compliant shall be disqualified. 

A review panel of technical experts 

from Federal agencies judges the preapplications. Panel members 

independently review the preapplications according to the evaluation 

criteria and point system. A total of 100 

points is possible. As a result of this 

preliminary review, successful preapplications are invited to submit a full 

application package. Unsuccessful preapplicants are removed from further 

consideration for funding under this 

solicitation. In either case, a letter of 

notification is provided to each 

applicant. 

The second step requires the 

applicant to submit a full application 

package, which is based on the same 

evaluation criteria as the preliminary 

application. Each full application shall 

be screened to ensure that it meets the 

administrative requirements as set forth 

in the RFP. The full application package 

is evaluated for technical merit and 

financial feasibility. The reviewers 

discuss, rank, and make 

recommendations to Executive Steering 

Committee of Senior Federal officials. 

5. Evaluation Criteria and Point System 

a. Impact on National Forest System 

Lands Forest Restoration Activities: 

Total Points 40 

• Condition of the forestlands 

proposed for the project, such as Fire 

Regime Condition Class (http:// 

www.frcc.gov), insect and disease risk 

conditions, or degraded forestlands due 

to catastrophic weather events. 


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52812 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 177 / Thursday, September 11, 2008 / Notices 

• Direct, tangible benefits with and 

without the grant (e.g., increased acres 

treated from forest restoration activities, 

increased value of raw material removed 

from forest restoration activities, and 

reduced Forest Service’s cost per acre). 

• Indirect, intangible benefits 

(including air quality and water quality 

improvements in socioeconomics of 

communities, in wildlife habitats, and 

in watersheds). 

• Opportunities created for using 

woody biomass material around 

National Forest System lands in 

locations where no or limited industry 

capacity exists. 

b. Technical Approach Work Plan: Total 

Points 25 

• Technical feasibility of the 

proposed work. 

• Adequacy and completeness of the 

proposed tasks. 

• Timeliness and reasonableness of 

time schedule. 

• Identified deliverables/tasks. 

• Evaluation and monitoring plan 

(accountability measures of 

environmental, social, financial and 

forest restoration effects of proposed 

project). 

• Potential for project to improve 

efficiencies or to accelerate adoption of 

cleaner technologies (air, water, waste) 

for biomass utilization. 

c. Financial Feasibility: Total Points 25 

• Realistic budget and timeframe. 

• Thorough financial documentation 

(see description of required 

documentation under financial 

feasibility, Section 7.c.). 

• Level of matching funds for the 

grant. 

d. Qualifications and Experience of 

Applicant: Total Points 10 

• Experience, capabilities (technical 

and managerial). 

• Demonstrated capacity. 

If there are no technical or financial 

problems for the project, and there is 

significant impact on reducing the 

Forest Service’s cost per acre, full points 

are given. If there are minor 

deficiencies, which could limit success, 

midway points are given. If there are 

major deficiencies, which could render 

the project unsuccessful, minimum 

points are given. Further scoring criteria 

can be found at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/ 

tmu (under Woody Biomass Grants) and 

at http://www.grants.gov. Full 

application packages that do not submit 

ALL required financial information will 

be disqualified. 

6. Pre-Application Information 

a. Pre-Application Submission. Preapplications are required. Specific 

content and submission requirements 

for the pre-application are as follows: 

Each submittal must be composed of 

two paper copies (single-sided) of the 

pre-application and one original copy. 

All proposals for the pre-application 

must be on 8.5- by 11-inch plain white 

paper only (no colored paper, over-sized 

paper, or special covers) with a 

minimum font size of 11 letters per 

inch. Top, bottom, and side margins 

must be no less than three-quarters of an 

inch. All pages must be clearly 

numbered. The paper copies of the 

application package should be stapled 

with a single staple at the upper lefthand corner. Do not staple the original. 

Other bindings will not be accepted. 

b. Pre-Application Content. Project 

Summary, SF 424, and 424A shall be 

submitted with the application for 

acceptance. Assemble information in 

the following order: Project Summary, 

SF 424, SF 424A, project narrative, 

budget justification narrative, budget, 

and appendices. Forms for the Project 

Summary, SF424, and SF424A can be 

found at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu 

(under Woody Biomass Grants). The 

project narrative consists of statement of 

need, project coordinator(s) and 

partner(s), goals and objectives, 

technical approach work plan, impact 

on National Forest System forest 

restoration treatments, and evaluation 

and monitoring plan. The project 

narrative shall provide a clear 

description of the work to be performed 

and its impact on National Forest 

System lands. It shall address the 

technical approach work plan under 

criteria b in section 5. The project 

narrative is limited to 5 pages, and 

excludes Project Summary Table, 

budget justification, budget, or 

appendices. 

c. The discussion of the impact on 

National Forest System lands is a 

critical component because these 

proposals are aimed at helping the 

Forest Service increase the number of 

acres treated and decrease the cost per 

acre for those National Forest System 

lands that are at risk due to hazardous 

fuel buildup, insects and diseases, or 

catastrophic weather events. Applicants 

shall describe qualitatively and 

quantitatively how the project would 

decrease Forest Service treatment costs 

and/or increase the price one might 

offer for the woody biomass. 

Specifically, proposals should address 

the following: 

• Condition of the forest or grassland, 

such as providing the Fire Regime 

Condition Class (http://www.frcc.gov), 

the insect and disease risk, or any 

catastrophic weather events and the 

consequences of the National Forest 

System not being able to do treatments 

because of the cost. 

• Forest Service’s current practices of 

handling material removed from forest 

restoration activities. 

• What would be done with this 

material if grant is awarded? 

• Anticipated outcomes and measures 

of success. 

• Documentation of costs and benefits 

of project as a result of the award (see 

project feasibility discussion at http:// 

www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu under Woody 

Biomass Grants or at http:// 

www.grants.gov. 

• Documentation of intangible 

benefits. Examples of tangible and 

intangible benefits are listed on the 

Technology Marketing Unit’s Web site 

at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu (under 

Woody Biomass Grants) or at http:// 

www.grants.gov. 

• Long-Term Benefits of Project: 

Applicant should address the length of 

time the benefits and impacts are 

anticipated (e.g., project will have longterm consequences, such as equipment 

improvements, or a one-time benefit, 

such as a subsidy.) 

• Expansion capability: Does the 

project have the potential to expand the 

application to additional forest 

treatment areas or to create higher 

valued uses? 

A full description of each content 

item can be obtained from the 

Technology Marketing Unit’s Web site 

at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu (under 

Woody Biomass Grants) or at http:// 

www.grants.gov, or by calling the 

telephone number in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section, or by 

writing to the address in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice. 

c. Pre-Application Delivery. Preapplications must be post marked by 

November 7, 2008, and received no later 

than 5 p.m. Central Standard Time on 

November 14, 2008, by Patricia Brumm 

at the Forest Products Laboratory. Handdelivered, or fax applications will not be 

accepted. E-mail applications should be 

submitted through http:// 

www.grants.gov. No exceptions allowed. 

Please send pre-applications to the 

address listed in the ADDRESSES section 

of this notice. 

7. Full Application Information 

USDA Forest Service will request full 

applications only from those applicants 

selected in the pre-application process. 

a. Full Application Submission. 

Specific content and submission 

requirements for the full application are 

as follows: Each submittal must be 

composed of two paper copies (singlesided) of the full application and one 

original copy. All proposals for the full 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 177 / Thursday, September 11, 2008 / Notices 52813 

application must be on 8.5- by 11-inch 

plain white paper only (no colored 

paper, over-sized paper, or special 

covers) with a minimum font size of 11 

letters per inch. Top, bottom, and side 

margins must be no less than threequarters of an inch. All pages must be 

clearly numbered. The paper copies of 

the application package should be 

stapled with a single staple at the upper 

left-hand corner. Do not staple the 

original. Other bindings will not be 

accepted. 

b. Full Application Content. Project 

Summary Table, SF 424, and 424A shall 

be submitted with the application for 

acceptance. Assemble information in 

the following order: Project Summary 

Table, SF 424, SF424A, project 

narrative, budget justification narrative, 

budget, financial feasibility, and 

appendices. Forms for the Project 

Summary, SF424, and SF424A can be 

found at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu 

(under Woody Biomass Grants). The 

project narrative consists of statement of 

need, project coordinator(s) and 

partner(s), goals and objectives, 

technical approach work plan, impact 

on National Forest System forest 

restoration activities, environmental 

documentation, project work plan and 

timeline, social impacts, evaluation and 

monitoring plan, and equipment 

description. The project narrative shall 

provide a clear description of the work 

to be performed, how it will be 

accomplished, and its impact on 

National Forest System lands. It shall 

address the technical approach work 

plan under criteria b listed in section 5. 

The project narrative is limited to a total 

of 10 pages and excludes Project 

Summary Table, budget justification, 

budget, appendices and financial 

documentation. 

c. Detailed Financial Information. 

Detailed financial information is 

requested to assess the potential and the 

capability of the applicant. All financial 

information remains confidential and is 

not accessible under the Freedom of 

Information Act. If the applicant has 

questions about how confidential 

information is handled they should 

contact Patricia Brumm at 

pbrumm@fs.fed.us. The financial 

information should provide a general 

overview of historical and projected 

(pro forma) financial performance. 

Standard accounting principles should 

be used for developing the required 

financial information. Strong 

applications have benefited from the use 

of a certified accountant to develop this 

information. Applicants should refer to 

the Technology Marketing Unit’s Web 

site at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu 

(under Woody Biomass Grants) or at 

http://www.grants.gov for the financial 

information requirements, as well as 

Web sites for standard financial 

templates. 

d. Full Application Delivery. Full 

applications must be postmarked by 

February 13, 2009, and received no later 

than 5 p.m. Central Standard Time on 

February 20, 2009, by Patricia Brumm at 

the Forest Products Laboratory. Handdelivered or fax applications will not be 

accepted. E-mail applications should be 

submitted through http:// 

www.grants.gov. No exceptions allowed. 

Please send full applications to the 

address listed in the ADDRESSES section 

of this notice. 

8. Appendices 

The following information must be 

included in the appendix of the preapplication and the full application 

package: 

a. Letter of Support and Biomass 

Availability from Local USDA Forest 

Service District Ranger or Forest 

Supervisor Is Required: This letter must 

describe the status of National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 

acres, timeframes, available volumes, 

and opportunities for applicant to 

access these volumes. These letters shall 

be submitted with both the preapplication and full application. 

b. Letters of Support from Partners, 

Individuals, or Organizations: Letters of 

support should be included in an 

appendix and are intended to display 

the degree of collaboration occurring 

between the different entities engaged in 

the project. These letters must include 

commitments of cash or in-kind services 

from all partners and must support the 

amounts listed in the budget. Each letter 

of support is limited to one page in 

length. 

c. Key Personnel Qualifications: 

Qualifications of the project manager 

and key personnel should be included 

in an appendix. Qualifications are 

limited to two pages in length and 

should contain the following: resume, 

biographical sketch, references, and 

demonstrated ability to manage the 

grant. 

Dated: September 5, 2008. 

James Hubbard, 

Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry. 

[FR Doc. E8–21112 Filed 9–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.: 

Notice of Extension of Public 

Comment Period for Public Scoping in 

Preparation of an Environmental 

Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Extend 

Public Comment Period for Public 

Scoping for Preparation of an 

Environmental Impact Statement 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS), an agency delivering the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s Rural 

Development Utilities Programs, 

hereinafter referred to as Rural 

Development and/or the Agency, is 

extending the public comment period 

for the public scoping in preparation of 

an Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) for the proposed action by 

Minnkota Power Cooperative (Minnkota 

Power), Otter Tail Power Company, and 

Minnesota Power to construct a 230 kV 

electric transmission line from Bemidji 

to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

Rural Development and the State of 

Minnesota Office of Energy Security 

(OES) are jointly preparing an EIS to 

evaluate the potential impacts of the 

proposed transmission line pursuant to 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.) in 

accordance with the Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ) 

regulations for implementing the 

procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 

1500–1508), 36 CFR 800.2(a); section 

106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act 16 U.S.C. 470f and its 

implementing regulations, ‘‘Protection 

of Historic Properties’’ (36 CFR Part 

800); the Minnesota Environmental 

Policy Act (MEPA), Minnesota Statute, 

Chapter 116D.04; the Minnesota Power 

Plant Siting Act (MPPSA); Minnesota 

Statute, Chapter 216 E.03 and 

Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4400. The 

U.S. Forest Service-Chippewa National 

Forest, the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, and the Leech Lake Band of 

Ojibwe are participating as Cooperating 

Agencies in development of the EIS. 

Two public scoping documents, an 

Alternatives Evaluation Study (AES) 

and a Macrocorridor Study (MCS), were 

prepared to provide public information 

on the proposed project. Using 

information from the AES and the MCS 

and considering input provided by 

government agencies, private 

organizations, and the public, Rural 

Development and OES, in consultation 


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