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[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6920-6921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2101]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold 
Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA).

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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 Agency, intends to 
hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project being 
proposed by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Basin Electric), of 
Bismarck, North Dakota. The proposal consists of the construction and 
operation of a natural gas-fired combustion turbine generation facility 
referred to as the Culbertson Unit 1 East Side Peaking Project, 
consisting of a single maximum net 100 Megawatt (MW) unit, at a site 
near Culbertson, Montana.

DATES: RUS will conduct the public scoping meeting in an open-house 
format on February 26, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mountain Standard 
Time, at the Culbertson American Legion, 119 2nd Street, East, 
Culbertson, Montana.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:  Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural 
Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop 
1571, Washington DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-5093 or e-mail: 
[email protected] , or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power 
Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-
0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Basin Electric proposes to construct a new 
80-100 MW, simple-cycle natural gas fired turbine less than (50 MW 
average annual output), ancillary facilities and systems, a new natural 
gas pipeline to connect to the existing Northern Border Pipeline, and 
necessary equipment to allow connection to the Western Area Power 
Administration (WAPA) transmission system. Basin Electric is requesting 
RUS to provide financing for the proposed project. WAPA will construct 
a new or modify an existing electrical substation, and construct up to 
12 miles of new transmission line to facilitate connection of the 
proposed facility to its grid, and as such has agreed to be a 
cooperating agency in preparation of the EA. The Montana Department of 
Environmental Quality (DEQ) is also a cooperating agency due to its 
responsibilities under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and 
for air quality permitting.
    Alternatives to be considered by RUS include no action, purchased 
power, load management, renewable energy sources, distributed 
generation, and alternative site locations. Comments regarding the 
proposed project may be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public 
scoping meeting or in writing within 30 days after the February 26, 
2008, scoping meeting to RUS at the address provided in this notice.
    A proposal development document--Alternative Evaluation and Site 
Selection Study--is available for public review at RUS or Basin 
Electric, at the addresses provided in this notice. This study is also 
available at the Culbertson Public Library, 202 Broadway, Culbertson, 
MT 59218.
    From information provided in the study mentioned above, and using 
input provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the 
public, RUS will prepare a Draft EA. The Draft EA will be available for 
review and comment for 45 days after distribution. A Final EA will then 
be prepared that considers all comments received. The Final EA will be 
available for review and comment for 30 days after distribution. 
Following the 30-day comment period, RUS will prepare either a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft and Final EA 
and a FONSI, as appropriate, will be published in the Federal Register 
and in local newspapers.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed projects will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal, 
State and local

[[Page 6921]]

environmental laws and regulations and completion of the environmental 
review requirements as prescribed in the RUS Environmental Policies and 
Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794).

    Dated: January 31, 2008.
James R. Newby,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs.
 [FR Doc. E8-2101 Filed 2-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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