Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / Notices 54569 

Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are 

encouraged to submit responses 

electronically by e-mail to 

oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or via fax 

to (202) 395–6974. Commenters should 

include the following subject line in 

their response ‘‘Comment: [insert OMB 

number], [insert abbreviated collection 

name, e.g., ‘‘Upward Bound 

Evaluation’’]. Persons submitting 

comments electronically should not 

submit paper copies. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires 

that the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) provide interested 

Federal agencies and the public an early 

opportunity to comment on information 

collection requests. OMB may amend or 

waive the requirement for public 

consultation to the extent that public 

participation in the approval process 

would defeat the purpose of the 

information collection, violate State or 

Federal law, or substantially interfere 

with any agency’s ability to perform its 

statutory obligations. The IC Clearance 

Official, Regulatory Information 

Management Services, Office of 

Management, publishes that notice 

containing proposed information 

collection requests prior to submission 

of these requests to OMB. Each 

proposed information collection, 

grouped by office, contains the 

following: (1) Type of review requested, 

e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or 

reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of 

the collection; (4) Description of the 

need for, and proposed use of, the 

information; (5) Respondents and 

frequency of collection; and (6) 

Reporting and/or Recordkeeping 

burden. OMB invites public comment. 

Dated: September 16, 2008. 

Angela C. Arrington, 

IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information 

Management Services, Office of Management. 

Institute of Education Sciences 

Type of Review: New Collection. 

Title: Individuals with Disabilities 

Education Act (IDEA) 2004 National 

Assessment Implementation Study 

(NAIS). 

Frequency: Other: One time. 

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal 

Gov’t, SEAs or LEAs (primary). 

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour 

Burden: 

Responses: 541. 

Burden Hours: 1,021. 

Abstract: The current reauthorization 

of IDEA (2004) instructs the Department 

of Education to carry out a National 

Assessment of the law to measure: (1) 

Progress in the implementation of IDEA 

2004; and (2) the relative effectiveness 

of the law in achieving its purposes. The 

IDEA National Assessment 

Implementation Study (NAIS) will 

inform the National Assessment by 

providing a representative, national 

picture of the implementation of early 

intervention and special education 

policies and practices at the state and 

district levels with a focus on new 

provisions included in IDEA 2004. Data 

collection will include three surveys of 

state administrators: (1) All State Part B 

administrators responsible for programs 

providing special education services to 

school aged children with disabilities 

(6–21); (2) all State 619 coordinators 

who oversee preschool programs for 

children with disabilities ages 3–5, and; 

(3) all State IDEA Part C coordinators 

who are responsible for early 

intervention programs serving infants 

and toddlers. A fourth survey will 

collect district level data from a 

nationally representative sample of local 

special education administrators about 

preschool and school-age programs for 

children with disabilities ages 3–21. The 

U.S. Department of Education has 

commissioned Abt Associates to 

conduct this study. 

Requests for copies of the information 

collection submission for OMB review 

may be accessed from http:// 

edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the 

‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and 

by clicking on link number 3753. When 

you access the information collection, 

click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’ to 

view. Written requests for information 

should be addressed to U.S. Department 

of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, 

SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537. 

Requests may also be electronically 

mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed 

to 202–401–0920. Please specify the 

complete title of the information 

collection when making your request. 

Comments regarding burden and/or 

the collection activity requirements 

should be electronically mailed to 

ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who 

use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 

800–877–8339. 

[FR Doc. E8–22041 Filed 9–19–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Notice 

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, October 7, 

2008, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 

PLACE: U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission, 1225 New York Ave., NW., 

Suite 150, Washington, DC 20005 

(Metro Stop: Metro Center). 

AGENDA: Commissioners will consider 

and vote on Draft EAC Guidance to 

States Regarding Material Changes to 

State Plans. Commissioners will 

consider and vote on the accreditation 

of CIBER, Inc. Commissioners will 

consider a Draft Working Group Policy 

[formally known as Draft Policy for Joint 

Partnership Task Force of EAC and State 

Election Officials Regarding Spending of 

HAVA Funds]. Commissioners will 

discuss revisions to the advisory 

opinion process. The Commission will 

consider other administrative matters. 

This meeting will be open to the 

public. 

PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: 

Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 566– 

3100. 

Thomas R. Wilkey, 

Election Director, U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission. 

[FR Doc. E8–22130 Filed 9–17–08; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Notice of Intent to Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement and 

Notice of Proposed Floodplain and 

Wetlands Involvement for the Kemper 

County IGCC Project, Kemper County, 

MS 

AGENCY: Department of Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent and Notice of 

Proposed Floodplain and Wetlands 

Involvement. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) announces its intent to 

prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.), the Council on Environmental 

Quality NEPA regulations (40 CFR Parts 

1500–1508), and the DOE NEPA 

regulations (10 CFR Part 1021), to assess 

the potential environmental impacts 

associated with the construction and 

operation of a project proposed by 

Southern Company, through its affiliate 

Mississippi Power Company 

(Mississippi Power), which has been 

selected by DOE for consideration for 

cost-shared funding under the Clean 

Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) program. In 

addition, the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers will be a cooperating agency 

in the preparation of the EIS, and the 


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54570 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / Notices 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Region IV has expressed an interest in 

also participating in the preparation of 

the EIS as a cooperating agency. The 

proposed project would demonstrate 

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle 

(IGCC) technology using lignite coal as 

a feedstock for a new electrical 

generating plant at a site in Kemper 

County, Mississippi. The facilities 

would convert lignite coal into 

synthesis gas for generating electricity 

while minimizing sulfur dioxide, oxides 

of nitrogen, mercury, and particulate 

emissions as compared to conventional 

lignite-fired power plants. 

The EIS will help DOE decide 

whether to provide a total of $294 

million in cost-shared funding (15% or 

less of the total project cost, which is 

currently projected to be greater than $2 

billion) for the proposed project under 

the CCPI program. In addition, the EIS 

would help DOE decide, pending 

receipt of an application from 

Mississippi Power, whether to provide a 

loan guarantee pursuant to the Energy 

Policy Act of 2005. Accordingly, the EIS 

will evaluate the potential impacts of 

the proposed project, connected actions, 

and reasonable alternatives. The 

purpose of this Notice of Intent is to 

inform the public about the proposed 

project; invite public participation in 

the EIS process; announce the plans for 

a public scoping meeting; solicit public 

comments for consideration in 

establishing the scope and content of 

the EIS; and provide notice of proposed 

floodplain and wetlands involvement. 

DATES: To ensure that all of the issues 

related to this proposal are addressed, 

DOE invites comments on the proposed 

scope and content of the EIS from all 

interested parties. Comments must be 

received by October 23, 2008, to ensure 

consideration. Late comments will be 

considered to the extent practicable. In 

addition to receiving comments in 

writing and by telephone, DOE will 

conduct a public scoping meeting in 

which agencies, organizations, and 

members of the general public are 

invited to present oral comments or 

suggestions with regard to the range of 

actions, alternatives, and potential 

impacts to be considered in the EIS. The 

scoping meeting will be held at Kemper 

County High School, 429 Philadelphia 

Road, DeKalb, Mississippi, at 7 p.m. on 

October 14, 2008. The public is also 

invited to learn more about the 

proposed project at an informal session 

at this location beginning at 5 p.m. 

Displays and other forms of information 

about the proposed agency action and 

the demonstration plant will be 

available, and DOE personnel will be 

present at the informal session to 

discuss the proposed project and the EIS 

process. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the 

proposed EIS scope and requests to 

participate in the public scoping 

meeting should be addressed to: Mr. 

Richard A. Hargis, U.S. Department of 

Energy, National Energy Technology 

Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, 

P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236– 

0940. Individuals who would like to 

orally or electronically provide 

comments should contact Mr. Hargis 

directly by telephone: 412–386–6065; 

toll-free number: 1–888–322–7436; fax: 

412–386–4604; or electronic mail: 

Richard.Hargis@netl.doe.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information about this project or to 

receive a copy of the draft EIS when it 

is issued, contact Mr. Richard A. Hargis 

as described above. For general 

information on the DOE NEPA process, 

contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, 

Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 

Compliance (GC–20), U.S. Department 

of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Washington, DC 20585–0103; 

telephone: 202–586–4600; fax: 202– 

586–7031; or leave a toll-free message at 

1–800–472–2756. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background and Need for Agency 

Action: Since the early 1970s, DOE and 

its predecessor agencies have pursued 

research and development programs 

that include long-term, technically 

complex activities that support the 

development of innovative concepts for 

a wide variety of coal technologies 

through the proof-of-concept stage. 

However, the availability of a 

technology at the proof-of-concept stage 

is not sufficient to ensure its continued 

development and subsequent 

commercialization. Before any 

technology can be considered seriously 

for commercialization, it must be 

demonstrated at a sufficient scale to 

prove its reliability and to show 

economically competitive performance. 

The financial risk associated with such 

large-scale demonstration is, in general, 

too high for the private sector to assume 

in the absence of strong incentives. 

The CCPI program was established in 

2002 as a government/industry 

partnership to implement the 

President’s National Energy Policy 

recommendation to increase investment 

in clean coal technology. The goal of the 

CCPI program is to accelerate 

commercial deployment of advanced 

coal technologies that provide the 

United States with clean, reliable, and 

affordable energy. Through cooperative 

agreements established with industry, 

the CCPI program plans to advance 

selected coal technologies to 

commercialization. 

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 

established a Federal loan guarantee 

program for eligible energy projects that 

employ innovative technologies. Title 

XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 

authorizes the Secretary of Energy to 

make loan guarantees for a variety of 

types of projects, including projects that 

‘‘avoid, reduce, or sequester air 

pollutants or anthropogenic emissions 

of greenhouse gases; and employ new or 

significantly improved technologies as 

compared to commercial technologies in 

service in the United States at the time 

the guarantee is issued.’’ Section 

1703(a)(1), 42 U.S.C. 16513. Mississippi 

Power has submitted a pre-application 

to DOE and was invited to submit a 

formal application for a loan guarantee. 

Proposed Action: The proposed action 

for DOE is to provide a total of $294 

million in cost-shared funding under 

CCPI for the proposed project. DOE has 

already provided a portion of the total 

funding ($24.4 million) to Southern 

Company for cost-sharing for 

preliminary design and project 

definition, prior to completion of the 

NEPA process. In addition, DOE may 

also provide a loan guarantee pursuant 

to section 1703 of the Energy Policy Act 

of 2005. 

The proposed IGCC electricity 

generating facility would be constructed 

on an undeveloped site of 

approximately 1,650 acres in Kemper 

County, Mississippi. The site is located 

in east-central Mississippi near the town 

of Liberty, approximately 20 miles north 

of the city of Meridian and consists 

principally of uplands and some 

wetlands. The uplands are mostly of 

managed pine timberlands, large 

portions of which have been clear-cut, 

while the wetlands are mostly mixed 

hardwood forest. Significant portions of 

the wetlands have been previously 

altered by human influences, including 

clear-cutting and conversion to grazing 

areas. Siltation from upland silvaculture 

has also previously impacted some 

wetlands. The generally undisturbed 

wetlands on the site have a canopy of 

red maple, yellow poplar and sweet 

gum. The site’s topography is 

characterized by undulating sand and 

clay hills, and elevations vary from 400 

feet above sea level along an unnamed 

tributary to Chickasawhay Creek in the 

site’s southwestern corner to 500 feet 

above sea level in the site’s northeastern 

corner. 

The IGCC facilities would occupy 

approximately 150 acres (or less than 10 

percent) of the site. The rest of the site 

would remain undeveloped, with the 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / Notices 54571 

exception of new transmission lines, a 

natural gas supply pipeline, a carbon 

dioxide (CO2) pipeline and site access 

and fuel handling infrastructure. 

The proposed facilities would 

demonstrate IGCC technology in a new 

power plant consisting of two lignite 

coal gasifiers with gas cleanup systems, 

two gas combustion turbines (CTs), two 

heat recovery steam generators (HRSG), 

a single steam turbine, and associated 

support facilities. Onsite non-potable 

deep wells would provide 

approximately 6 million gallons per day 

of groundwater required for cooling 

water makeup, steam cycle makeup, and 

other processes. The IGCC facility 

would produce synthesis gas from 

lignite coal and use this gas to drive the 

two CTs. Hot exhaust gas from the gas 

turbines would generate steam from 

water in the HRSGs to drive the steam 

turbine; all three turbines would 

generate electricity. The gas turbines 

would be capable of operating on either 

natural gas or synthesis gas. At full 

capacity, the two new lignite coal 

gasifiers would be expected to use about 

12,000 tons of lignite coal per day to 

produce synthesis gas. Combined, the 

three turbines would generate 

approximately 550 MW of electricity. 

This combined-cycle approach of using 

gas turbines and a steam turbine in 

tandem increases the amount of 

electricity that can be generated from a 

given amount of lignite coal. 

The proposed project would minimize 

sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, 

mercury, and particulate emissions as 

compared to conventional lignite-fired 

power plants. The project would be 

expected to remove in excess of 99% of 

the sulfur dioxide produced in the IGCC 

process. The removal of nearly all of the 

fuel-bound nitrogen from the synthesis 

gas prior to combustion in the gas 

turbines would result in oxides of 

nitrogen emissions of less than 0.07 

pounds per million Btu. At least 90% of 

the mercury in the lignite would be 

removed. Over 99% of the particulates 

in the synthesis gas would be removed 

using high-temperature, high-pressure 

filtration. In addition, the facility is 

planned for carbon capture systems 

sufficient to remove approximately 25% 

of CO2. The CO2 would be piped off-site 

for geologic sequestration via enhanced 

oil recovery in Jasper County, 

approximately 60 miles southwest of the 

project location. Ash generated by the 

gasifiers would be stored onsite or made 

available for appropriate recycling 

alternatives. 

In addition to the gasifiers and 

turbines, new equipment for the project 

would include stacks, onsite deep 

groundwater supply wells, mechanicaldraft cooling towers, synthesis gas 

cleanup facilities, and particulate 

filtration systems. The height of the 

proposed main stacks would be 

approximately 325 feet above ground. 

The project would also require systems 

for coal handling and storage, as well as 

plant roads, administration buildings, 

water and wastewater treatment 

systems, and ash handling and 

management facilities. Connected 

actions would include a natural gas 

supply pipeline, planned CO2 capture 

systems and CO2 pipeline, electric 

transmission facilities, and a surface 

lignite mine. 

The overall objective of the project is 

to demonstrate the feasibility of this 

selected IGCC technology at a size that 

would be attractive to utilities for 

commercial operation. The lignite coal 

gasifier is based on a technology that 

Southern Company, KBR Inc., and DOE 

have been developing since 1996 at a 

research facility near Wilsonville, 

Alabama. The technology is unique 

among coal gasification technologies in 

that it is cost-effective when using lowrank coal, including lignite, as well as 

coals with high moisture or high ash 

content. These coals comprise about 

half the proven U.S. and worldwide 

reserves. 

Project activities would include 

engineering and design, permitting, 

equipment procurement, construction, 

startup, operations, and demonstration 

of the commercial feasibility of the 

technology. If DOE decides to 

implement the proposed action upon 

completing the EIS and issuing a Record 

of Decision, the approximately 3-year 

construction period would be expected 

to commence in 2010, and operation of 

the plant would be expected to begin in 

2013. Following a 4.5-year 

demonstration period, the facility would 

continue with commercial operations 

immediately afterward. 

Connected Actions: While the 

proposed project under the cooperative 

agreement would consist of the gasifiers, 

synthesis gas cleanup systems, two CT/ 

HRSGs, a steam turbine, and supporting 

facilities and infrastructure, the EIS will 

also address the construction and 

operation of the neighboring surface 

lignite coal mine, associated 

transmission lines (and substations), 

CO2 capture systems and CO2 pipeline, 

and a natural gas pipeline, as connected 

actions. 

The mine would be operated by North 

American Coal Corporation and would 

provide the primary source of fuel for 

the project; the secondary source of fuel 

would be natural gas. Mining would 

result in two types of landscape 

disturbance during the 40-year life of 

mine area. Actual mining—the 

uncovering and removal of lignite— 

would disturb approximately 275 acres 

per year for about 40 years, or a total of 

about 11,000 acres. The mine would use 

draglines and a truck and shovel 

operation to remove the overburden, 

mine the lignite coal, and reclaim the 

site in accordance with a mine plan 

approved by the Mississippi Department 

of Environmental Quality. Actual 

mining would disturb uplands and 

wetlands and require stream diversions. 

The lignite coal would be transported by 

truck and/or overland conveyor. 

Following lignite removal, 

approximately 275 acres per year of 

mined land would be restored to 

approximate the pre-mine land contour 

and re-vegetated to a land use consistent 

with a mine reclamation plan approved 

by the Mississippi Department of 

Environmental Quality. 

The second type of landscape 

disturbance is the associated mining 

disturbance that would result from the 

installation of facilities and structures 

supporting the actual mining operation. 

Facilities would include an entrance 

road, office, shop, fuel farm complex, 

dragline assembly area, employee and 

equipment parking areas, and electrical 

substations and transmission lines. 

Support structures would include 

temporary reservoirs, ponds, and 

associated stream diversions to route 

rainfall and surface water flows (e.g. 

streams, drainages, and tributaries) from 

undisturbed areas away from or around 

areas where actual mining disturbance 

would occur, and storm water 

sedimentation control ponds to retain 

and treat surface runoff from areas 

disturbed by the mining and 

reclamation operations. As mining 

advances, those diversions, ponds and 

roads that would no longer be needed to 

support mining would either be restored 

to their approximate pre-mine contour 

or retained as permanent post-mine 

structures with appropriate landowner 

and regulatory agency approval. 

The outer boundary of the mining 

area would encompass approximately 

31,000 acres principally in Kemper 

County and partially in Lauderdale 

County. Within this area, a total of 

approximately 15,500 acres would be 

disturbed and reclaimed over the life of 

the mine. These 15,500 acres would 

include approximately 11,000 acres for 

mining, approximately 4,000 acres for 

temporary reservoirs, ponds and stream 

diversions, and approximately 500 acres 

for mining support facilities. The mine 

would produce approximately 3.8 

million tons of lignite per year to supply 

the IGCC project. The mine area has 


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54572 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / Notices 

similar topographical characteristics as 

described for the plant site area above. 

The proposed plant site is about 20 

miles north of the existing Mississippi 

Power transmission infrastructure in the 

Meridian, Mississippi, metro area. New 

transmission facilities, including 

appropriate lines and substations, 

would be constructed to interconnect 

the plant to the existing grid and to 

provide firm transmission service for 

the plant’s output. The new 

transmission lines would include 

construction of approximately 57 miles 

of 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission and 

approximately nine miles of 115 kV 

transmission. Rights-of-way (ROW) up 

to 125 feet would be required for these 

new transmission lines. The IGCC plant 

would also require approximately 27 

miles of existing transmission lines to 

be upgraded. The new and upgraded 

transmission lines would be in Kemper, 

Lauderdale and Clarke Counties in 

Mississippi. An approximately 5-mile 

natural gas pipeline extending due east 

from the proposed facilities and an 

approximately 60-mile CO2 pipeline 

would also be built. The CO2 pipeline 

would extend from the plant through 

Lauderdale and Clarke counties and end 

in Jasper County, connecting to an 

existing CO2 pipeline used for enhanced 

oil recovery. The ROW for these 

underground facilities would be up to 

75 feet wide for the CO2 pipeline and 50 

feet wide for the natural gas pipeline. 

Alternatives: NEPA requires that 

agencies evaluate the reasonable 

alternatives to the proposed action in an 

EIS. The range of reasonable alternatives 

encompasses those alternatives that 

would satisfy the underlying purpose 

and need for agency action. The CCPI 

program was established to help 

implement the President’s National 

Energy Policy recommendation to 

increase investment in clean coal 

technology, thus improving the 

reliability and affordability of domestic 

energy supplies while simultaneously 

protecting the environment. The CCPI 

program was structured to achieve 

National Energy Policy goals by 

promoting private sector initiatives to 

invest in demonstrations of advanced 

coal technologies that could be widely 

deployed commercially. Rather than 

being responsible for the siting, 

construction, and operation of the 

projects, DOE’s role is limited to 

evaluating applications by project 

sponsors to determine if they meet the 

CCPI program goals. The same is true of 

DOE’s role with regard to applications 

under the loan guarantee program. 

In determining the range of reasonable 

alternatives to be considered in the EIS 

for the proposed Kemper County IGCC 

Project, DOE identified the reasonable 

alternatives that would satisfy the 

underlying purpose and need for agency 

action. Because of DOE’s limited role in 

deciding whether to provide cost-shared 

funding, and possibly a loan guarantee 

for the project, DOE currently plans to 

analyze in detail the project as proposed 

by Mississippi Power (proposed action), 

the proposed action as modified by 

conditions (e.g., mitigation), and the no 

action alternative. 

In analyzing the proposed action, 

DOE will analyze implementing options 

for the location of the plant footprint 

within the site boundaries, the route of 

linear facilities (transmission lines and 

pipelines), options for CO2 sequestration 

(e.g., saline aquifers), and other 

reasonable alternatives that may be 

suggested during the public scoping 

period. 

Under the no action alternative, DOE 

would not provide continued funding 

under the cooperative agreement or 

provide a loan guarantee for the project. 

In the absence of DOE funding, 

Mississippi Power could reasonably 

pursue two options. These options will 

be analyzed under the no action 

alternative. First, the gasifiers, synthesis 

gas cleanup systems, CT/HRSGs and 

supporting infrastructure could be built 

as proposed without DOE funding; 

therefore, this option is essentially the 

same as the proposed action. The 

connected actions would remain 

unchanged. Second, Mississippi Power 

could choose not to pursue the IGCC 

project. None of the connected actions 

would likely be built. This option 

would not contribute to the goal of the 

CCPI program, which is to accelerate 

commercial deployment of advanced 

coal technologies that provide the 

United States with clean, reliable, and 

affordable energy. Similarly, the noaction alternative would not contribute 

to the Federal loan guarantee program 

goals to make loan guarantees for energy 

projects that ‘‘avoid, reduce, or 

sequester air pollutants or 

anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse 

gases; and employ new or significantly 

improved technologies.’’ 

Alternatives considered by 

Mississippi Power in developing the 

proposed project will be presented in 

the EIS. An analysis of alternative sites 

has been prepared by Mississippi Power 

indicating that the only reasonable site 

alternative is the Kemper County site 

based on location of accessible lignite 

reserves near Mississippi Power’s 

service territory, proximity to 

infrastructure, topography, including 

the location of floodplains and 

wetlands, and available open space. 

DOE will describe and consider 

Mississippi Power’s site selection 

process in the EIS, however DOE does 

not plan to analyze in detail the 

alternatives sites considered by 

Mississippi Power, because DOE agrees 

with Mississippi Power’s conclusion 

that the sites are not reasonable 

alternatives. 

Floodplains and Wetlands 

Involvement: Plans for siting the IGCC 

facility on the plant site are such that 

the IGCC footprint would avoid to the 

extent practicable wetlands and 

floodplains impacts. Final design for the 

access roads from the mine to the coal 

handling facilities and other ancillary 

plant facilities is not yet complete, but 

may involve impacts to both wetlands 

and floodplains. Impacts on wetlands 

and floodplains would be avoided to the 

extent practicable and any unavoidable 

impacts would be minimized and 

mitigated appropriately. 

Linear facilities include new and 

upgraded transmission lines, CO2

pipeline, and natural gas pipeline. 

Wetlands delineation surveys are not 

yet complete; however, it is expected 

that some wetland impacts would occur. 

Construction and operation of the linear 

facilities are not expected to impact 

floodplains. Wetland impacts would be 

avoided to the extent practicable and 

any direct impacts would be minimized 

and mitigated appropriately. 

As noted above, the lignite mine 

operations would disturb uplands and 

wetlands and will require stream 

diversions. Wetlands delineation 

surveys are not yet complete; however, 

wetlands and floodplain impacts are an 

inevitable part of surface mine 

operations due to the acreage required 

for the operation. Minimization and 

mitigation of these impacts and 

reclamation of disturbed areas would 

comply with the Mississippi 

Department of Environmental Quality 

approved mine plan. 

DOE will prepare a floodplain and 

wetlands assessment in accordance with 

its regulations at 10 CFR Part 1022 and 

include the assessment in the EIS. 

Preliminary Identification of 

Environmental Issues: The following 

environmental issues have been 

tentatively identified for analysis in the 

EIS. This list, which was developed 

from preliminary internal scoping of the 

proposed technology, permit 

applications that have been filed for the 

proposed project, and information from 

similar projects, is neither intended to 

be all-inclusive nor a predetermined set 

of potential impacts, but is presented to 

facilitate public comment on the 

planned scope of the EIS. Additions to 

or deletions from this list may occur as 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / Notices 54573 

a result of the public scoping process. 

The environmental issues include: 

(1) Atmospheric Resources: Potential 

air quality impacts resulting from air 

emissions during construction and 

operation of the proposed Kemper 

County IGCC Project and the connected 

actions (e.g., effects of ground-level 

concentrations of criteria pollutants and 

trace metals including mercury, on 

surrounding areas, including those of 

special concern such as Prevention of 

Significant Deterioration Class I areas). 

Potential effects of greenhouse gas 

emissions. 

(2) Water Resources: Potential effects 

of groundwater withdrawals and 

discharges of effluents to surface waters. 

Potential water resources impacts 

resulting from construction and 

operation of the connected actions. 

(3) Infrastructure and Land Use: 

Potential effects on existing 

infrastructure and land uses resulting 

from the construction and operation of 

the proposed IGCC project and 

connected action facilities. For example, 

potential traffic effects resulting from 

the proposed project and potential land 

use impacts of committing land to 

power plant or temporary land use 

impacts of mining. 

(4) Solid Waste: Pollution prevention 

and waste management issues, 

including potential solid waste impacts 

caused by the generation, treatment, 

transport, storage, and management of 

ash and solid wastes. 

(5) Visual: Potential aesthetic impacts 

associated with new stacks, mechanicaldraft cooling tower, two flare derricks, 

and other plant structures included in 

the IGCC plant and from the connected 

actions. 

(6) Floodplain: Potential impacts (e.g., 

impeding floodwaters, re-directing 

floodwaters, onsite property damage) of 

siting structures and infrastructure 

within a floodplain. 

(7) Wetlands: Potential effects to 

wetlands due to construction and 

operation of the power plant and the 

connected action facilities. 

(8) Ecological: Potential onsite and 

offsite impacts to vegetation, terrestrial 

wildlife, aquatic wildlife, threatened 

and endangered species (other than 

broadly distributed and wide ranging 

species such as the bald eagle and redcockaded woodpecker, the threatened 

Price’s potato bean is the only Federally 

protected species known to occur in 

Kemper County), and ecologically 

sensitive habitats due to the 

construction and operation of the power 

plant and connected actions. 

(9) Safety and Health: Constructionrelated safety, process safety, and 

management of process chemicals and 

materials. 

(10) Construction: Potential impacts 

associated with noise, traffic patterns, 

and construction-related emissions. 

(11) Community Impacts: Potential 

congestion and other impacts to local 

traffic patterns; socioeconomic impacts 

on public services and infrastructure 

(e.g., police protection, schools, and 

utilities); noise associated with project 

operation; and environmental justice 

issues with respect to the surrounding 

community. 

(12) Cultural and Archaeological 

Resources: Potential impacts to such 

resources associated with construction 

of the project and connected actions. 

(13) Cumulative Effects: The 

incremental impacts of the proposed 

project (e.g., incremental air emissions 

affecting ambient air quality) when 

added to other past, present, and 

reasonably foreseeable future actions, 

including the connected actions. This 

analysis will include potential impacts 

on global climate change. 

The level of analysis of issues 

analyzed in the EIS will be in 

accordance with their level of 

importance and as determined by the 

scoping process. The most detailed 

analyses are tentatively expected to 

focus on potential impacts on air 

resources, cultural and archaeological 

resources, communities (noise and 

traffic), water resources, wetlands, and 

ecological resources. 

Public Scoping Process: To ensure 

that all issues related to this proposal 

are properly addressed, DOE will 

conduct an open process to define the 

scope of the EIS. The public scoping 

period will end on October 23, 2008. 

Interested agencies, organizations, and 

the general public are encouraged to 

submit comments or suggestions 

concerning the content of the EIS, issues 

and impacts to be addressed in the EIS, 

and alternatives that should be 

considered. Scoping comments should 

clearly describe specific issues or topics 

that the EIS should address in order to 

assist DOE in identifying significant 

issues. Written, e-mailed, faxed, or 

telephoned comments should be 

communicated by October 23, 2008 (see 

ADDRESSES). 

In addition, DOE will conduct a 

public scoping meeting at the Kemper 

County High School, 429 Philadelphia 

Road, DeKalb, Mississippi, at 7 PM on 

October 14, 2008. The public is also 

invited to learn more about the 

proposed project at an informal session 

at this location beginning at 5 PM. DOE 

requests that anyone who wishes to 

speak at this public scoping meeting 

contact Mr. Richard A. Hargis, either by 

phone, fax, computer, or in writing (see 

ADDRESSES). 

Individuals who do not make advance 

arrangements to speak may register at 

the meeting and will be given the 

opportunity to speak following 

previously scheduled speakers. 

Speakers who need more than five 

minutes should indicate the length of 

time desired in their request. Depending 

on the number of speakers, DOE may 

need to limit speakers to five-minute 

presentations initially, but will provide 

additional opportunities as time 

permits. Speakers can also provide 

written material to supplement their 

presentations. Oral and written 

comments will be given equal weight. 

DOE will begin the formal meeting 

with an overview of the proposed 

Kemper County IGCC Project. DOE will 

designate a presiding officer to chair the 

meeting. The meeting will not be 

conducted as an evidentiary hearing, 

and speakers will not be crossexamined. However, speakers may be 

asked questions to ensure that DOE fully 

understands their comments or 

suggestions. The presiding officer will 

establish the order of speakers and 

provide any additional procedures 

necessary to conduct the meeting. 

Issued in Washington, DC, this 17th day of 

September 2008. 

James A. Slutz, 

Assistant Secretary (Acting), Office of Fossil 

Energy. 

[FR Doc. E8–22100 Filed 9–19–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Notice of Interim Approval 

AGENCY: Southeastern Power 

Administration, DOE. 

ACTION: Notice of Interim Approval for 

Southeastern Power Administration 

Cumberland System. 

SUMMARY: The Deputy Secretary of 

Energy confirmed and approved, on an 

interim basis, Rate Schedules CBR–1–G, 

CSI–1–G, CEK–1–G, CM–1–G, CC–1–H, 

CK–1–G, CTV–1–G, and Replacement-3. 

The rates were approved on an interim 

basis through September 30, 2013. The 

new rates take effect on October 1, 2008, 

and are subject to confirmation and 

approval on a final basis by the Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission 

(‘‘FERC’’). 

DATES: Approval of the rate schedules 

on an interim basis is effective October 

1, 2008, through September 30, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Leon Jourolmon, Assistant 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES