[Federal Register: October 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 202)]
[Notices]
[Page 61635]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20oc04-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Brazos Electric
Power Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold a Public Scoping
Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare
an environmental impact statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs,
intends to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an environmental
impact statement in connection with potential impacts related to a
project being proposed by Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Inc.,
(WFEC), of Anadarko, Oklahoma, and Brazos Electric Power Cooperative,
Inc., (Brazos) of Waco, Texas. The proposal consists of the
construction and operation of a 750 megawatt coal-fired electric
generation facility at the existing Hugo Generating Station near Hugo,
Oklahoma.
DATES: RUS will conduct a public scoping meeting in an open-house
format on November 1, 2004, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Kiamichi
Technical Center, 107 South 15th Street, Hugo, Oklahoma.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Rankin, Environmental
Protection Specialist, RUS, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571,
telephone: (202) 720-1953 or e-mail: dennis.rankin@usda.gov, or Gerald
Butcher, Senior Environmental Specialist, Western Farmers Electric
Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 429, Anadarko, OK 73005-0429, telephone:
(405) 559-4341, or email: g_butcher@wfec.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WFEC and Brazos propose to construct and
operate a 750 MW coal-fired electric generation facility at the
existing Hugo Generating Station near Hugo, Oklahoma. Construction of
the project will require the construction of new electric transmission
lines. Studies are currently underway to determine potential connection
points and transmission line corridors. As soon as the connection
points and transmission line corridors are identified RUS will hold
additional public meetings. The schedule developed by WFEC and Brazos
would place the facility in commercial operation by 2010. Alternatives
to be considered by RUS include no action, purchased power, renewable
energy sources, distributed generation, and alternative transmission
line routes.
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 November 1, 2004 meeting to RUS at the address provided in
this notice.
RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private
organizations, and the public in the preparation of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS will be available
for review and comment for 45 days. A Final EIS will then be prepared
that considers all comments received. The Final EIS will be available
for review and comment for 30 days. Following the 30-day comment
period, RUS will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD). Notices announcing
the availability of the Draft and Final EIS and the ROD will be
published in the Federal Register and in local newspapers. Any final
action by RUS related to the proposed project will be subject to, and
contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal, State. and local
environmental laws and regulations and completion of the environmental
review requirements as prescribed in Title 7 CFR Part 1794,
Environmental Policies and Procedures.
Dated: October 5, 2004.
Glendon D. Deal,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Water and Environmental
Programs.
[FR Doc. 04-23479 Filed 10-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P