Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment, 6920-6921 [E8-2101]

Download as PDF 6920 Notices Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 25 Wednesday, February 6, 2008 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of Intent To Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA). AGENCY: ACTION: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Centennial Salvage Timber Sale; Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Fremont and Clark Counties, ID AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Notice of withdrawal of the Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ACTION: SUMMARY: The Forest Supervisor of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest gives notice of the agency’s intent to withdraw the Centennial Salvage Timber Sale Environmental Impact Statement. The project is being withdrawn because the trees proposed for harvest are no longer marketable and the project, as originally proposed, no longer meets resource objectives. The original NOI was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2004 (54627–54628). A revised NOI was published on December 1, 2004 (69883). Effective upon the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, this project is withdrawn. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Cathey Hardin, Forester, Ashton-Island Park Ranger District, P.O. Box 865, Ashton, ID 83420 Telephone: (208) 558– 7301. 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. Dated: January 23, 2008. Lawrence A. Timchak, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 08–514 Filed 2–5–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:21 Feb 05, 2008 Jkt 214001 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. 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 email: richard.fristik@wdc.usda.gov , or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503–0564, telephone: (701) 355–5495 or e-mail: ksolie@bepc.com. DATES: 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 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM 06FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2008 / Notices 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] Officer, FAX number (202) 395–5806 or via the Internet at Jasmeet_K._Seehra@omb.eop.gov. Dated: January 31, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8–2105 Filed 2–5–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P BILLING CODE 3410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economic Development Administration Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [Docket No.: 080125088–8090–01] The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Title: BEES Please. OMB Control Number: 0693–0036. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular submission. Burden Hours: 1,875. Number of Respondents: 30. Average Hours Per Response: 62 hours and 30 minutes. Needs and Uses: The Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) Please is a voluntary program to collect data from product manufacturers to scientifically evaluate their products’ environmental performance using the BEES software. These data include product-specific materials use, energy consumption, waste, and environmental releases. BEES evaluates these data, translates them into decision-enabling results, and delivers them in a visually intuitive graphical format. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Frequency: On occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. OMB Desk Officer: Jasmeet Seehra, (202) 395–3123. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Jasmeet Seehra, OMB Desk VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:21 Feb 05, 2008 Jkt 214001 Program Announcement for the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. As part of this mission, EDA administers the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) Program under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, through a national network of eleven Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (each, a TAAC) to provide technical assistance to firms that have lost domestic sales and employment due to increased imports of similar or competitive goods. This program announcement applies only to the current eleven EDA-funded TAACs, and provides information necessary to clarify the requirements for operating and providing technical assistance to trade-impacted firms as a TAAC under a cooperative agreement with EDA for fiscal years 2008–2010. This notice does not solicit new applications for TAAC operators. A current TAAC that wishes to apply for federal financial assistance for the three-year project period for fiscal years 2008–2010 must submit an application to EDA at least 30 days before the expiration date of the TAAC’s 2005–2007 cooperative agreement. EDA will amend currently active cooperative agreements as necessary to ensure that each TAAC that wishes to apply will have at least 30 days to complete the application requirements set out in this program announcement. EDA’s TAAF Program Officer will hold a teleconference during the week of February 11, 2008 for all current TAACs to address questions about this program DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6921 announcement. The exact date, time, registration requirements, and protocols for the call will be announced to all participants in advance of the teleconference. ADDRESSES: Applications for federal financial assistance may be submitted in either paper format or electronic format, in accordance with the procedures provided in this program announcement. The content of the application is the same for both paper and electronic submissions. EDA will not accept facsimile transmissions of applications. The eleven TAACs may obtain paper application packages by contacting the designated point of contact listed below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or by downloading the required forms from EDA’s Web site at www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/ Preapp.xml. Paper Submissions: A complete, signed original application may be sent via postal mail, shipped overnight or hand-delivered to EDA headquarters at the following address: William P. Kittredge, Ph.D., Program Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 7009, Washington, DC 20230. Electronic Submissions: A complete, electronically signed original application may be e-mailed to taac@eda.doc.gov with the subject line ‘‘[Insert full name of TAAC] FY 2008 application.’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or for a paper copy of the application package, please contact William P. Kittredge, Ph.D., Program Officer, at taac@eda.doc.gov or at 202–482–4122. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Program Information: EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. One of EDA’s economic development tools is the TAAF Program under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341—2355, 2391) (Trade Act). The goal of the TAAF Program is to identify firms that have been negatively impacted by import competition and assist these firms to become competitive in the global economy, thereby creating or retaining domestic jobs. Each TAAC is staffed by trade adjustment assistance professionals that help U.S. production and manufacturing firms apply for certification under the Trade Act. The TAAC assists the firm in completing and submitting to EDA a E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM 06FEN1

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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 Printing 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).

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

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: 
richard.fristik@wdc.usda.gov , or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power 
Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-
0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495 or e-mail: ksolie@bepc.com.

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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