Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse Transmission Line Project, 2268-2269 [2012-705]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 17, 2012 / Notices
competitive award programs in
accordance with section 103(a) of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C.
7613(a). Reviews are undertaken to
ensure that projects supported by NIFA
are of high quality, and are consistent
with the goals and requirements of the
funding program.
Proposals submitted to NIFA undergo
a programmatic evaluation to determine
worthiness of Federal support. The
evaluations consist of a peer panel
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electronically submitted (ad-hoc)
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information collected from the
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the proposal evaluation to determine
whether a proposal should be declined
or recommended for award. When NIFA
has rendered a decision, copies of
reviews, excluding the names of the
reviewers, and summaries of review
panel deliberations, if any, are provided
to the submitting Project Director.
Given the highly technical nature of
many of these proposals, the quality of
the peer review greatly depends on the
appropriate matching of the subject
matter of the proposal with the
technical expertise of the potential
reviewer. In order to obtain this
information, an electronic questionnaire
is used to collect information about
potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If
the reviewer is already in our database,
the questionnaire asks potential
reviewers to update their basic
biographical information including
address, contact information,
professional expertise, and their
availability to review for NIFA in the
future. If the reviewer is new they are
prompted to complete the
questionnaire. This information has
been invaluable in the NIFA review
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the grantee and grantor community for
its quality.
The applications and associated
materials made available to reviewers,
as well as the discussions that take
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While each panelist certifies at the time
of preparing a review they do not have
a conflict-of-interest with a particular
application and will maintain its
confidentiality in the Peer Review
System, a certification of their intent at
the time of the panel review
proceedings is collected to emphasize
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16:12 Jan 13, 2012
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and reinforce confidentiality not only of
applications and reviews but also panel
discussions. On the Conflict-of-Interest
and Confidentiality Certification Form,
the panelist affirms they understand the
conflict-of-interest guidelines and will
not be involved in the review of the
application(s) where a conflict exists.
The panelist also affirms their intent to
maintain the confidentiality of the panel
process and not disclose to another
individual any information related to
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Estimate of Burden: NIFA estimates
that anywhere from one hour to twenty
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proposal. It is estimated that
approximately five hours are required to
review an average proposal. Each
proposal receives an average of four
reviews, accounting for an annual
burden of 20 hours. NIFA estimates it
receives 4,600 competitive applications
each year. The total annual burden on
reviewers is 92,000 hours. NIFA
estimates that the potential reviewer
questionnaire takes an estimated 10
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consists of approximately 50,000
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questionnaire is 8,330 hours. NIFA
estimates that the potential Conflict-ofInterest and Confidentiality Certification
Form takes an estimated 10 minutes to
complete. The agency has
approximately 1,000 panelists each
year. The total annual burden of the
certification form is 167 hours. The total
annual burden of the component of the
entire review process is 100,497 hours.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the Agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
to OMB for approval. All comments will
become a matter of public record.
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Done in Washington, DC this 9th day of
January 2012.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
Economics.
[FR Doc. 2012–629 Filed 1–13–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX
2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse
Transmission Line Project
AGENCY:
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to extend public
comment period for a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement.
ACTION:
Notice is hereby given that
the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is
extending the public comment period
for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to meet its
responsibilities under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
7 CFR 1794 related to providing
financial assistance to Dairyland Power
Cooperative (Dairyland) for its share in
the construction of a proposed 345kilovolt (kV) transmission line and
associated infrastructure between
Hampton, Minnesota and the La Crosse
area in Wisconsin (the proposed
project). Dairyland is participating in
the proposed project with a number of
other utilities (Applicants).
The purpose of the proposed project
is to: (1) Improve community reliability
of the transmission system in Rochester,
Winona, La Crosse, and the surrounding
areas, which include areas served by
Dairyland; (2) improve the regional
reliability of the transmission system;
and (3) increase generation outlet
capacity.
SUMMARY:
Written comments on this Draft
EIS will be accepted 30 days following
the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register. Written comments
should be sent to Stephanie A. Strength,
see the Address portion of this notice.
DATES:
A copy of the Draft EIS may
be viewed online at the following Web
site: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP–
CapX2020–Hampton-RochesterLaCrosse.html and at the following
repositories:
ADDRESSES:
Alma Public Library, 312 North Main
Street Alma, WI 54610, Phone: 608–
685–3823.
Arcadia Public Library, 406 E Main
Street Arcadia, WI 54612, Phone:
608–323–7505.
E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM
17JAN1
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 17, 2012 / Notices
Campbell Library, 2219 Bainbridge
Street La Crosse, WI 54603, Phone:
608–783–0052.
Cannon Falls Library, 306 West Mill
Street Cannon Falls, MN 55009,
Phone: 507–263–2804.
Dairyland Power Cooperative, 500 Old
State Highway 35, Alma, WI 54610,
Phone: 608–685–4497.
Galesville Public Library, 16787 South
Main Street Galesville, WI 54630,
Phone: 608–582–2552.
Holmen Area Library, 103 State Street
Holmen, WI 54636, Phone: 608–526–
4198.
Kenyon Public Library, 709 2nd Street
Kenyon, MN 55946, Phone: 507–789–
6821.
Riverland Energy Cooperative, N28988
State Road 93, Arcadia, WI 54612,
Phone: 608–323–3381.
Rochester Public Library, 101 2nd Street
SE., Rochester, MN 55904, Phone:
507–328–2300.
Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library,
11455 Fremont Street Trempealeau,
WI 54661, Phone: 608–534–6197.
Tri-County Electric, 31110 Cooperative
Way, Rushford, MN 55971, Phone:
507–864–7783.
La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main
Street La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone:
608–789–7100.
Onalaska Public Library, 741 Oak
Avenue South, Onalaska, WI 54650,
Phone: 608–781–9568.
People’s Cooperative Services, 3935
Hwy 14 E, Rochester, MN 55903,
Phone: 507–288–4004.
Plainview Public Library, 345 1st
Avenue Northwest, Plainview, MN
55964, Phone: 507–534–3425.
Van Horn Public Library, 115 SE 3rd
Street Pine Island, MN 55963, Phone:
507–356–8558.
Xcel Energy, 5050 Service Drive
Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 507–457–
1236.
Xcel Energy, 1414 West Hamilton
Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54701, Phone:
715–839–2621.
Zumbrota Public Library, 100 West
Avenue Zumbrota, MN 55992, Phone:
507–732–5211.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
obtain copies of the Draft EIS, to
comment on the Draft EIS, or for further
information, contact: Stephanie
Strength, Environmental Protection
Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571,
Washington, DC 20250–1571, or email
stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) are participating in the EIS as
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16:12 Jan 13, 2012
Jkt 226001
cooperating agencies, with RUS as the
lead Federal agency. The Draft EIS
addresses the construction and
operation of the Proposed project,
which, in addition to the 345-kV
transmission line and associated
infrastructure, includes 161-kV
transmission lines in the vicinity of
Rochester, Minnesota; construction of
two new and expansion of three
substations, with a total transmission
line length of approximately 150 miles.
Counties through which the proposed
project may pass include Dakota,
Goodhue, Wabasha, and Olmsted in
Minnesota, and La Crosse, Trempealeau,
and Buffalo in Wisconsin. The Draft EIS
also addresses rebuilding an existing
Dairyland 39-mile long 161 kV line that
extends from Alma to north La Crosse,
Wisconsin, which may be co-located in
whole or in part with the 345-kV line.
Among the alternatives addressed in
the Draft EIS is the No Action
alternative, under which the proposed
project would not be undertaken.
Additional alternatives addressed in the
Draft EIS include route alternatives also
considered in the EISs prepared for the
Proposed project by the states of
Minnesota and Wisconsin. RUS has
carefully studied public health and
safety, environmental impacts, and
engineering aspects of the Proposed
project.
RUS used input provided by
government agencies, private
organizations, and the public in the
preparation of the Draft EIS. RUS will
prepare a Final EIS that considers all
comments received on the Draft EIS.
Following the 30-day comment period
for the Final EIS, RUS will prepare a
Record of Decision (ROD). Notices
announcing the availability of the Final
EIS and the ROD will be published in
the Federal Register and in local
newspapers.
In accordance with Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act and
its implementing regulation, ‘‘Protection
of Historic Properties’’ (36 CFR part 800)
and as part of its broad environmental
review process, RUS must take into
account the effect of the proposed
project on historic properties. Pursuant
to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), RUS is using its
procedures for public involvement
under NEPA to meet its responsibilities
to solicit and consider the views of the
public during Section 106 review. Any
party wishing to participate more
directly with RUS as a ‘‘consulting
party’’ in Section 106 review may
submit a written request to the RUS
contact provided in this notice.
The proposed project involves
unavoidable impacts to wetlands and
floodplains; this Notice of Availability
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Sfmt 4703
2269
also serves as a statement of no
practicable alternatives to impacts on
wetlands and floodplains, in accordance
with Executive Orders 11990 and 11988,
respectively (see Draft EIS Sections 3.2
and 3.5).
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 promulgated in
RUS’ Environmental Policies and
Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).
Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs,
Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–705 Filed 1–13–12; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 3–2012]
Foreign-Trade Zone 18—San Jose, CA,
Application for Subzone, Tesla Motors,
Inc. (Electric Passenger Vehicles), Palo
Alto and Fremont, CA
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the City of San Jose,
California, grantee of FTZ 18, requesting
special purpose subzone status for the
electric passenger-vehicle
manufacturing facilities of Tesla Motors,
Inc. (Tesla), located in Palo Alto and
Fremont, California. The application
was submitted pursuant to the
provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones
Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u),
and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR
part 400). It was formally filed on
January 10, 2012.
The Tesla facilities (currently
employing over 1,000 workers) consist
of two sites: Site 1 (25.2 acres)—
corporate headquarters, research and
development, and manufacturing plant,
located at 3500 Deer Creek Road, Palo
Alto, California; and, Site 2 (210
acres)—manufacturing plant, located at
45550 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont,
California. The facilities are used to
manufacture electric passenger vehicles
and related components, including
battery packs, powertrain systems, and
electronic modules (up to 200,000 units
of each per year) for commercial sale.
Components and materials sourced from
abroad (representing 16 to 55% of the
value of the finished products) include:
Oils, greases, fluids, refrigerants,
adhesives, sealants, anti-freeze/coolants,
alcohols, plastic tubes/pipes/hoses/
E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM
17JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2268-2269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-705]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Dairyland Power Cooperative: CapX 2020 Hampton-Rochester-La
Crosse Transmission Line Project
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to extend public comment period for a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
is extending the public comment period for the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR 1794 related to providing
financial assistance to Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) for its
share in the construction of a proposed 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission
line and associated infrastructure between Hampton, Minnesota and the
La Crosse area in Wisconsin (the proposed project). Dairyland is
participating in the proposed project with a number of other utilities
(Applicants).
The purpose of the proposed project is to: (1) Improve community
reliability of the transmission system in Rochester, Winona, La Crosse,
and the surrounding areas, which include areas served by Dairyland; (2)
improve the regional reliability of the transmission system; and (3)
increase generation outlet capacity.
DATES: Written comments on this Draft EIS will be accepted 30 days
following the publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
Written comments should be sent to Stephanie A. Strength, see the
Address portion of this notice.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft EIS may be viewed online at the
following Web site: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-CapX2020-Hampton-Rochester-LaCrosse.html and at the following repositories:
Alma Public Library, 312 North Main Street Alma, WI 54610, Phone: 608-
685-3823.
Arcadia Public Library, 406 E Main Street Arcadia, WI 54612, Phone:
608-323-7505.
[[Page 2269]]
Campbell Library, 2219 Bainbridge Street La Crosse, WI 54603, Phone:
608-783-0052.
Cannon Falls Library, 306 West Mill Street Cannon Falls, MN 55009,
Phone: 507-263-2804.
Dairyland Power Cooperative, 500 Old State Highway 35, Alma, WI 54610,
Phone: 608-685-4497.
Galesville Public Library, 16787 South Main Street Galesville, WI
54630, Phone: 608-582-2552.
Holmen Area Library, 103 State Street Holmen, WI 54636, Phone: 608-526-
4198.
Kenyon Public Library, 709 2nd Street Kenyon, MN 55946, Phone: 507-789-
6821.
Riverland Energy Cooperative, N28988 State Road 93, Arcadia, WI 54612,
Phone: 608-323-3381.
Rochester Public Library, 101 2nd Street SE., Rochester, MN 55904,
Phone: 507-328-2300.
Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library, 11455 Fremont Street Trempealeau,
WI 54661, Phone: 608-534-6197.
Tri-County Electric, 31110 Cooperative Way, Rushford, MN 55971, Phone:
507-864-7783.
La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main Street La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone:
608-789-7100.
Onalaska Public Library, 741 Oak Avenue South, Onalaska, WI 54650,
Phone: 608-781-9568.
People's Cooperative Services, 3935 Hwy 14 E, Rochester, MN 55903,
Phone: 507-288-4004.
Plainview Public Library, 345 1st Avenue Northwest, Plainview, MN
55964, Phone: 507-534-3425.
Van Horn Public Library, 115 SE 3rd Street Pine Island, MN 55963,
Phone: 507-356-8558.
Xcel Energy, 5050 Service Drive Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 507-457-1236.
Xcel Energy, 1414 West Hamilton Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54701, Phone:
715-839-2621.
Zumbrota Public Library, 100 West Avenue Zumbrota, MN 55992, Phone:
507-732-5211.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the Draft EIS, to
comment on the Draft EIS, or for further information, contact:
Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural
Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571,
Washington, DC 20250-1571, or email stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are participating in the EIS
as cooperating agencies, with RUS as the lead Federal agency. The Draft
EIS addresses the construction and operation of the Proposed project,
which, in addition to the 345-kV transmission line and associated
infrastructure, includes 161-kV transmission lines in the vicinity of
Rochester, Minnesota; construction of two new and expansion of three
substations, with a total transmission line length of approximately 150
miles. Counties through which the proposed project may pass include
Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, and Olmsted in Minnesota, and La Crosse,
Trempealeau, and Buffalo in Wisconsin. The Draft EIS also addresses
rebuilding an existing Dairyland 39-mile long 161 kV line that extends
from Alma to north La Crosse, Wisconsin, which may be co-located in
whole or in part with the 345-kV line.
Among the alternatives addressed in the Draft EIS is the No Action
alternative, under which the proposed project would not be undertaken.
Additional alternatives addressed in the Draft EIS include route
alternatives also considered in the EISs prepared for the Proposed
project by the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. RUS has carefully
studied public health and safety, environmental impacts, and
engineering aspects of the Proposed project.
RUS used input provided by government agencies, private
organizations, and the public in the preparation of the Draft EIS. RUS
will prepare a Final EIS that considers all comments received on the
Draft EIS. Following the 30-day comment period for the Final EIS, RUS
will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the
availability of the Final EIS and the ROD will be published in the
Federal Register and in local newspapers.
In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of
Historic Properties'' (36 CFR part 800) and as part of its broad
environmental review process, RUS must take into account the effect of
the proposed project on historic properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), RUS is using its procedures for public involvement under
NEPA to meet its responsibilities to solicit and consider the views of
the public during Section 106 review. Any party wishing to participate
more directly with RUS as a ``consulting party'' in Section 106 review
may submit a written request to the RUS contact provided in this
notice.
The proposed project involves unavoidable impacts to wetlands and
floodplains; this Notice of Availability also serves as a statement of
no practicable alternatives to impacts on wetlands and floodplains, in
accordance with Executive Orders 11990 and 11988, respectively (see
Draft EIS Sections 3.2 and 3.5).
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 promulgated in RUS'
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).
Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-705 Filed 1-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P