South Mississippi Electric Cooperative: Plant Ratcliffe, Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) Project, 59166-59167 [2012-23603]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 59166 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Notices System lands. Within the Angeles National Forest it is estimated that approximately 649 marker balls on 119 spans and 4 structures with aviation lights would impact Segments 6 and 11 to implement the FAA’s recommendations. Two of the 4 structures recommended for aviation lights are on private lands within the Angeles National Forest, and are not subject to Forest Service jurisdiction or control. The Forest Service is providing notice of this analysis so that interested and affected individuals are aware of how they may participate and contribute towards the final decision on the TRTP by the Forest Service. Note: Segment 8A undergrounding options are not the subject of this Notice of Intent. DATES: The Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR is expected to be published in January 2013. A 45-day comment period will occur following publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: To request a copy of the Draft Supplemental EIS/SEIR or Final Supplemental EIS/EIR when it is available, or to obtain further information about the project, please write to the Angeles National Forest, c/o Aspen Environmental Group, 5020 Chesebro Road, Suite 200, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. Alternately, electronic comments may be sent to trtpsuppeireis@aspeneg.com. Electronic comments must be submitted as part of the actual email message, or as an attachment in plain text (.txt), Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text format(.rtf), or portable document format (.pdf). Information about the Supplemental EIS/EIR and the environmental review process will be posted on the Internet at: https:// www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/projects/. This site will be used to post links to all public documents during the Supplemental EIS/EIR process. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Gerchas, Special Uses Coordinator, Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, 701 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006, phone: (626) 574–5281. For additional information related to the project on non-National Forest System lands, contact Mary Jo Borak, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: (415) 703–1333. All projectrelated documents are available on the Project Web site: ftp://ftp.cpuc.ca.gov/ gopher-data/environ/ tehachapi_renewables/TRTP.htm. Responsible Official: The responsible official is Thomas Contreras, Forest Supervisor, Angeles National Forest, VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:27 Sep 25, 2012 Jkt 226001 701 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, California 91006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Lead Agencies: The Forest Service is the Federal Lead Agency in accordance with 40 CFR 1501(b), and is responsible for the preparation of the Supplemental Draft EIS/EIR and Supplemental Final EIS/EIR. Comments: Under NEPA regulations scoping is not required for supplements. As such, no NEPA scoping effort will occur as part of the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR preparation process. No public scoping meetings will be held. The Forest Service is not accepting public comment at this time, but the agency may be contacted with any questions, or requests for documents. The Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR will be made available for public comment. The comment period on the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR is 45-days from the date the US Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. In the Final Supplemental EIS/EIR the Forest Service is required to respond to substantive comments received during the comment period for the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR. The Forest Service is the NEPA Lead Agency and the responsible official is the Forest Supervisor, Angeles National Forest. The responsible official will decide whether and how to issue Special Use authorization for the modifications to the project or alternatives. The responsible official will also decide how to mitigate impacts of these actions and will determine when and how monitoring of effects will take place. The TRTP Supplemental EIS/EIR decision and the reasons for the decision will be documented in the ROD. That decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations (35 CFR part 215). Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 22. Dated: September 18, 2012. Thomas A. Contreras, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2012–23471 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service South Mississippi Electric Cooperative: Plant Ratcliffe, Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) Project AGENCY: PO 00000 Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision. ACTION: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the adoption of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed participation of South Mississippi Electric Power Association (SMEPA) in Plant Ratcliffe, an Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle Facility located in Kemper County, Mississippi (the Project). The Acting Administrator of RUS has signed the ROD, which is effective on the publication of this notice. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The purpose of the EIS was to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the Project so that the DOE could assess potential cost-shared financing under the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) and issuance of a loan guarantee under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05), and the USACE could consider potential issuance of permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The DOE/USACE Final EIS was issued in May 2010, and DOE issued their Record of Decision (ROD) in August 2010. RUS is considering providing a $480 million loan guarantee to SMEPA that would provide for the acquisition of a 15% undivided ownership interest in the Project. RUS adopted the Final EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500–1508) and RUS’s Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794). RUS determined that the actions covered by the DOE/USACE Final EIS and RUS’s proposed action were substantially the same, given that no new infrastructure would be required for SMEPA’s participation (40 CFR 1506.3(b)). RUS conducted an independent evaluation of the DOE/ USACE Final EIS, the associated Mitigation Action Plan (MAP) and Record of Decision (ROD), determined the documentation met the standards of an adequate statement (40 CFR 1506.3(a)), and adopted the documentation (Subpart H, 7 CFR Part 1794). ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the ROD, or for further information, please contact Ms. Emily Orler, Environmental Protection Specialist, at USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26SEN1.SGM 26SEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Notices Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Washington DC 20250–1571, (202) 720–1414, or emily.orler@wdc.usda.gov. The ROD is available on the RUS Web site, https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SMEPA has requested financing from RUS to acquire a 15% undivided ownership interest in the Project. The Project was developed under DOE’s Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) by Mississippi Power Company (MPCo), and will demonstrate the feasibility of the Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) technology for commercial operation. The Project has an expected net generation capacity of 573 MW, and has been designed to capture approximately 67% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that enters the facility as fuel. MPCo, a private utility that provides approximately a third of SMEPA’s load through a power purchase agreement (PPA) at cost-based wholesale rates, approached SMEPA in 2009 with the opportunity to participate in the Project. Due to the existing PPA with MPCo, SMEPA rates will be affected regardless of their participation in the Project. Participation in the Project will allow SMEPA to meet projected future power demand and will provide potential cost savings through the wholesale rate reductions. RUS circulated a Notice of Adoption and the Executive Summary of the DOE/ USACE Final EIS, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.19, and made the document available on the RUS Web site (https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm). RUS published a Notice of Adoption in the Federal Register on June 20, 2012 (77 FR 36996), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged its receipt of the DOE/ USACE Final EIS and RUS’s intent to adopt the document in the Federal Register on June 29, 2012 (77 FR 38801), which began the 30-day public review period. The comment period concluded on July 31, 2012; RUS received three (3) comments, which are responded to in the ROD. In accordance with NEPA, the CEQ regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA, and RUS’s Environmental Policies and Procedures, RUS has determined that the environmental impacts of the Project have been adequately addressed. While acknowledging that SMEPA lacks sufficient control and responsibility over the Project, RUS determined that financing SMEPA’s participation in the Project would be subject to NEPA and conducted an independent evaluation of the DOE/USACE Final EIS and associated documents. RUS also VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:27 Sep 25, 2012 Jkt 226001 reviewed the engineering studies submitted by SMEPA that further assessed the purpose and need and alternatives of SMEPA’s involvement in the Project. RUS has determined that its independent evaluation and adoption of the DOE/USACE FEIS fulfills its obligations under the above cited statute and regulations for its action related to the Project. Final loan approval for the Project is dependent on the conclusion of the financial and engineering reviews. Additional detail regarding RUS’s regulatory authority, the rationale for the decision, and compliance with applicable regulation are included in the ROD. Approval This Record of Decision is effective on signature. Dated: September 19, 2012. John Charles Padalino, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2012–23603 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request 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: U.S. Census Bureau. Title: Current Population Survey. OMB Control Number: 0607–0049. Form Number(s): CPS–263, CPS– 263(SP), CPS–264, CPS–264(SP), CPS– 266, BC–1428, BC–1428(SP), BC–1433, BC–1433(SP), CPS–692, CPS–504. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Burden Hours: 19,347. Number of Respondents: 59,000. Average Hours per Response: The demographic items within the monthly CPS interview (including school enrollment) take about 1.6 minutes. Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to increase the universe for three of the questions within the Current Population Survey (CPS). The monthly school enrollment question in the Current Population Survey has long been collected for people from age 16 up to the age of 24, but changes in the population dictate a need to increase the universe up to the age of 54. Raising the age of respondents to which the PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 59167 monthly enrollment question is provided will substantially increase the data resources with which analysts and researchers identify the effects of federal education and training policies on key, policy-relevant populations. This change is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The primary purpose of collecting the school enrollment data from the CPS is to relate demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, education, occupation, and income) to school enrollment behavior. Federal, state, and local governments; college institutions; research groups; and other private organizations use the school enrollment data collected. Increasing the universe will provide data on how federal investments in education and training are affecting those over 24. Additionally, monthly data allows us to measure adult enrollment in education that does not necessarily coincide with typical enrollments in the Fall for younger adults. Further, it allows better measurement of how enrollment responds both to changes in the business cycle and government policy— federal student aid training programs— that is not possible with any other federal data source. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Frequency: Monthly. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182. OMB Desk Officer: Brian HarrisKojetin, (202) 395–7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202–395– 7245) or email (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov). Dated: September 21, 2012. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2012–23663 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–07–P E:\FR\FM\26SEN1.SGM 26SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59166-59167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23603]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


South Mississippi Electric Cooperative: Plant Ratcliffe, Kemper 
County Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) Project

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has issued a Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the adoption of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the proposed participation of South Mississippi 
Electric Power Association (SMEPA) in Plant Ratcliffe, an Integrated 
Gasification Combined-Cycle Facility located in Kemper County, 
Mississippi (the Project). The Acting Administrator of RUS has signed 
the ROD, which is effective on the publication of this notice. The U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Project in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE). The purpose of the EIS was to evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts of the Project so that the DOE could assess 
potential cost-shared financing under the Clean Coal Power Initiative 
(CCPI) and issuance of a loan guarantee under the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (EPAct05), and the USACE could consider potential issuance of 
permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
    The DOE/USACE Final EIS was issued in May 2010, and DOE issued 
their Record of Decision (ROD) in August 2010. RUS is considering 
providing a $480 million loan guarantee to SMEPA that would provide for 
the acquisition of a 15% undivided ownership interest in the Project. 
RUS adopted the Final EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and in accordance with the 
Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and RUS's 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794). RUS determined 
that the actions covered by the DOE/USACE Final EIS and RUS's proposed 
action were substantially the same, given that no new infrastructure 
would be required for SMEPA's participation (40 CFR 1506.3(b)). RUS 
conducted an independent evaluation of the DOE/USACE Final EIS, the 
associated Mitigation Action Plan (MAP) and Record of Decision (ROD), 
determined the documentation met the standards of an adequate statement 
(40 CFR 1506.3(a)), and adopted the documentation (Subpart H, 7 CFR 
Part 1794).

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the ROD, or for further information, 
please contact Ms. Emily Orler, Environmental Protection Specialist, at 
USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence

[[Page 59167]]

Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Washington DC 20250-1571, (202) 720-1414, or 
emily.orler@wdc.usda.gov. The ROD is available on the RUS Web site, 
https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SMEPA has requested financing from RUS to 
acquire a 15% undivided ownership interest in the Project. The Project 
was developed under DOE's Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) by 
Mississippi Power Company (MPCo), and will demonstrate the feasibility 
of the Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) technology for 
commercial operation. The Project has an expected net generation 
capacity of 573 MW, and has been designed to capture approximately 67% 
of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that enters the facility as 
fuel. MPCo, a private utility that provides approximately a third of 
SMEPA's load through a power purchase agreement (PPA) at cost-based 
wholesale rates, approached SMEPA in 2009 with the opportunity to 
participate in the Project. Due to the existing PPA with MPCo, SMEPA 
rates will be affected regardless of their participation in the 
Project. Participation in the Project will allow SMEPA to meet 
projected future power demand and will provide potential cost savings 
through the wholesale rate reductions.
    RUS circulated a Notice of Adoption and the Executive Summary of 
the DOE/USACE Final EIS, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.19, and made 
the document available on the RUS Web site (https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-eis4.htm). RUS published a Notice of Adoption in the Federal 
Register on June 20, 2012 (77 FR 36996), and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency acknowledged its receipt of the DOE/USACE Final EIS 
and RUS's intent to adopt the document in the Federal Register on June 
29, 2012 (77 FR 38801), which began the 30-day public review period. 
The comment period concluded on July 31, 2012; RUS received three (3) 
comments, which are responded to in the ROD.
    In accordance with NEPA, the CEQ regulations for implementing the 
procedural provisions of NEPA, and RUS's Environmental Policies and 
Procedures, RUS has determined that the environmental impacts of the 
Project have been adequately addressed. While acknowledging that SMEPA 
lacks sufficient control and responsibility over the Project, RUS 
determined that financing SMEPA's participation in the Project would be 
subject to NEPA and conducted an independent evaluation of the DOE/
USACE Final EIS and associated documents. RUS also reviewed the 
engineering studies submitted by SMEPA that further assessed the 
purpose and need and alternatives of SMEPA's involvement in the 
Project. RUS has determined that its independent evaluation and 
adoption of the DOE/USACE FEIS fulfills its obligations under the above 
cited statute and regulations for its action related to the Project. 
Final loan approval for the Project is dependent on the conclusion of 
the financial and engineering reviews. Additional detail regarding 
RUS's regulatory authority, the rationale for the decision, and 
compliance with applicable regulation are included in the ROD.

Approval

    This Record of Decision is effective on signature.

    Dated: September 19, 2012.
John Charles Padalino,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23603 Filed 9-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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