Rural Utilities Service July 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency that delivers the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or the Agency, intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with possible impacts related to a proposed action by Minnkota Power Cooperative (Minnkota Power), Otter Tail Power Company, and Minnesota Power to construct a 230 kV electric transmission line from Bemidji to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. To minimize duplication of effort pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.2, Rural Development is conducting an environmental review for the proposed action jointly with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security (OES). Rural Development and OES will jointly prepare an environmental review document in compliance with federal responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal statutes and regulations, and state responsibilities under the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act and the Minnesota Power Plant Siting Act.