Western Area Power Administration February 6, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the interconnection of the proposed Deer Creek Station Energy Facility (Project) in South Dakota, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR 1021), and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508). Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) has requested to interconnect the proposed Project to Western's power transmission system. The EIS will address Western's Federal action of whether to allow interconnection at its White Substation, and to make any necessary modifications to Western facilities to accommodate the interconnection. The EIS will also review the potential environmental impacts of constructing, operating, and maintaining Basin Electric's proposed Project, which includes a 300 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle natural gas generation facility and associated electric, natural gas, and water lines that would be constructed east of White in Brookings and Deuel counties, South Dakota. Portions of Basin Electric's proposed Project may affect floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice of Intent also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action, in accordance with 10 CFR 1022.12 (a). Western will hold a public scoping meeting near the Project area to share information and receive comments and suggestions on the scope of the EIS.