80 FR 8848 - Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for an Environmental Assessment
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 33 (February 19, 2015)
Rural Utilities Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 33 (February 19, 2015)
| Page Range | 8848-8848 | |
| FR Document | 2015-03385 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2015)] [Notices] [Page 8848] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-03385] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for an Environmental Assessment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is extending the public comment period for an Environmental Assessment (EA) related to a proposed project by Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric). The Western Area Power Administration (Western) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are cooperating agencies in preparation of the EA. The proposed Big Bend to Witten Transmission Line Project (proposed action) consists of an approximately 70-mile long 230-kV single-circuit transmission line, a new Western switchyard called Lower Brule Switchyard, an addition to the existing Witten Substation, and approximately two miles of 230-kV double-circuit transmission line between Big Bend Dam and the new Lower Brule Switchyard. Communications facilities including a microwave relay tower and associated building will also be constructed at the Lower Brule Switchyard and Witten Substation. A portion of the proposed transmission line crosses Indian trust lands of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, and the agencies have closely cooperated with the Tribe in preparation of the EA. Basin Electric is requesting RUS financial assistance for the proposed action. To ensure that parties interested in the proposed action are provided adequate opportunity for comment, notices are being reissued and the public comment period is being extended for 30 days. DATES: A Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2015. Written comments on this notice must now be received on or before March 30, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the EA or for further information, contact Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720- 5093, or email: [email protected]; or, or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495, or email: [email protected]. A copy of the EA may be viewed on line at the Agency's Web site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UWPBigBendtoWitten_EA_Nov_2014_Final.pdf and at the following locations: Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2240, Washington, DC 20250 Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 1717 East Interstate Ave., Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The network transmission system in South Dakota is not able to accommodate projected load growth in the next several years. This transmission line is proposed to strengthen the transmission network, improve transmission system reliability, and to help meet future demand for electricity and economic development in the region. In addition to increasing load serving ability for both Rosebud and West Central Electric Cooperatives, the Project would provide additional access to the regional high voltage transmission system. The proposed Big Bend to Witten line would enhance system reliability by providing an additional connection to the ``grid'' roughly midpoint along this east-west line. If a portion of the Fort Randall to Martin 115-kV line would be damaged by a storm, the Big Bend to Witten line could provide power to the undamaged segments of the line. The proposed line also would provide a tap point for West Central near Reliance, which would enhance the reliability and stability of the West Central system. The tap point near Reliance would provide an additional power line to the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation, which currently has only one older line, and would provide reliability and stability to power on the Reservation. In addition, future wind generation facilities may be able to interconnect to the proposed line to convey power to West Central's markets. Lastly, the Project lends itself to additional build-out in support of Western's long-range plan for a 230- kV system in southern South Dakota, and it would provide an increase in the load serving capacity such that the delivery needs of the projected network load can be met in a reliable manner. Basin Electric is seeking financing from RUS for its ownership of the proposed project. Before making a decision to provide financing, RUS is required to conduct an environmental review under NEPA in accordance with RUS's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). AECOM, an environmental consultant, prepared an EA for RUS that describes the project and assesses the proposed project's environmental impacts. RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of the EA and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of the construction of the project. Any final action by RUS related to the proposed action 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 prescribed in RUS's Environmental Policies and Procedures at 7 CFR part 1794. Richard Fristik, Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2015-03385 Filed 2-18-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
![8848 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 2015 / Notices
collection of information are those Dam and the new Lower Brule line. If a portion of the Fort Randall to
materials necessary to allow the agency Switchyard. Communications facilities Martin 115–kV line would be damaged
to determine applicant and community including a microwave relay tower and by a storm, the Big Bend to Witten line
eligibility and an explanation and associated building will also be could provide power to the undamaged
documentation of the high need for the constructed at the Lower Brule segments of the line. The proposed line
benefits of the SUTA provisions. Switchyard and Witten Substation. A also would provide a tap point for West
Program specific application materials, portion of the proposed transmission Central near Reliance, which would
which funds are being applied for, are line crosses Indian trust lands of the enhance the reliability and stability of
covered by the information collection Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, and the the West Central system. The tap point
package for the specific RUS program. agencies have closely cooperated with near Reliance would provide an
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting the Tribe in preparation of the EA. Basin additional power line to the Lower
burden for this collection of information Electric is requesting RUS financial Brule Sioux Indian Reservation, which
is estimated to average 2 hours per assistance for the proposed action. To
currently has only one older line, and
response. ensure that parties interested in the
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2. would provide reliability and stability
proposed action are provided adequate
Estimated Number of Responses per opportunity for comment, notices are to power on the Reservation. In
Respondent: 1. being reissued and the public comment addition, future wind generation
Estimated Total Annual Burden on period is being extended for 30 days. facilities may be able to interconnect to
Respondents: 4. DATES: A Notice of Availability of the
the proposed line to convey power to
Copies of this information collection Environmental Assessment was West Central’s markets. Lastly, the
can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, published in the Federal Register on Project lends itself to additional build-
Program Development and Regulatory January 28, 2015. Written comments on out in support of Western’s long-range
Analysis, at (202) 720–7853, FAX: (202) this notice must now be received on or plan for a 230-kV system in southern
720–8435. Email: MaryPat.Daskal@ before March 30, 2015. South Dakota, and it would provide an
wdc.usda.gov. increase in the load serving capacity
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
All responses to this notice will be such that the delivery needs of the
summarized and included in the request obtain copies of the EA or for further
information, contact Richard Fristik, projected network load can be met in a
for OMB approval. All comments will reliable manner.
also become a matter of public record. Senior Environmental Protection
Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Basin Electric is seeking financing
Dated: February 10, 2015. Service, 1400 Independence Avenue from RUS for its ownership of the
Jasper Schneider, SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250– proposed project. Before making a
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 1571, telephone: (202) 720–5093, or decision to provide financing, RUS is
[FR Doc. 2015–03349 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] email: richard.fristik@wdc.usda.gov; or, required to conduct an environmental
BILLING CODE P or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power review under NEPA in accordance with
Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate RUS’s Environmental Policies and
Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503–0564, Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). AECOM,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE telephone: (701) 355–5495, or email:
an environmental consultant, prepared
ksolie@bepc.com. A copy of the EA may
Rural Utilities Service an EA for RUS that describes the project
be viewed on line at the Agency’s Web
and assesses the proposed project’s
site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/
Basin Electric Power Cooperative: UWPBigBendtoWitten_EA_Nov_2014 environmental impacts. RUS has
Notice of Extension of Public _Final.pdf and at the following conducted an independent evaluation of
Comment Period for an Environmental locations: the EA and believes that it accurately
Assessment Rural Utilities Service, 1400 assesses the impacts of the proposed
AGENCY:Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Independence Avenue SW., Room project. No significant impacts are
2240, Washington, DC 20250 expected as a result of the construction
ACTION:Notice of Extension of Public
Basin Electric Power Cooperative, of the project.
Comment Period for an Environmental
Assessment. 1717 East Interstate Ave., Bismarck, Any final action by RUS related to the
ND 58503–0564 proposed action will be subject to, and
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The contingent upon, compliance with all
(RUS) is extending the public comment network transmission system in South relevant Federal, State, and local
period for an Environmental Dakota is not able to accommodate environmental laws and regulations and
Assessment (EA) related to a proposed projected load growth in the next completion of the environmental review
project by Basin Electric Power several years. This transmission line is requirements as prescribed in RUS’s
Cooperative (Basin Electric). The proposed to strengthen the transmission
Environmental Policies and Procedures
Western Area Power Administration network, improve transmission system
at 7 CFR part 1794.
(Western) and the Bureau of Indian reliability, and to help meet future
Affairs (BIA) are cooperating agencies in demand for electricity and economic Richard Fristik,
preparation of the EA. The proposed Big development in the region. In addition Acting Director, Engineering and
Bend to Witten Transmission Line to increasing load serving ability for Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Project (proposed action) consists of an both Rosebud and West Central Electric [FR Doc. 2015–03385 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am]
approximately 70-mile long 230–kV Cooperatives, the Project would provide
BILLING CODE P
single-circuit transmission line, a new additional access to the regional high
Western switchyard called Lower Brule voltage transmission system. The
Switchyard, an addition to the existing proposed Big Bend to Witten line would
Witten Substation, and approximately enhance system reliability by providing
two miles of 230–kV double-circuit an additional connection to the ‘‘grid’’
transmission line between Big Bend roughly midpoint along this east-west
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Feb 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\19FEN1.SGM 19FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_8881/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-16 11:12:15
Document Modified: 2018-02-16 11:12:15
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for an Environmental Assessment. | |
| Dates | A Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2015. Written comments on this notice must now be received on or before March 30, 2015. | |
| Contact | To obtain copies of the EA or for further information, contact Richard Fristik, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720- 5093, or email: [email protected]; or, or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495, or email: [email protected] A copy of the EA may be viewed on line at the Agency's Web site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/ UWPBigBendtoWitten_EA_Nov_2014_Final.pdf and at the following locations: | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 8848 |
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