The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mesaba Energy Project (DOE/EIS–0382D) for public comment, as well as the dates, locations and times for public hearings.

1. Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 216 / Thursday, November 8, 2007 / Notices 63169
ACTION:Notice of Closed Teleconference Education, Room 5C140, 400 Maryland preceding each meeting on the dates
Meeting. Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. above. See the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for details on the
Kerri L. Briggs,
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the meeting process.
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
schedule and proposed agenda of an Secondary Education. ADDRESSES: Requests for information
upcoming teleconference meeting of the about this draft EIS, or to receive a copy
[FR Doc. 07–5591 Filed 11–7–07; 8:45 am]
National Advisory Council on Indian of the draft EIS, should be directed to:
BILLING CODE 4000–01–M
Education (the Council) and is intended Mr. Richard A. Hargis, Jr., NEPA
to notify the general public of the Document Manager, M/S 922–178C,
meeting. This notice also describes the U.S. Department of Energy, National
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box
functions of the Council. Notice of the
Council’s meetings is required under 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236–0940.
Notice of Availability of the Draft
section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Requests may also be submitted by
Environmental Impact Statement for
Committee Act and by the Council’s telephone: 412–386–6065; toll free
the Mesaba Energy Project
number: 888–322–7436 ext. 6065; fax:
charter.
AGENCY: Department of Energy. 412–386–4604; or electronic mail:
Agenda: The purpose of the meeting ACTION: Notice of Availability and richard.hargis@netl.doe.gov.
will be for the Council to conduct a public hearings. The draft EIS will be available at:
review of the applications for the vacant http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/. Copies of
position of Director of the Office of SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the draft EIS are also available for
Indian Education and to make their Energy (DOE) announces the availability review at the locations listed in the
recommendation to the Department. of the Draft Environmental Impact SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
This notice is appearing in the Federal Statement for the Mesaba Energy Project this Notice. Written comments on the
Register less than 15 days before the (DOE/EIS–0382D) for public comment, draft EIS can be submitted by mail, fax,
date of the meeting due to scheduling as well as the dates, locations and times or electronic mail to Mr. Richard A.
difficulties within the agency and with for public hearings. The draft Hargis, Jr., as indicated above. Oral
the Council. environmental impact statement (EIS) comments on the draft EIS will be
analyzes the potential environmental accepted only during the public
Date and Time: Nov. 15, 2007; 1 p.m.
consequences of DOE’s proposed action hearings scheduled for the dates and
to 3 p.m. EST.
to provide a total of $36 million in co- locations provided in the DATES section
Location: The Department of funding, through a financial assistance of this Notice.
Education will provide a 1–800–call in cooperative agreement, for the design FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: For
number for all NACIE members. and one-year operational demonstration further information regarding the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
of a coal-based, Integrated Gasification proposed project or the draft EIS, please
Combined Cycle (IGCC) electric contact Mr. Richard A. Hargis, Jr., (see
Lana Shaughnessy, Group Leader, Office
generating facility on the Iron Range of ADDRESSES). For general information on
of Indian Education, U.S. Department of
northern Minnesota. DOE may also the DOE NEPA process, please contact:
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
provide a loan guarantee pursuant to the Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:
Energy Policy Act of 2005 to guarantee of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC–
202–205–2528. Fax: 202–260–7779. a portion of private sector financing for 20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The the project; however, this loan guarantee Independence Avenue, SW.,
Council advises the Secretary of is not part of DOE’s proposed action. Washington, DC 20585–0103;
Education on the funding and The facility would be demonstrated Telephone: 202–586–4600, or leave a
administration (including the through a cooperative agreement toll-free message at: 800–472–2756.
development of regulations, and between DOE and Excelsior Energy Inc. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
administrative policies and practices) of (Excelsior) under the Clean Coal Power
any program over which the Secretary Initiative (CCPI) program. Description of Alternatives and Scope
DATES: DOE invites the public to of the EIS
has jurisdiction and includes Indian
children or adults as participants or comment on the draft EIS during the DOE’s Proposed Action is to provide
programs that may benefit Indian public comment period, which ends a total of $36 million in co-funding,
children or adults, including any January 11, 2008. DOE will consider all through a cooperative agreement with
program established under Title VII, comments postmarked or received Excelsior under the CCPI Program, for
Part A of the ESEA. The Council during the public comment period in the design and one-year operational
submitted to the Congress June 30 a preparing the Final EIS and will demonstration testing period for Phase I
report on the activities of the Council consider late comments to the extent of the proposed two-phased Mesaba
that included recommendations the practicable. Energy Project. The first phase would be
Council considers appropriate for the DOE will conduct two public hearings a nominal 606 megawatt electricity
improvement of Federal education to obtain comments on the draft EIS. (MWe) IGCC power plant with an
The meetings will be held at the estimated cost of $2.16 billion. Phase II,
programs that include Indian children
Taconite Community Center, 26 Haynes which would be an identical, co-located
or adults as participants or that may
Street, Taconite, Minnesota, on 606 MWe plant, would be privately
benefit Indian children or adults, and
Tuesday, November 27, 2007, beginning financed and not involve co-funding by
recommendations concerning the at 7 p.m., and at Hoyt Lakes Arena, 106 DOE. The project would demonstrate
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
funding of any such program. Kennedy Memorial Drive, Hoyt Lakes, the commercial-readiness of the
Records are kept of all Council Minnesota, on Wednesday, November Conoco-Phillips E-Gas TM gasification
proceedings and are available for public 28, 2007, beginning at 7 p.m. An technology, including advanced
inspection at the Office of Indian informational session will be held at gasification and air separation systems,
Education, United States Department of each location from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. feedstock flexibility, improved
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2. 63170 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 216 / Thursday, November 8, 2007 / Notices
environmental performance, and of 2005, DOE may also provide a loan impacts identified during the scoping
improved thermal efficiency. Although guarantee for a portion of the private- process and analyzed in the draft EIS
DOE’s proposed action would be sector financing for the Project; relate to the following: aesthetics; air
applicable to Phase I only, the draft EIS however, this loan guarantee is not part quality and climate; geology and soils;
considers the combined impacts of both of DOE’s proposed action. groundwater and surface water
phases as connected actions. The Minnesota Power Plant Siting Act resources; floodplains and wetlands;
DOE prepared this draft EIS in is intended to ensure that power plants biological resources; cultural resources;
accordance with the National and high voltage transmission lines are land use; socioeconomics;
Environmental Policy Act, of 1969 routed in an orderly manner compatible environmental justice; utility systems;
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the with environmental preservation and community services; transportation and
Council on Environmental Quality the efficient use of resources. The traffic; materials and waste
regulations that implement the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission management; human health and safety;
procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR oversees permitting in accordance with and noise.
parts 1500–1508), and the DOE the Act. State rules established for the
procedures implementing NEPA (10 Act require the applicant for a site Availability of the Draft EIS
CFR part 1021). Because the proposed permit to identify at least two sites for Copies of the draft EIS have been
facility is considered a Large Electric the power plant—a preferred site and an distributed to Members of Congress;
Power Generating Plant, the Project is alternative site. Excelsior identified the Federal, Native American tribal
subject to the Minnesota Power Plant West Range site (Taconite, Itasca government, state, and local officials;
Siting Act, which requires the County, Minnesota) as its preferred site and agencies, organizations and
preparation of a state-equivalent EIS. and the East Range site (Hoyt Lakes, St. individuals who may be interested or
The EIS requirements under NEPA and Louis County, Minnesota) as its affected. The draft EIS will be available
the Act are substantially similar, and alternative site. Although DOE has not on the Internet at: http://
DOE has prepared this draft EIS in participated in the identification or www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/. Copies of the
cooperation with the Minnesota selection of sites, the potential draft EIS are available for public review
Department of Commerce to fulfill the environmental impacts of locating the at the Bovey Public Library, 402 2nd
requirements of both laws. Federal project at either site are evaluated in the Street, Bovey, Minnesota; City of
cooperating agencies for the EIS include draft EIS. The final decision on which Taconite Community Center, 28 Haynes
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. site would be permitted, if any, will be Street, Taconite, Minnesota; Grand
Paul District, and the U.S. Department made by the Minnesota Public Utilities
Rapids Public Library, 140 NE., 2nd
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Superior Commission in accordance with the
Street Grand Rapids, Minnesota; the
National Forest, Laurentian District. Minnesota Power Plant Siting Act.
For the No Action Alternative, DOE Hibbing Public Library, 2020 East 5th
Because the proposed Project may affect
would not provide cost-shared funding Avenue, Hibbing, Minnesota; and the
floodplains and wetlands in northern
for the Project beyond that required to Hoyt Lakes Public Library, 206 Kennedy
Minnesota, the draft EIS includes a
complete the NEPA process. In this Memorial Drive, Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota.
floodplain and wetlands assessment in
case, the remaining funding withheld Additional copies also can be requested
accordance with DOE regulations for
from the Project may be made available (see ADDRESSES).
Compliance with Floodplain and
Wetlands Environmental Review for other current or future CCPI projects. Public Meetings
Requirements (10 CFR part 1022). Without DOE funding, it is not likely
DOE analyzed two main alternatives that the Mesaba Energy Project would be DOE will conduct a public hearing
in the draft EIS—the Proposed Action built, although it is possible that near each of the two alternative sites, in
(including two alternative sites for the Excelsior could still elect to construct conjunction with the Minnesota
project) and the No Action Alternative. and operate the proposed power plant Department of Commerce, to obtain
Under the Proposed Action, DOE would provided that it could replace the comments on the draft EIS. Requests to
provide cost-shared funding to Excelsior Federal financing component and obtain speak at the public hearings can be
for the design and one-year the required permits from state and made by contacting Mr. Richard A.
demonstration of a coal-based, IGCC Federal agencies. However, without Hargis, Jr., as indicated in the
electric generating facility to be located DOE participation, it is possible that the ADDRESSES section above. Requests to
in the Taconite Tax Relief Area as proposed project would be canceled. speak that have not been submitted
defined in Minnesota Statutes Section Therefore, for purposes of analysis in prior to the hearing will be accepted in
273.134. DOE has entered into a the draft EIS, the No Action Alternative the order in which they are received at
cooperative agreement with Excelsior, is assumed to be equivalent to a ‘‘No the hearing. Speakers are encouraged to
which was a successful applicant in Build’’ Alternative, meaning that provide a written version of their oral
Round 2 of the CCPI program, to environmental conditions would remain comments for the record. Each speaker
demonstrate the Project. Excelsior is an in the status quo (no new construction, will be allowed approximately five
independent energy development resource utilization, emissions, minutes to present comments. Those
company based in Minnetonka, discharges, or wastes generated). The No speakers who want more than five
Minnesota, that ultimately would be Action Alternative would not contribute minutes should indicate the length of
responsible for the siting, design, to the goal of the CCPI program, which time desired in their request. Depending
construction, demonstration, and is to accelerate commercial deployment on the number of speakers, DOE may
operation of the Project and related of advanced technologies that provide need to limit all speakers to five
components. Until the NEPA process is the United States with clean, reliable, minutes initially and provide additional
complete, no funds would be provided and affordable energy. opportunities as time permits.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
for project activities that could either The draft EIS analyzes the Comments will be recorded by a court
have an adverse impact on the environmental consequences that may reporter and will become part of the
environment or limit the choice of result from the proposed action at each public hearing record. Oral and written
reasonable alternatives available to of the two alternative sites, as well as comments will be given equal
DOE. Pursuant to the Energy Policy Act the no action alternative. Potential consideration.
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3. Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 216 / Thursday, November 8, 2007 / Notices 63171
Each hearing will begin with an application which is on file with the by all other parties. A party must submit
informational session at approximately Commission and open to public 14 copies of filings made with the
4 p.m. DOE will then begin each inspection. This filing is accessible on- Commission and must mail a copy to
meeting’s formal session at 7 p.m. with line at http://www.ferc.gov, using the the applicant and to every other party in
an overview of the project, followed by ‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for the proceeding. Only parties to the
oral statements by the scheduled review in the Commission’s Public proceeding can ask for court review of
speakers. Speakers may be asked Reference Room in Washington, DC. Commission orders in the proceeding.
questions to help ensure that DOE fully There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the However, a person does not have to
understands the comments. A presiding Web site that enables subscribers to intervene in order to have comments
officer will establish the order of receive e-mail notification when a considered. The second way to
speakers and provide any additional document is added to a subscribed participate is by filing with the
procedures necessary to conduct the docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Secretary of the Commission, as soon as
meetings. Online service, please e-mail possible, an original and two copies of
All meetings will be accessible to FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call comments in support of or in opposition
people with disabilities. Any individual (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call to this project. The Commission will
with a disability requiring special (202) 502–8659. consider these comments in
assistance, such as sign language Southern Star states that due to the determining the appropriate action to be
interpreter, or a translator, should abandonment of the Craig storage field taken, but the filing of a comment alone
contact Mr. Richard A. Hargis, Jr., the as authorized by order of the will not serve to make the filer a party
NEPA Document Manager, (see Commission in Docket No. CP98–280– to the proceeding. The Commission’s
ADDRESSES) at least 48 hours in advance 000 (85 FERC ¶61,184) the compressor rules require that persons filing
of the meeting so that arrangements can engines are no longer required to comments in opposition to the project
be made. provide the storage field compression provide copies of their protests only to
service for which they were originally the party or parties directly involved in
Meeting Schedule installed. Southern Star stated in the the protest.
West Range Site—Taconite aforementioned application that the
Persons who wish to comment only
compressor engines at the Craig station
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2007. on the environmental review of this
were being evaluated at that time for use
Place: Taconite Community Center, project should submit an original and
elsewhere on its pipeline system.
26 Haynes Street, Taconite, Minnesota. Southern Star further states that one two copies of their comments to the
compressor engine will be removed Secretary of the Commission.
East Range Site—Hoyt Lakes Environmental commentors will be
from the Craig compressor station,
Date: Wednesday, November 28, refurbished and installed at the South placed on the Commission’s
2007. Welda storage field as booster environmental mailing list, will receive
Place: Hoyt Lakes Arena, 106 compression. Southern Star has copies of the environmental documents,
Kennedy Memorial Drive, Hoyt Lakes, requested authorization for said engine and will be notified of meetings
Minnesota. installation at South Welda storage field associated with the Commission’s
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 2, in Docket No. CP08–4–000, which is environmental review process.
2007. currently pending before the Environmental commentors will not be
Mark J. Matarrese, Commission. The other compressor required to serve copies of filed
Director, Office of Environment, Security, engine will be removed and warehoused documents on all other parties.
Safety and Health, Office of Fossil Energy. at Southern Star’s Welda compressor However, the non-party commentors
[FR Doc. E7–21959 Filed 11–7–07; 8:45 am] station. The existing Craig compressor will not receive copies of all documents
building will remain in place to be used filed by other parties or issued by the
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
as a warehouse facility for pipe, Commission (except for the mailing of
equipment and supplies. environmental documents issued by the
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Any questions regarding this Commission) and will not have the right
application should be directed to David to seek court review of the
Federal Energy Regulatory N. Roberts, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Commission’s final order.
Commission at (270) 852–4654. Comments, protests and interventions
There are two ways to become may be filed electronically via the
[Docket No. CP08–12–000]
involved in the Commission’s review of Internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, this project. First, any person wishing to 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions
Inc.; Notice of Application obtain legal status by becoming a party on the Commission’s Web site under the
to the proceedings for this project ‘‘e-Filing’’ link at http://www.ferc.gov.
November 1, 2007. should, on or before the comment date The Commission strongly encourages
Take notice that on October 30, 2007, stated below, file with the Federal intervenors to file electronically.
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 Persons unable to file electronically
(Southern Star), 4700 State Highway 56, First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, should submit an original and 14 copies
Owensboro, Kentucky 42301, filed in a motion to intervene in accordance of the protest or intervention to the
Docket No. CP08–12–000, an with the requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
application pursuant to section 7(b) of Commission’s Rules of Practice and 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) 20426.
of the Commission’s Regulations, for an and the Regulations under the NGA (18 Comment Date: November 23, 2007.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
order permitting and approving the CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party
abandonment by reclaim of two 660- status will be placed on the service list Kimberly D. Bose,
horsepower White Superior compressor maintained by the Secretary of the Secretary.
units located in Johnson County, Commission and will receive copies of [FR Doc. E7–21919 Filed 11–7–07; 8:45 am]
Kansas, all as more fully set forth in the all documents filed by the applicant and BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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