[Federal Register: January 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 4)]
[Notices]               
[Page 701]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ja09-30]                         


[[Page 701]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

 
Termination of an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Construction and Operation of a 300-MW Coal-Fired Electric Generating 
Unit Proposed by Wisconsin Power and Light Company Near Cassville in 
Grant County, WI

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Termination.

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SUMMARY: The St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) is canceling 
the preparation of a federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the proposal by Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) to conduct work 
below the ordinary high water mark of the Mississippi River, a 
navigable water of the U.S., and to discharge dredged or fill material 
into waters of the U.S. to facilitate the construction and operation of 
a 300 megawatt (MW) baseload coal-fired electric generating unit, 
referred to as NED 3, near Cassville in Grant County, WI. The Corps has 
terminated its review of the WPL permit application due to WPL's 
withdrawal of their permit application on November 21, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Questions concerning this termination notice can be 
addressed to Ms. Tamara Cameron, Regulatory Branch by letter at U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, 190 Fifth Street East, Suite 401, St. Paul, MN 
55101-1638, by telephone or by e-mail at 
tamara.e.cameron@usace.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tamara Cameron, (651) 290-5197.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 17, 2008 the Corps published in 
the Federal Register (73 FR 3241) a notice of intent to prepare an EIS 
jointly with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). Scoping 
meetings were held in January and March, 2008 and a notice of 
availability of the draft EIS was published in the Federal Register (73 
FR 30099) on May 23, 2008.
    In July 2008, WPL modified their proposal so that work would be 
done under and over the Mississippi River, but not in the River, and 
there would be no discharges of dredged or fill material into any 
waters of the U.S. On November 21, 2008, WPL withdrew their permit 
application, and consequently the Corps has decided to terminate the 
EIS.
    If WPL submits a subsequent permit application for work over and/or 
under the Mississippi River, as detailed in their most recent proposal, 
the Corps would evaluate the application under the terms of a 
Nationwide Permit, as applicable, or prepare an Environmental 
Assessment as part of its standard permit application review.

    Dated: December 22, 2008.
Jon L. Christensen,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E9-36 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am]

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