[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 77963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32005]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 77963]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Oglethorpe Power Corporation; Proposed Biomass Power Plant
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact
Statement.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS),
has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
7 CFR part 1794 related to possible financial assistance to Oglethorpe
Power Corporation's (Oglethorpe) for the construction of a 100 megawatt
(MW) biomass plant and related facilities (Proposal) in Warren County,
Georgia.
The purpose of the Proposal is to provide a reliable, long-term
supply of renewable and sustainable energy at a reasonable cost to meet
part of the electric energy needs of Oglethorpe's members. Oglethorpe
may request financial assistance from the RUS for the Proposal.
DATES: Written comments on this Final EIS will be accepted 30 days
following the publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
notice of receipt of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the Final EIS or
for further information, contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or email
[email protected].
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft EIS may be viewed online at the
following Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-OglethorpePower.html
and at the: Warren County Public Library, 10 Warren Street Warrenton,
Georgia 30828, Phone (706) 465-2656.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Oglethorpe proposes to own, operate, and
maintain the Proposal in Warren County, Georgia. The purpose of the
Proposal is to provide a reliable, long-term supply of renewable and
sustainable energy at a reasonable cost to meet part of the electric
energy needs of Oglethorpe's members.
Three alternatives are evaluated in detail in the Final EIS; the no
action alternative, and the proposed action at two different locations:
Warren County (the Proposal) and Appling County (the Alternate).
Alternatives were evaluated in terms of cost-effectiveness, technical
feasibility, and environmental impacts. The Final EIS evaluated and
eliminated from detailed consideration eight alternatives for renewable
generation, non-renewable generation alternatives, demand side
management, three alternative sites, two alternatives for cooling, and
two alternatives for water supply.
The Proposal would be constructed on an approximately 343-acre site
located three-fourths mile east of the city limit of Warrenton,
Georgia. The tallest structure would be the stack, with a maximum
estimated height of approximately 220 feet. The construction schedule
of the Proposal is currently unknown.
A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the
Federal Register at 76 FR 20624, on April 13, 2011, and in local
newspapers. Public hearings on the Draft EIS were held in the project
area on May 5, 2011, and public comments were accepted through May 31,
2011.
In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of
Historic Properties'' (36 CFR part 800) and as part of its broad
environmental review process, RUS must take into account the effect of
the proposal on historic properties Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), RUS
is using its procedures for public involvement under NEPA to meet its'
responsibilities to solicit and consider the views of the public during
Section 106 review. Any party wishing to participate more directly with
RUS as a ``consulting party'' in Section 106 review may submit a
written request to the RUS contact provided in this notice.
Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the mailing or
email addresses provided in this Notice. RUS will accept comments on
the Final EIS 30 days following the publication of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's notice of receipt of the Final EIS in
the Federal Register. Once completed, a public notice announcing the
availability of the Record of Decision will be published in the Federal
Register and local newspapers. Because the Proposal may involve impacts
to wetlands, this Notice of Availability also serves as a notice of
potential impacts to wetlands. In accordance with Executive Order
11990, the Final EIS includes a wetland assessment and statement of no
practicable alternatives to proposed impacts to wetlands.
Any final action by RUS related to the proposal 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 promulgated in RUS' Environmental
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).
Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32005 Filed 12-14-11; 8:45 am]
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