[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 34199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16573]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Horry Electric Cooperative; Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
request from Horry Electric Cooperative for financing assistance from 
the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) related to the construct of a new 
warehouse facility in Horry County, South Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Engineering and Environmental Staff, RUS, Stop 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-1571, telephone (202) 
720-0468, E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The new warehouse facility is proposed to be 
located just north of South Carolina Highway 165 northwest of Conway, 
South Carolina. The size of the proposed site for the new warehouse 
facility is approximately 23 acres.
    The new warehouse facility will consist of a 25,739 square foot 
warehouse, a 8,9093 square foot vehicle storage and crew quarters 
building, and a 7,550 square foot apparatus shop. The three buildings 
will be one story and will be constructed mostly of metal with concrete 
block masonry facing up to the first 10 feet. Above the 10 feet will be 
metal panels finished with various colors as yet to be determined. The 
overall height of the building walls will be 19 to 20 feet. The walls 
of the vehicle storage building will be open so that vehicles can drive 
through the building. An area on the front of the proposed site 
abutting South Carolina Highway 165 will be reserved for a new 
administration building. It is unknown at this time when the 
construction on the administration building would begin. Most of site 
surrounding the three buildings will be covered with asphalt or 
concrete. These asphalt or concrete areas will be used for pole storage 
and a staging area for construction and maintenance crews that maintain 
Horry Electric Cooperative's distribution system. There will be 
approximately 100 parking places and one access drive into the site. A 
one-acre, water runoff detention pond will be located on the northeast 
corner of the property to comply with Horry County drainage 
requirements. The new warehouse facility will be surrounded by an 8-
foot chain link fence topped but three strands of barbed wire.
    RUS considered the alternatives of no action and expanding Horry 
Electric Cooperative's existing warehouse facility. Under the no action 
alternative, RUS would not approve financing assistance for 
construction of the new warehouse facility. Since RUS believes that 
Horry Electric Cooperative has a need to expand its district facility 
to provide adequate storage and parking facilities and to overcome a 
problem with traffic congestion at its existing warehouse, it has 
determined that the no action alternative is not acceptable. The 
expansion of the existing new warehouse is not practicable as there is 
not enough space available there for the needed storage and parking 
expansion. Also, traffic congestion is a problem at their existing 
warehouse facility.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at, or can be 
obtained from, RUS at the address provided herein or from Mr. Merrell 
W. Floyd, Horry Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 119, Conway, South 
Carolina 29528-0119, telephone (803) 248-6040.

    Dated: June 18, 1997
Adam M. Golodner,
Deputy Administrator, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-16573 Filed 6-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P