[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 43659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21920]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 157 / Friday, August 14, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43659]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Georgia Transmission Corporation, Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Hold Scoping Meeting and Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) proposes to 
prepare an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for its Federal action related to a proposal by Georgia 
Transmission Corporation to construct approximately 35 miles of 230 kV 
transmission line between Moultrie and Valdosta, Georgia.

MEETING INFORMATION: RUS will conduct scoping meetings in an open house 
forum on Thursday, September 17, 1998, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the 
Colquitt Electric Membership Corporation auditorium located at 17 
Rowland Drive, in Moultrie, Georgia, and on Friday, September 18, 1998, 
from 9 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the Patterson Room of the Holiday Inn 
in Valdosta, Georgia, which is located on Interstate 75 at State Route 
133 (exit 5).

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, Rural Utility Service, Stop 1571, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-0468. Bob's E-mail 
address is [email protected]. Information on this project will also 
be available on Georgia Transmission Corporation's web site. The web 
site address is www.gatrans.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Georgia Transmission Corporation proposes to 
construct the transmission line from a proposed substation to be 
constructed in Northeast Moultrie to a proposed substation to be 
constructed in Northwest Valdosta. Both substations will be constructed 
by Georgia Power Company. Steel or concrete H-frame structures will be 
used to support the conductors for the majority of the length of the 
project. The heights of these structures typically range from 65 to 85 
feet and require a right-of-way width of 125 feet. Single pole steel or 
concrete structures may also be used to support the conductors. These 
structures would typically range in height from 80 to 100 feet and 
require a right-of-way width of 100 feet. The study area for the 
transmission line includes portions of Colquitt, Brooks, Cook, and 
Lowndes Counties, Georgia.
    Alternatives considered by RUS and Georgia Transmission Corporation 
to constructing the transmission line as proposed include no action and 
constructing a 230 kV transmission line between Moultrie and 
Thomasville.
    To be presented at the public scoping meeting will be a corridor 
and alternative study prepared by Georgia Transmission Corporation. The 
corridor and alternative study is available for public review at RUS at 
the address provided in this notice or at Georgia Transmission 
Corporation, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, Georgia. This document 
will also be available at the Cook County Library located at 213 East 
2nd Street in Adel, Georgia, the South Georgia Regional Library located 
at 300 Woodrow Wilson Drive in Valdosta, Georgia, the Brooks County 
Library located at 404 Talokas Road in Quitman, Georgia, and the 
Moultrie/Colquitt County Library located at 204 5th Street, SE, in 
Moultrie, Georgia.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed 
project. Representatives from RUS and Georgia Transmission Corporation 
will be available at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS's environmental 
review process, describe the project and alternatives under 
consideration, discuss the scope of environmental issues to be 
considered, answer questions, and accept oral and written comments. 
Written comments will be accepted for at least 30 days after the public 
scoping meeting. Written comments should be sent to RUS at the address 
provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the corridor and alternative study, 
input that may be provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public, Georgia Transmission Corporation will 
prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to RUS for review. If 
significant impacts are not evident based on a review of the 
environmental analysis and other relevant information, RUS will prepare 
an environmental assessment to determine if the preparation of an EIS 
is warranted.
    Should RUS determine that the preparation of an EIS is not 
warranted, it will prepare a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). 
The FONSI will be made available for public review and comment for 30 
days. Public notification of a FONSI would be published in the Federal 
Register and in newspapers with a circulation in the project area. RUS 
will not take its final action related to the project prior to the 
expiration of the 30-day period.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be 
subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review 
requirements as prescribed by CEQ and RUS environmental policies and 
procedures.

    Dated: August 11, 1998.
Glendon Deal,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff.
[FR Doc. 98-21920 Filed 8-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P