[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47168-47169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13411]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Georgia Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To Hold a 
Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare 
an Environmental Assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency which administers the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs. 
RUS intends to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts 
related to a project proposed by Georgia Transmission Corporation 
(GTC), with headquarters in Tucker, Georgia.
    The proposal consists of the construction of approximately 7 miles 
of 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the proposed East Walton 
500/230 kV Substation to the proposed Bethabara Substation. The 230 
kilovolt transmission line proposal would be located in Walton and 
Oconee Counties, Georgia. The proposed East Walton 500/230 kV 
Substation is located in Walton County and the proposed Bethabara 
Substation in Oconee County. This proposal is a connected action to the 
East Walton-Rockville 500 kV Transmission Line, the East Walton-Jack's 
230 kV Transmission Line that was presented at the scoping meetings 
held on Monday, April 17, 2006, at Carver Middle School in Monroe, 
Georgia and Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at the Madison Morgan Cultural 
Center in Madison, Georgia. GTC is requesting RUS provide financing for 
the proposal.

DATES: RUS will conduct one scoping meeting in an open house format, 
seeking the input of the public and other interested parties. The 
meeting will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., August 22, 2006, in 
Fellowship Hall of the Bethabara Baptist Church, 4651 Monroe Highway 
(US 78), Statham, Georgia 30666.
    An Electric Alternative Evaluation and Macro Corridor Study Report, 
prepared by Georgia Transmission Corporation, will be presented at the 
public scoping meeting. The Report will be available for public review 
at RUS' address provided in this notice, at RUS' Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm, at Georgia Transmission Corporation, 
2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, Georgia 30084 and at the following 
locations:

Walton County Library, 217 West Spring Street, Monroe, Georgia 30655; 
770 267-4630.
Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville, 
Georgia 30677; 706 769-3950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone (202) 720-0468. Mrs. 
Strength's E-mail address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Georgia Transmission Corporation proposes to 
construct a 230 kilovolt transmission line from the proposed East 
Walton 500/230 kV Substation to the proposed Bethabara Substation. It 
would require a right-of-way of 100 feet. Guyed and unguyed concrete or 
steel poles ranging in height from 80- to 120-feet would support the 
East Walton-Bethabara 230 kV conductors. It is anticipated that the 
transmission line would be in service in 2011.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposal. 
Representatives from RUS and Georgia Transmission Corporation will be 
available at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS' environmental review 
process, describe the project, the purpose and need for the proposal, 
macro corridors under consideration, and to discuss the scope of 
environmental issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept 
comments. Comments regarding the proposal may be submitted (orally or 
in writing) at the public scoping meeting or in writing for receipt no 
later than September 22, 2006, to RUS at the address provided in this 
notice.
    Georgia Transmission Corporation will prepare an environmental 
analysis to be submitted to RUS for review from information provided in 
the alternative evaluation and site selection study and input that may 
be provided by government agencies, private organizations and the 
public. RUS will use the environmental analysis to determine the 
significance of the impacts of the proposal and may adopt it as its 
Environmental Assessment for the proposal. RUS' Environmental 
Assessment will be available for review and comment for 30 days.
    Should RUS determine, based on the Environmental Assessment that 
the impacts of the construction and operation of the transmission line 
would not have a significant environmental impact, it will prepare a 
finding of no significant impact. Public notification of a finding of 
no significant impact will be published in the Federal Register and in 
newspapers with a circulation in the project area.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposal will be subject to, 
and contingent upon, compliance with environmental review requirements 
as prescribed by RUS' environmental policies and procedures.


[[Page 47169]]


    Dated: August 7, 2006.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
 [FR Doc. E6-13411 Filed 8-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P