[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50384-50385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14101]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Earth Resources, Inc.; 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 Earth Resources Inc. (ERI), with 
headquarters in Carnesville, Georgia.
    The proposal consists of the construction of 20-megawatt power 
generating station utilizing chicken litter and woody biomass as fuel. 
The proposed generating station would be located in Franklin County, 
Georgia. No new transmission lines are proposed in connection with the 
proposed generating station. ERI 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., September 11, 2006, in 
Carnesville, Georgia at the Franklin County Justice Center, 7085 
Highway 145.
    A Public Information Document, prepared by ERI, 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, and at the following 
locations:

Franklin County Courthouse, 9592 Lavonia Road, Carnesville, GA 30521.
Lavonia Carnegie Library, 28 Hartwell Road, Lavonia, GA.
Royston Public Library, 684 Franklin Springs Street, Royston, Georgia.

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: Earth Resources Inc., proposes to construct 
a 20-megawatt power generating station utilizing chicken litter and 
woody biomass as fuel. The proposed generating station would be located 
in Franklin County, Georgia. No new transmission lines are proposed in 
connection with the proposed generating station. The proposed location 
is a 139-acre property that is partially cleared in Franklin County 
near State Route 198 and Interstate 85 (see map). It is anticipated 
that the facilities would be in service in 2007.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposal.
    Representatives from RUS and Earth Resources Inc., will be 
available at the scoping meeting to discuss RUS' environmental review 
process, describe the project, the purpose and need for the proposal, 
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 October 11, 2006, to RUS at the 
address provided in this notice.

[[Page 50385]]

    Earth Resources Inc., will prepare an environmental analysis to be 
submitted to RUS for review from information provided in the Public 
Information Document 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 proposal 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.

    Dated: August 21, 2006.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-14101 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P