[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 7 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 1315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-217]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Earth Resources, Inc.: Notice of Availability of an Environmental 
Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an Environmental Assessment for 
public review.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an agency which administers the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs 
(USDA Rural Development) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
related to possible financial assistance to Earth Resources, Inc. (ERI) 
for the proposed construction of Plant Carl, a 20-megawatt electric 
power generation plant proposed to be built by Earth Resources, Inc. 
(ERI) in Franklin County, Georgia. ERI is requesting the USDA Rural 
Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before 
February 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The EA will be available for public review at the USDA Rural 
Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail 
Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571; at the USDA Rural Development's 
Web site--http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm; at ERI's 
headquarters office located at 774 Highway 320, Carnesville, Georgia 
30521; and two Franklin County Public Library locations:

Lavonia Carnegie Library, 28 Hartwell Road, Lavonia, Georgia 30553.
Royston Public Library, 684 Franklin Springs Street, Royston, Georgia 
30662.

    Written comments should be sent to: Ms. Stephanie Strength, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities 
Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-mail: 
[email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project area is located in 
Franklin County, Georgia. The proposal will be sited on a previously 
graded five acre portion of a 139-acre property zoned Commercial and 
Industrial. The proposal includes the generation plant and accessory 
structures, fuel storage and handling areas, traffic circulation and 
parking areas, waste holding areas, and stormwater management features. 
Approximately ten additional acres will be devoted to a spray 
application water treatment system for which no new clearing and 
grading will be required. The remaining acres will be maintained as 
natural area buffers.
    Alternatives considered by the USDA Rural Development and ERI 
included: (a) No action, (b) alternate locations, (c) alternate methods 
to provide service, (d) alternate construction methods and materials, 
(e) alternate designs, (f) load management and energy conservation 
options, and (g) alternate generation technologies. An Environmental 
Report that described the proposed project in detail and discussed its 
anticipated environmental impacts has been accepted by USDA Rural 
Development as the EA for the proposed project. The EA is available for 
public review at addresses provided above in this Notice.
    Questions and comments should be sent to Ms. Stephanie Strength, 
USDA Rural Development at the mailing or e-mail addresses provided 
above in this Notice. The USDA Rural Development should receive 
comments on the EA in writing by February 12, 2007 to ensure that they 
are considered in the environmental impact determination.
    Should the USDA Rural Development determine, based on the EA, that 
the impacts of the construction and operation of the project 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 would be published in the Federal Register and in 
newspapers with circulation in the project area.
    Any final action by the USDA Rural Development related to the 
proposed project 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 
prescribed in the USDA Rural Development's Environmental Policies and 
Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
 [FR Doc. E7-217 Filed 1-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P