[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 30602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11812]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Hertford Renewable Energy, LLC: Notice of Intent To Hold Public 
Scoping Meetings and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency delivering the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or 
the Agency, intends to hold public scoping meetings and prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in connection with potential impacts 
related to projects proposed by Hertford Renewable Energy, LLC (HRE), 
with headquarters in Winter Park, FL. The proposal consists of the 
construction of a 50 Megawatt (MW) biomass power plant. The proposed 
power plant would be located in Hertford County, North Carolina on Joe 
Holloman Road. HRE is requesting the Agency to provide financial 
assistance for the proposed action.

DATES: The Agency will conduct a 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., on June 10, 2008. 
Comments regarding the proposed action may be submitted (orally or in 
writing) at the public scoping meetings or in writing within 30 days 
after the scoping meeting to Rural Development at the address provided 
in this notice.

ADDRESSES: The June 10, 2008, meeting will be held at the Roanoke 
Chowan Community College, Jernigan Auditorium, 109 Community College 
Road, Ahoskie, NC 27910, Phone: 252-862-1200. For further information, 
please 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, or e-mail 
[email protected].
    An Electric Alternatives Evaluation and Macro Corridor Study 
Report, prepared by Hertford Renewable Energy, LLC, will be presented 
at the public scoping meetings. The Report will be available for public 
review at the Agency's address provided in this notice, at the Agency's 
Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm, at Hertford 
Renewable Energy, LLC, 152 Lincoln Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 and at 
the: Hertford County Library, 303 West Tryon Street, Winton, NC 27986, 
Phone: 252-358-7855; Ahoskie Public Library, 210 E. Church Street, 
Ahoskie, NC 27910, Phone: 252-332-5500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hertford Renewable Energy, LLC proposes to 
construct a 50 MW biomass power plant on approximately 93 acres on Joe 
Holloman Road east of Millennium, NC. A wastewater line may be required 
off-site. It is anticipated that all of the facilities would be in 
service in 2011.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed 
project. Representatives from the Agency and Hertford Renewable Energy, 
LLC will be available at the scoping meeting to discuss the Agency's 
environmental review process, describe the project, the need for the 
project, alternatives under consideration, and to discuss the scope of 
environmental issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept 
comments. Comments regarding the proposed action may be submitted 
(orally or in writing) at the public scoping meetings or in writing 
within 30 days after the June 10, 2008, scoping meeting to Rural 
Development at the address provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the alternative evaluation and site 
selection study, input that may be provided by government agencies, 
private organizations, and the public, Hertford Renewable Energy, LLC 
will use to prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to the 
Agency for review. The Agency will use the environmental analysis to 
determine the significance of the impacts of the project and if 
acceptable will adopt it as its environmental assessment of the 
project. The Agency's environmental assessment of the project would be 
available for review and comment for 30 days.
    Should the Agency determine, based on the Environmental Assessment 
of the project, that the impacts of the construction and operation of 
the power plant 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 a circulation in the project area.
    Any final action by the Agency related to the proposed project will 
be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental 
review requirements as prescribed by the Agency's environmental 
policies and procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: May 20, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development 
Utilities Programs.
 [FR Doc. E8-11812 Filed 5-27-08; 8:45 am]
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