[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 119 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34914-34915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13895]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Georgia Transmission Corporation: Notice of Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

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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, has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with 
respect to a request for possible financing assistance to Georgia 
Transmission Corporation for the construction of the approximately 
38.7-mile Thomson-Warthen 500 kV transmission line connecting GTC's 
Thomson Primary 500/230/115/46 kV Substation in McDuffie County, 
Georgia to their Warthen 500 kV Switching Station in Washington County, 
Georgia.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the EA and FONSI, or for further 
information, contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, USDA, Rural Development Utilities Programs, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571,Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
Telephone: (202) 720-0468 or e-mail: [email protected]. 
The EA and FONSI are also available for public review at USDA Rural 
Development, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
and at Georgia Transmission headquarters at 2100 East Exchange Place, 
Tucker, GA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project consists of the 
construction of approximately 38.7 miles of 500 kV Transmission Lines 
on a 150-foot right of way. The transmission line conductors and static 
wire would be strung on lattice steel structures ranging in height from 
80 feet to 150 feet. The transmission line would traverse McDuffie, 
Warren, Glascock, and Washington Counties in Georgia.
    Alternatives considered by USDA Rural Development and Georgia 
Transmission Corporation include: (a) No action, (b) alternative 
transmission improvements, and (c) alternate transmission line 
corridors. The alternatives are discussed in the Thomson-Warthen 500 kV 
Transmission Line Environmental Report (ER). The USDA Rural Development 
has accepted the ER as its EA for the proposed project.
    The availability of the EA for public review was announced via a 
legal notice and display ad in the Federal Register and in the 
following newspapers: The News and Farmer, Jefferson Reporter, and The 
Sandersville Progress on April 30, 2008. The Warrenton Clipper and The 
McDuffie Progress published the ads on May 1, 2008. A 30-day comment 
period was announced in the newspaper's legal notice section and the 
Federal Register. The EA was available for public review at the USDA 
Rural Development office and Web site as well

[[Page 34915]]

as Georgia Transmission Corporation's offices. No comments were 
received by USDA Rural Development or Georgia Transmission Corporation.
    Based on its EA and commitments made by GTC in the EA, USDA Rural 
Development has concluded that the project would have no significant 
impact (or no impacts) to water quality, wetlands, the 100-year 
floodplain, land use, aesthetics, transportation, or human health and 
safety. The proposed project will have no adverse effect on resources 
listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic 
Places. USDA Rural Development has also concluded that the proposed 
project is not likely to affect Federally listed threatened and 
endangered species or designated critical habitat thereof. The proposed 
project would not disproportionately affect minority and/or low-income 
populations.
    No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposed 
project have been identified. Therefore, USDA Rural Development has 
determined that this FONSI fulfills its obligations under the National 
Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and 
USDA Rural Development's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR 
Part 1794) for its action related to the project.
    USDA Rural Development is satisfied that the environmental impacts 
of the proposed project have been adequately addressed. Since USDA 
Rural Development's Federal action would not result in significant 
impacts to the quality of the human environment, it will not prepare an 
environmental impact statement for its action related to the proposed 
project.

    Dated: June 16, 2008.
James R. Newby,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-13895 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P