[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 50592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19792]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative; 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.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, 
hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, intends to 
hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) in connection with potential impacts related to a proposal by 
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), with headquarters in 
Hughesville, Maryland. The proposal consists of the construction of 
approximately 30 miles of 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line, a new 
230/69 kV switching station, a 230/69 kV switching station expansion, 
and a river crossing located in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties in 
Maryland.

DATES: USDA Rural Development 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 8 p.m., on 
September 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The September 11, 2008 meeting will be held at the SMECO 
office located at 901 Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick, Maryland. 
The SMECO phone number is 888-440-3311.
    An Electric Alternatives Evaluation and Macro Corridor Study Report 
will be available at the public scoping meeting, at USDA Rural 
Development's address provided in this notice, at their Web site: 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm, and at SMECO, 15035 Burnt 
Store Road, Hughesville, Maryland 20637.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie A. Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Stop 
1571, Washington, DC 20250, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative 
proposes to construct a 230 kV transmission line between the existing 
Holland Cliff Switching Station in Calvert County to the existing 
Hewitt Road Switching Station in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The 
proposal comprises five segments and includes (1) The installation of 
approximately 20 miles of new 230 kV single pole, double-circuit 
transmission line from the Holland Cliff switching station to a new 
switching station located in Southern Calvert; (2) the installation of 
the new Southern Calvert 230/69 kV switching station; (3) the 
installation of approximately 10 miles of new 230 kV single pole, 
double-circuit transmission line from the new Southern Calvert 
switching station to the existing Hewitt Road switching station; (4) 
the installation of approximately 2 miles of 230 kV underground 
transmission cable circuit across the lower Patuxent River; and (5) the 
expansion of the existing 230 kV ring bus at Hewitt Road switching 
station to accommodate the new 230 kV transmission line from Southern 
Calvert. Throughout the right-of-way, the existing 69 kV poles will be 
removed and the existing 69 kV conductors will be installed on the new 
230 kV poles along with the new 230 kV conductors. This configuration 
will allow the use of the existing 69 kV transmission line right-of-way 
and preclude the need for additional right-of-way land acquisition.
    The proposed location of the new switching station will be in 
southern Calvert County, possibly near Lusby, Maryland, along the 
existing 69 kV transmission line right-of-way. The site is anticipated 
to be approximately 25 acres to accommodate the switching station 
equipment and a buffer. Switching station sites will be further 
assessed in the Environmental Assessment.
    The Patuxent River crossing will be approximately two miles, in the 
vicinity of the existing 69 kV underground transmission line, near the 
Thomas Johnson Bridge. Alternative crossing locations as well as 
construction alternatives were considered in order to improve 
maintenance capabilities, mitigate environmental impact, and reduce 
proposal costs. Alternatives include (1) installation of a submarine 
cable jetted into the bottom of the Patuxent River, and (2) attaching 
the 230 kV underground cable circuit to the existing bridge or a future 
bridge planned near the existing Thomas Johnson Bridge. Construction of 
the proposal is anticipated for completion in 2015.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are 
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed 
project. Representatives from USDA Rural Development and Southern 
Maryland Electric Cooperative will be available at the scoping meeting 
to discuss the environmental review process, describe the proposal, 
answer questions, and receive comments. Comments regarding the proposed 
action may be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public scoping 
meeting or in writing by October 11, 2008 at the USDA Rural Development 
address provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the Electric Alternatives Evaluation 
and Macro Corridor Study Report, from government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative 
will prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to USDA Rural 
Development for review. USDA Rural Development will review the 
environmental analysis and determine the significance of the impacts of 
the proposal. If accepted, the document will be adopted as the 
environmental assessment (EA) for the proposal. USDA Rural 
Development's EA would be available for review and comment for 30 days. 
Should the USDA Rural Development determine, based on the EA for the 
proposal, that impacts associated with the construction and operation 
of the proposal would not have a significant environmental impact, it 
will prepare a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). Public 
notification of a FONSI would be published in the Federal Register and 
in newspapers with circulation in the proposal area.
    Any final action by USDA Rural Development related to the proposal 
would be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental 
review requirements as prescribed by the USDA Rural Development' s 
environmental policies and procedures (7 CFR 1794).

    Dated: August 22, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-19792 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am]
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