[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 2510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-775]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Fitzgerald 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.

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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 a project proposed by Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC 
(FRE), with headquarters in Winter Park, FL. The proposal consists of 
the construction of a 55 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant located in 
Ben Hill County, Georgia on Peachtree Road. FRE is requesting the 
Agency to provide financial assistance for the proposed action.

DATES: USDA Rural Development will conduct a Scoping Meeting in an open 
house format, seeking the input of the public and other interested 
parties for the preparation of an EA. The meeting will be held on 
January 29, 2009, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., at The Grand Conference 
Center, 115 South Main Street, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, Telephone (229) 
426-5090. Comments regarding the proposed action may be submitted 
(orally or in writing) at the public scoping meeting or in writing and 
received within 30 days after the scoping meeting by Rural Development 
at the address provided in this notice.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or 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 Site Selection Study Report 
(Report), prepared by FRE, will be presented at the public scoping 
meeting. 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 Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC, 
152 Lincoln Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789, and at the Fitzgerald/Ben 
Hill County Library, 123 North Main Street, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, 
Telephone: 229-426-5080.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRE proposes to construct a 55 MW biomass 
power plant on approximately 40 acres on Peachtree Road in Fitzgerald, 
GA. It is anticipated that 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 FRE will be available at 
the scoping meeting to discuss the Agency's environmental review 
process, describe the proposal, the purpose and need for the proposal, 
alternatives under consideration, and to discuss the scope of 
environmental issues to be considered, answer questions, and accept 
comments.
    From information provided in the Report, input that may be provided 
by government agencies, private organizations, and the public, FRE will 
prepare an environmental report to be submitted to the Agency for 
review. The Agency will use the environmental report to determine the 
significance of the impacts of the proposal and, if acceptable, will 
adopt it as its EA for the proposal. The Agency's EA would be available 
for review and comment for 30 days.
    Should the Agency determine, based on the EA, 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; otherwise, the Agency would proceed to prepare an 
environmental impact statement. Public notification of a finding of no 
significant impact or the intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement 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: January 9, 2009.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development 
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-775 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]
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