[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 93 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22881-22882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11328]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC: 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 (RUS) has prepared an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 CFR part 1794, RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures related to possible financial 
assistance for 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 fueled power plant 
located in Ben Hill County, Georgia on Peachtree Road. FRE is 
requesting that RUS provide financial assistance for the proposed 
project. RUS is considering funding this application, thereby making 
the proposal an undertaking subject to review under section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470(f), and its 
implementing regulation, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' (36 CFR 
part 800).

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before 
June 12, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the EA or for further information, 
contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, 
RUS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, 
DC 20250-1571, or e-mail [email protected]. A copy of the 
EA may be viewed online at the Agency's Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm, at the Agency's address provided in this Notice, 
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. Comments should 
be submitted to Ms. Strength at the address provided in this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRE proposes to construct a 55 MW biomass

[[Page 22882]]

fueled power plant on an approximately 60 acre site located on 
Peachtree Road near Fitzgerald, GA in Ben Hill County. The fuel will 
consist of biomass sources (primarily wood debris or residue from the 
regional forest products industry). It is anticipated that the facility 
would be in service in 2011.
    A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EA and Hold a Scoping Meeting was 
published in the Federal Register at 74FR02510, on January 15, 2009, 
and The Herald-Leader on January 14, 2009. A public meeting was held on 
January 29, 2009, at the Grand Conference Center, 115 South Main Street 
in Fitzgerald, GA 31750. A summary of public comments can be found at 
the Agency Web site listed in this Notice.
    As part of its environmental review process, RUS must take into 
account the effect of the proposal on historic properties in accordance 
with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its 
implementing regulation, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' (36 CFR 
part 800). Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), RUS is using its procedures 
for public involvement under NEPA to meet is responsibilities to 
solicit and consider the views of the public during section 106 review. 
Accordingly, comments from the public submitted in response to scoping 
will inform RUS decision making in its section 106 review of the 
proposal. RUS has made the determination that no historic properties 
listed in or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic 
Places (NRHP) will be affected by the Proposal.
    Alternatives considered by RUS and FRE include (a) No action, (b) 
alternate sources of power, and (c) alternate sites. An environmental 
report that describes the proposal in detail and discusses its 
anticipated environmental impacts has been prepared by FRE. RUS has 
reviewed and accepted the document as its EA of the proposal. The EA is 
available for public review at the addresses provided in this Notice. 
Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the mailing or e-mail 
addresses provided in this Notice. RUS should receive comments on the 
EA in writing by June 12, 2009 to ensure that they are considered in 
its environmental impact determination.
    Should RUS, based on the EA of the proposal, determine that the 
impacts of the construction and operation of the proposal 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 proposal area.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposal 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 RUS' Environmental 
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: May 7, 2009.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-11328 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
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