[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 146 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 38167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18250]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC: 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: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
request from Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC (FRE) for assistance to 
finance the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new 55-
megawatt (MW) gas-fired combustion biomass fueled power plant in Ben 
Hill County, Georgia near Fitzgerald, Georgia.

ADDRESSES: The FONSI is available for public review at the USDA Rural 
Utilities Service's Web site--http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm 
or at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, 
DC 20250-1571; and at FRE's headquarters office located at Fitzgerald 
Renewable Energy, LLC, 152 Lincoln Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 or at 
the Fitzgerald/Ben Hill County Library, 123 North Main Street, 
Fitzgerald, GA 31750. To obtain copies of the FONSI or for further 
information, contact Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Stop 1571 Washington, DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (202) 720-0468 or 
e-mail: [email protected], or FRE's headquarters office 
located at Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC, 152 Lincoln Avenue, Winter 
Park, FL 32789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fitzgerald Renewable Energy, LLC proposes to 
construct a 55-megawatt (MW) biomass fueled power plant (the Proposal) 
on Peachtree Road near Fitzgerald, Georgia in Ben Hill County. The 
Proposal, which will be fueled primarily by wood debris and residue 
from the regional forest products industry, is projected to be in 
service in 2011. Trinity Consultants, an environmental consulting firm, 
prepared an Environmental Report for RUS. RUS conducted an independent 
evaluation of the Environmental Report and agreed that it accurately 
assessed the impacts of the proposal. RUS accepted the document as its 
Environmental Assessment and published the document for a 30-day public 
comment period. The applicant is responsible for obtaining all permits 
required to construct the Proposal.
    Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1) of the regulations (36 CFR part 800) 
implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470f, RUS made a finding that this Proposal will not 
affect historic properties. RUS received no objection to this finding 
of effect from the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office or other 
consulting parties. RUS has determined this finding of no historic 
properties affected made pursuant to Section 106 of NHPA.
    In accordance with 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 RUS' Environmental Policies and 
Procedures (7 CFR part 1794), RUS has determined that the environmental 
impacts of the Proposal have been adequately addressed and that no 
significant impacts to the quality of the human environment would 
result from the construction and operation of the proposal. Any final 
action by RUS related to the Proposal will be subject to, and 
contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal and State 
environmental laws and regulations. Since RUS' action will not result 
in significant impacts to the quality of the human environment, the 
preparation of an environmental impact statement related to the 
proposed project is not necessary.

    Dated: July 23, 2009.
James R. Newby,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E9-18250 Filed 7-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P