[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54084-54085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22063]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 171 / Friday, September 3, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54084]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative: 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 issued an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and RUS's Environmental and Policies 
and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) in relation to possible financial 
assistance for a proposed project by Southern Maryland Electric 
Cooperative (SMECO), with headquarters in Hughesville, Maryland. The 
proposal consists of the construction of a 30-mile 230 kilovolt (kV) 
transmission line (which includes a river crossing), a new 230/69 kV 
switching station, and a 230/69 kV switching station expansion in 
Calvert and St. Mary's Counties, Maryland. SMECO is requesting that RUS 
provide financial assistance for the proposal. RUS is considering 
funding this proposal, thereby making it an undertaking subject to 
review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA), 16 USC 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 
October 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the EA or for further information, 
contact: Ms. Lauren McGee, Environmental Scientist, USDA/RUS, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2244-S, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone: (202) 720-1482, fax: (202) 690-0649, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. A copy of the EA may be viewed online at: 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm; at the RUS address provided 
in this Notice; at SMECO's Calvert Regional Office, located at: 901 
Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD; and at SMECO's St. Mary's 
Regional Office, located at: 23365 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SMECO 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 has five segments and includes: 
(1) The installation of approximately 18 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 Sollers Wharf 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 would be 
removed, and new 230 kV poles would be installed. The existing 69 kV 
and new 230 kV lines would be installed on the new poles. This 
configuration would allow the use of the existing 69 kV transmission 
line right-of-way and preclude the need for additional easement 
acquisition. The preferred site of the new Sollers Wharf switching 
station is located near the intersection of Sollers Wharf Road and 
Pardoe Road, west of Maryland Highway \2/4\ and near the Calvert Cliffs 
tap. Approximately six to ten acres of the 40-acre site would be 
disturbed during construction. The remainder of the site would serve as 
a buffer. Construction of the proposal is anticipated for completion in 
2015.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an EA and hold a scoping meeting was 
published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2008; in the Enterprise 
(St. Mary's County) on August 29, 2008; and in the Calvert Recorder on 
August 29, 2008. A public meeting was held on September 11, 2008, in 
SMECO's Calvert Regional Office located at: 901 Dares Beach Road, 
Prince Frederick, Maryland. A summary of public comments can be found 
at the RUS 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 its 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 the proposal would have 
no adverse effects to historic properties listed in or eligible for 
listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
    Because the proposal may involve action in floodplains or wetlands, 
this Notice also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland 
action. The EA includes a floodplain/wetland assessment and floodplain/
wetland statement of findings.
    Alternatives considered by RUS and SMECO include (a) no action, (b) 
alternate engineering solutions (including new generation and five 
transmission system alternatives), and (c) alternate sites. An 
environmental report that describes the proposal in detail and 
discusses its anticipated environmental impacts has been prepared by 
Black and Veatch. 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 October 4, 2010 to ensure that 
they are considered in its environmental impact determination.
    Should RUS, based on its EA of the proposal, determine that the 
impacts of the construction and operation of the proposal would not 
have a significant

[[Page 54085]]

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 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's Environmental 
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794).

Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff USDA, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-22063 Filed 9-2-10; 8:45 am]
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