[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20624-20625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8779]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Oglethorpe Power Corporation: Proposed Biomass Power Plant

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Notice of Public Hearing.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 
has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its 
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
7 CFR part 1794 related to possible financial assistance to Oglethorpe 
Power Corporation (Oglethorpe) for the construction of a 100 megawatt 
(MW) biomass plant and related facilities (Proposal) in Warren County, 
Georgia.
    The purpose of the Proposal is to provide a reliable, long-term 
supply of renewable and sustainable energy at a reasonable cost to meet 
part of the electric energy needs of Oglethorpe's members. Oglethorpe 
may request financial assistance in the future from the RUS for the 
Proposal.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS must be received on or before 
May 31, 2011. RUS will conduct a public meeting May 5, 2011, from 6 to 
8 p.m. at the Warren County Community Service Building, located at: 48 
Warren Street, Warrenton, Georgia 30828. The

[[Page 20625]]

first half hour of the meeting will be an open house followed by a 
formal public information and comment meeting with brief presentations 
on the Draft EIS. Members of the public will have an opportunity to ask 
questions and provide comments on the Draft EIS. A court reporter will 
transcribe verbal comments from the formal public comment portion of 
the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the Draft EIS or 
for further information, contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 2244, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-mail 
[email protected].

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft EIS may be viewed online at the 
following Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/eis.htm and at 
the: Warren County Public Library, 10 Warren Street, Warrenton, Georgia 
30828, Phone (706) 465-2656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Oglethorpe proposes to own, operate, and 
maintain the Proposal in Warren County, Georgia. The purpose of the 
Proposal is to provide a reliable, long-term supply of renewable and 
sustainable energy at a reasonable cost to meet part of the electric 
energy needs of Oglethorpe's members. Three alternatives are evaluated 
in detail in the Draft EIS; the no action alternative, and the proposed 
action at two different locations: Warren County (the Proposal) and 
Appling County (the Alternate). Alternatives were evaluated in terms of 
cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and environmental factors. 
The Draft EIS evaluated and eliminated from detailed consideration 8 
alternatives for renewable generation, one other generation 
alternative, demand side management, three alternative sites, two 
alternatives for cooling, and two alternatives for water supply.
    The Proposal would be constructed on an approximately 343-acre site 
located three-fourths mile east of the city limit of Warrenton. The 
tallest structure would be the stack, with a maximum estimated height 
of approximately 220 feet. The construction schedule of the Proposal is 
currently unknown.
    A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS and Hold a Scoping Meeting was 
published in the Federal Register at 74 FR 30520, on June 26, 2009, and 
local newspapers. The scoping meeting for the EIS was held in the 
project area on July 9, 2009, and public comments were accepted from 
June 26, 2009, through July 27, 2009. RUS issued a Scoping Report in 
March 2010.
    In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of 
Historic Properties'' (36 CFR part 800) and as part of its broad 
environmental review process, RUS must take into account the effect of 
the proposal on historic properties 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. Any party wishing to participate more directly with 
RUS as a ``consulting party'' in Section 106 review may submit a 
written request to the RUS contact provided in this notice. Questions 
and comments should be sent to RUS at the mailing or e-mail addresses 
provided in this Notice. RUS will accept comments on the Draft EIS in 
writing by May 31, 2011 to ensure that they are considered in the Final 
EIS. Once completed, a public notice announcing the availability of the 
final EIS will be published in the Federal Register and local 
newspapers. Subsequent to a 30-day public review period of the Final 
EIS and resolution of any additional comments, RUS will then issue and 
publish a Record of Decision.
    Because the Proposal may involve impacts to wetlands, this Notice 
of Availability also serves as a notice of potential impacts to 
wetlands. In accordance with Executive Order 11990, the Draft EIS 
includes a wetland assessment and statement of no practicable 
alternatives to proposed impacts to wetlands.
    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 promulgated in RUS' Environmental 
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

Nivin Elgohary,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-8779 Filed 4-12-11; 8:45 am]
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