[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 37313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15957]



[[Page 37313]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Turning Point Solar LLC; Notice of Intent To Hold a Public 
Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment and 
Hold a Public Scoping Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) intends to hold a public 
scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to meet 
its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations for 
implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and RUS's Environmental and 
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794) in connection with potential 
impacts related to a proposal by Turning Point Solar LLC. The proposal 
consists of constructing a 49.9 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted solar 
photovoltaic generating facility in Noble County, Ohio. Turning Point 
Solar LLC is requesting that RUS provide a loan or loan guarantee for 
the proposal.

DATES: RUS will conduct a public scoping meeting in an open-house 
format on Thursday, July 14, 2011, from 5 to 9 p.m. at: Caldwell 
Elementary School, 44350 Fairground Road, Caldwell, Ohio 43724. 
Representatives from RUS and Turning Point Solar LLC will be available 
at the meeting to discuss the environmental review process, the 
proposal, and the scope of environmental issues currently under 
consideration. Written comments regarding the proposal may be submitted 
at the public scoping meeting or by August 15, 2011, to the RUS address 
provided in this Notice.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for further information, please contact 
Ms. Lauren McGee, Environmental Scientist, USDA Rural Utilities 
Service, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Stop 1571, Room 2244-S, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: 
(202) 720-1482, fax: (202) 690-0649, or e-mail: mailto: 
[email protected].
    An Alternatives Evaluation and Site Selection Study, which 
discusses the purpose and need for the proposal and the alternatives 
considered in the proposal's development, is available for public 
review at the RUS address provided in this Notice, at the following RUS 
Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-ea.htm, and at the following 
repository: Caldwell Public Library, 517 Spruce Street, Caldwell, OH 
43724-0230; telephone: (740) 732-4506 for operating hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Turning Point Solar LLC proposes to 
construct a 49.9 MW solar generating facility in Brookfield Township, 
Noble County, Ohio. The proposal involves the installation of high-
efficiency monocrystalline photovoltaic panels mounted on fixed solar 
racking equipment and the construction of access roads, a powerhouse, 
transmission improvements, and other supporting facilities. The 
applicant's proposed site for the proposal is located eight miles 
northwest of Caldwell, Ohio, on approximately 771 acres of reclaimed 
strip-mined land owned by Columbus Southern Power Company and Ohio 
Power Company, collectively American Electric Power Ohio (``AEP 
Ohio''). The land was mined by the Central Ohio Coal Company between 
1969 and 1991, after which time it was reclaimed. The proposed 
generating facility would interconnect to AEP Ohio's South Cumberland 
69kV substation, subject to completion of the PJM Generation 
Interconnection application process.
    Among the alternatives that RUS will address in the EA is the No 
Action alternative, under which the proposal would not be undertaken. 
In the EA, the effects of the proposal will be compared to the existing 
conditions in the proposal area. Public health and safety, 
environmental impacts, and engineering aspects of the proposal will be 
considered in the EA.
    RUS is the lead federal agency, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5, for 
preparation of the EA. With this Notice, federally recognized Native 
American Tribes and federal agencies with jurisdiction or special 
expertise are invited to be cooperating agencies. Such tribes or 
agencies may make a request to RUS to be a cooperating agency by 
contacting the RUS contact provided in this Notice. Designated 
cooperating agencies have certain responsibilities to support the NEPA 
process, as specified at 40 CFR 1501.6(b).
    As part of its broad 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 
(Section 106) 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 submitted in response to 
scoping will inform RUS decision-making in its Section 106 review 
process. 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.
    RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public in the preparation of the EA. The EA will 
be available for review and comment for 30 days. If RUS finds, based on 
the EA, that the proposal will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment, RUS will prepare a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI). Notification of the EA and FONSI will be 
published in the Federal Register and in newspapers with circulation in 
the proposal's area. If substantive comments are received on the EA, 
RUS may provide an additional period (15 days) for public review 
following the publication of its FONSI. When appropriate to carry out 
the purposes of NEPA, RUS may impose, on a case-by-case basis, 
additional requirements associated with the preparation of an EA. If at 
any point in the preparation of an EA, RUS determines that the proposal 
will have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment, 
the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement will be required.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposal will be subject to, 
and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant executive orders and 
federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in 
addition to the completion of the environmental review requirements as 
prescribed in RUS's Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR part 
1794, as amended.

    Dated: June 20, 2011.
Richard Fristik,
Acting Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA, Rural 
Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-15957 Filed 6-24-11; 8:45 am]
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