[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25131-25132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10194]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Turning Point Solar 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: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has issued a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental Assessment (EA) 
associated with a solar generation project. The EA was prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
Council on Environmental Quality's

[[Page 25132]]

(CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and RUS's NEPA implementing regulations (7 CFR 
Part 1794, Environmental Policies and Procedures). The EA evaluates the 
environmental impacts associated with a potential loan or loan 
guarantee to Turning Point Solar LLC (Turning Point Solar) for the 
proposal. RUS is considering funding this proposal.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the FONSI or EA, or for further 
information, contact: Ms. Lauren McGee, Environmental Scientist, USDA, 
Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Room 
2244-S, Washington, DC 20250-1571, telephone: (202) 720-1482, fax: 
(202) 690-0649, or email: [email protected]. A copy of the 
FONSI and EA can be viewed online at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-ea.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Turning Point Solar 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 
preferred site 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 
Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Generation Interconnection 
application process.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an EA and hold a scoping meeting was 
published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2011, and in newspapers 
within the general circulation of the proposal area from June 27, 2011 
to July 5, 2011. A public meeting was held on July 14, 2011, at the 
Caldwell Elementary School, located at: 44350 Fairground Road, 
Caldweld, Ohio. A scoping summary report can be found at the RUS Web 
site listed in this Notice. The notice of availability of the EA for 
public review was published in the Federal Register on February 1, 
2012, and in newspapers within the general circulation of the proposal 
area on January 26, 2011 to January 30, 2011. The EA was available for 
public and agency review on the RUS Web site listed in this Notice and 
at Caldwell Public Library, located at: 517 Spruce Street, Caldwell, 
Ohio 43724. The 30-day comment period ended on March 2, 2012. RUS 
received three agency comments and one public comment. They are 
addressed in the FONSI.
    Turning Point Solar hired URS Corporation to prepare an EA for RUS 
that described the proposal and assessed its potential environmental 
impacts. RUS conducted an independent evaluation of the EA and 
concurred with its scope and content. In accordance with RUS's 
Environmental Policies and Procedures at 7 CFR 1794.41, RUS accepted 
the document as its EA.
    Based on its EA, RUS has concluded that the proposal would have no 
significant impacts to water quality, wetlands, the 100-year 
floodplain, land use, aesthetics, transportation, or human health and 
safety. The proposal will have no adverse effects on historic 
properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of 
Historic Places. RUS has also concluded that the proposal is not likely 
to affect federally listed threatened and endangered species or 
designated critical habitat. The proposal would not disproportionately 
affect minority and low-income populations.
    No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposal 
have been identified. Therefore, RUS has determined that this FONSI 
fulfills its obligations under NEPA for its action related to the 
proposal. RUS is satisfied that the environmental impacts of the 
proposal have been adequately addressed. If RUS takes a federal action 
on the proposal, it will not result in significant impacts to the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, an Environmental Impact 
Statement will not be prepared for the proposal.

    Dated: April 19, 2012.
Nivin Elgohary,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Programs, USDA, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10194 Filed 4-26-12; 8:45 am]
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