[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 48 (Monday, March 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14302-14304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05255]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket #: RUS-21-ELECTRIC-0004]


NextEra Energy Resources: Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement and Hold Public Scoping Meeting

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

[[Page 14303]]


ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and hold public scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and hold a virtual 
public scoping meeting in connection with possible impacts related to 
the Skeleton Creek Solar and Battery Storage Project (Project) proposed 
by NextEra Energy Resources (NextEra or Applicant). The Project will 
consist of a 250-megawatt (MW) solar array, plus 200-MW/800-megawatt-
hour (MWh) storage facility using photovoltaic (PV) modules on private 
lands in Garfield County, Oklahoma. NextEra is seeking federal loan 
financing from RUS to support construction of the Project. RUS has 
determined that a loan for the Project would be a federal action and 
is, therefore, subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
review, with RUS as the lead federal agency, for preparation of the 
EIS.

DATES: Written requests to participate as a Cooperating Agency in the 
preparation of the EIS, participate as a Consulting Party in the 
Section 106 consultation process, or to provide comments for 
consideration during the scoping process for the proposed Project must 
be received on or before April 19, 2021. One virtual public scoping 
meeting will be held on March 30, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. EST-9:00 p.m. 
EST. The public scoping meeting will be conducted in a virtual format 
with RUS and NextEra representatives. Attendees will be able to submit 
comments during the virtual public meeting orally or via the chat 
function. The public scoping meeting will be recorded and kept as part 
of the Project record. More information about the virtual public 
scoping meeting can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/environmental-studies.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or request further information, send a 
request to [email protected]. Due to the COVID 
19 epidemic, hard copies of mail will not be accepted.
    All project related information will be posted as it becomes 
available on the RUS' website located at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/environmentalstudy/skeleton-creek-EIS.
    As of this publication, an Alternatives Evaluation Study/Site 
Selection Study has been prepared for the Skeleton Creek Solar and 
Battery Storage Project and is currently available at RUS's website at: 
https://www.rd.usda.gov/environmentalstudy/skeleton-creek-EIS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, federal and state agencies 
and federally-recognized Tribes with jurisdiction or special expertise 
are invited to be cooperating agencies. Such agencies or Tribes may 
make a request to RUS to be a cooperating agency by contacting the RUS 
at the email address provided in this notice below. On January 7, 2021 
USDA's Chief Environmental Review and Policy Officer (CERPO) invited 
federal agencies to cooperate in the preparation of the EIS. The US 
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has indicated that they intend to 
participate as a cooperating agency. Designated cooperating agencies 
have certain responsibilities to support the NEPA and scoping process, 
as specified at 40 CFR 1501.6(b). In addition, with this notice RUS 
invites any affected federal, state, and local agencies; Tribes; and 
other interested persons to comment on the scope, alternatives, and 
significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS.
    The proposed Project is considered an undertaking subject to review 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 
United States Code 470(f), and its implementing regulation, 
``Protection of Historic Properties'' (36 CFR 800). Any party wishing 
to participate directly with RUS as a ``consulting party'' in NHPA 
Section 106 review may submit a written request to the RUS email 
address provided below. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.3(f)(3), RUS will 
consider, and provide a timely response to, any and all requests for 
consulting party status.
    The Project consists of a 250-MW solar array, plus 200-MW/800-MWh 
storage facility that will utilize PV modules. The Project will be 
located entirely on privately owned farmland, rural residences, and 
riparian areas in a rural area in Garfield County, Oklahoma. The 
Application Area encompasses approximately 12,250 acres. Within the 
Application Area, construction will occur on an approximately 4,500- to 
6,000-acre project area.
    The Project consists of four major components: PV solar arrays (the 
main Project footprint), energy storage facilities (batteries, racking, 
inverters), linear facilities (as further described below), and 
transmission interconnection facilities (a substation/switchyard that 
interconnects to the existing OG&E 345-kV Woodring Substation via an 
estimated 2- to 4-mile gen-tie).
    The Applicant entered into a power purchase agreement with Western 
Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) for the solar and energy storage 
project. WFEC's objective is to provide safe, adequate, and reliable 
power to its members at the lowest reasonable cost. The Project will 
allow the Applicant to provide the additional generation capacity 
needed by WFEC to achieve these goals and to serve electrical needs 
within the service territories of their member cooperatives.
    Among the alternatives that RUS will address in the EIS is the No 
Action alternative, under which the proposal will not be undertaken or 
if RUS did not fund the proposed Project, and any reasonable 
alternatives defined as a result of the scoping process. In the EIS, 
the effects of the proposal will be compared to the existing conditions 
in the affected area of the proposal. Public health and safety, 
environmental impacts, socio-economic, and engineering aspects of the 
proposal will also be considered in the EIS.
    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 NHPA (Section 106) and its 
implementing regulation, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' (36 CFR 
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 NHPA Section 106 review. 
Accordingly, comments submitted in response to this Notice will inform 
RUS decision-making during NHPA Section 106 review.
    RUS will use input provided by government agencies, private 
organizations, and the public in the preparation of a Draft EIS. The 
Draft EIS will be filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) and will be available for public comment 45 days from the date 
the EPA publishes its Federal Register notice. A Final EIS that 
considers all comments received will subsequently be prepared. The 
Final EIS will be available for review and comment for 30 days. 
Following the 30-day comment period, RUS will prepare a Record of 
Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft EIS, 
the Final EIS, and the ROD will be published in the Federal Register 
and in local newspapers.
    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

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Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR 1970.

Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05255 Filed 3-12-21; 8:45 am]
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