[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 119 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34914-34915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13895]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Georgia Transmission Corporation: 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), an agency delivering the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or
the Agency, has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with
respect to a request for possible financing assistance to Georgia
Transmission Corporation for the construction of the approximately
38.7-mile Thomson-Warthen 500 kV transmission line connecting GTC's
Thomson Primary 500/230/115/46 kV Substation in McDuffie County,
Georgia to their Warthen 500 kV Switching Station in Washington County,
Georgia.
ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the EA and FONSI, or for further
information, contact: Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection
Specialist, USDA, Rural Development Utilities Programs, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571,Washington, DC 20250-1571,
Telephone: (202) 720-0468 or e-mail: [email protected].
The EA and FONSI are also available for public review at USDA Rural
Development, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1571,
and at Georgia Transmission headquarters at 2100 East Exchange Place,
Tucker, GA.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project consists of the
construction of approximately 38.7 miles of 500 kV Transmission Lines
on a 150-foot right of way. The transmission line conductors and static
wire would be strung on lattice steel structures ranging in height from
80 feet to 150 feet. The transmission line would traverse McDuffie,
Warren, Glascock, and Washington Counties in Georgia.
Alternatives considered by USDA Rural Development and Georgia
Transmission Corporation include: (a) No action, (b) alternative
transmission improvements, and (c) alternate transmission line
corridors. The alternatives are discussed in the Thomson-Warthen 500 kV
Transmission Line Environmental Report (ER). The USDA Rural Development
has accepted the ER as its EA for the proposed project.
The availability of the EA for public review was announced via a
legal notice and display ad in the Federal Register and in the
following newspapers: The News and Farmer, Jefferson Reporter, and The
Sandersville Progress on April 30, 2008. The Warrenton Clipper and The
McDuffie Progress published the ads on May 1, 2008. A 30-day comment
period was announced in the newspaper's legal notice section and the
Federal Register. The EA was available for public review at the USDA
Rural Development office and Web site as well
[[Page 34915]]
as Georgia Transmission Corporation's offices. No comments were
received by USDA Rural Development or Georgia Transmission Corporation.
Based on its EA and commitments made by GTC in the EA, USDA Rural
Development has concluded that the project would have no significant
impact (or no impacts) to water quality, wetlands, the 100-year
floodplain, land use, aesthetics, transportation, or human health and
safety. The proposed project will have no adverse effect on resources
listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic
Places. USDA Rural Development has also concluded that the proposed
project is not likely to affect Federally listed threatened and
endangered species or designated critical habitat thereof. The proposed
project would not disproportionately affect minority and/or low-income
populations.
No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposed
project have been identified. Therefore, USDA Rural Development has
determined that this FONSI fulfills its obligations under the National
Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and
USDA Rural Development's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR
Part 1794) for its action related to the project.
USDA Rural Development is satisfied that the environmental impacts
of the proposed project have been adequately addressed. Since USDA
Rural Development's Federal action would not result in significant
impacts to the quality of the human environment, it will not prepare an
environmental impact statement for its action related to the proposed
project.
Dated: June 16, 2008.
James R. Newby,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E8-13895 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P