[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54084-54085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22063]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 171 / Friday, September 3, 2010 /
Notices
[[Page 54084]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative: Notice of Availability of
an Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment for
public review.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has issued an Environmental
Assessment (EA) to meet its responsibilities under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and RUS's Environmental and Policies
and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794) in relation to possible financial
assistance for a proposed project by Southern Maryland Electric
Cooperative (SMECO), with headquarters in Hughesville, Maryland. The
proposal consists of the construction of a 30-mile 230 kilovolt (kV)
transmission line (which includes a river crossing), a new 230/69 kV
switching station, and a 230/69 kV switching station expansion in
Calvert and St. Mary's Counties, Maryland. SMECO is requesting that RUS
provide financial assistance for the proposal. RUS is considering
funding this proposal, thereby making it an undertaking subject to
review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA), 16 USC 470(f), and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of
Historic Properties'' (36 CFR Part 800).
DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before
October 4, 2010.
ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the EA or for further information,
contact: Ms. Lauren McGee, Environmental Scientist, USDA/RUS, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2244-S, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-
1571, telephone: (202) 720-1482, fax: (202) 690-0649, or e-mail:
[email protected]. A copy of the EA may be viewed online at:
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm; at the RUS address provided
in this Notice; at SMECO's Calvert Regional Office, located at: 901
Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD; and at SMECO's St. Mary's
Regional Office, located at: 23365 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SMECO proposes to construct a 230 kV
transmission line between the existing Holland Cliff Switching Station
in Calvert County to the existing Hewitt Road Switching Station in St.
Mary's County, Maryland. The proposal has five segments and includes:
(1) The installation of approximately 18 miles of new 230 kV single
pole, double-circuit transmission line from the Holland Cliff switching
station to a new switching station located in Southern Calvert; (2) the
installation of the new Sollers Wharf 230/69 kV switching station; (3)
the installation of approximately 10 miles of new 230 kV single pole,
double-circuit transmission line from the new Southern Calvert
switching station to the existing Hewitt Road switching station; (4)
the installation of approximately 2 miles of 230 kV underground
transmission cable circuit across the lower Patuxent River; and (5) the
expansion of the existing 230 kV ring bus at Hewitt Road switching
station to accommodate the new 230 kV transmission line from Southern
Calvert. Throughout the right-of-way, the existing 69 kV poles would be
removed, and new 230 kV poles would be installed. The existing 69 kV
and new 230 kV lines would be installed on the new poles. This
configuration would allow the use of the existing 69 kV transmission
line right-of-way and preclude the need for additional easement
acquisition. The preferred site of the new Sollers Wharf switching
station is located near the intersection of Sollers Wharf Road and
Pardoe Road, west of Maryland Highway \2/4\ and near the Calvert Cliffs
tap. Approximately six to ten acres of the 40-acre site would be
disturbed during construction. The remainder of the site would serve as
a buffer. Construction of the proposal is anticipated for completion in
2015.
A Notice of Intent to prepare an EA and hold a scoping meeting was
published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2008; in the Enterprise
(St. Mary's County) on August 29, 2008; and in the Calvert Recorder on
August 29, 2008. A public meeting was held on September 11, 2008, in
SMECO's Calvert Regional Office located at: 901 Dares Beach Road,
Prince Frederick, Maryland. A summary of public comments can be found
at the RUS Web site listed in this Notice.
As part of its 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 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 from the public submitted in response to scoping
will inform RUS decision making in its Section 106 review of the
proposal. RUS has made the determination that the proposal would have
no adverse effects to historic properties listed in or eligible for
listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Because the proposal may involve action in floodplains or wetlands,
this Notice also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland
action. The EA includes a floodplain/wetland assessment and floodplain/
wetland statement of findings.
Alternatives considered by RUS and SMECO include (a) no action, (b)
alternate engineering solutions (including new generation and five
transmission system alternatives), and (c) alternate sites. An
environmental report that describes the proposal in detail and
discusses its anticipated environmental impacts has been prepared by
Black and Veatch. RUS has reviewed and accepted the document as its EA
of the proposal. The EA is available for public review at the addresses
provided in this Notice. Questions and comments should be sent to RUS
at the mailing or e-mail addresses provided in this Notice. RUS should
receive comments on the EA in writing by October 4, 2010 to ensure that
they are considered in its environmental impact determination.
Should RUS, based on its EA of the proposal, determine that the
impacts of the construction and operation of the proposal would not
have a significant
[[Page 54085]]
environmental impact, it will prepare a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI). Public notification of a FONSI would be published in
the Federal Register and in newspapers with circulation in the proposal
area.
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 prescribed in RUS's Environmental
Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1794).
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff USDA, Rural Utilities
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-22063 Filed 9-2-10; 8:45 am]
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