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Earth Resources, Inc.: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: January 11, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 7)]
[Notices]
[Page 1315]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ja07-31]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

Earth Resources, Inc.: 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, an agency which administers the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs
(USDA Rural Development) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA)
related to possible financial assistance to Earth Resources, Inc. (ERI)
for the proposed construction of Plant Carl, a 20-megawatt electric
power generation plant proposed to be built by Earth Resources, Inc.
(ERI) in Franklin County, Georgia. ERI is requesting the USDA Rural
Development to provide financial assistance for the proposed project.

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received on or before
February 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The EA will be available for public review at the USDA Rural
Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail
Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571; at the USDA Rural Development's
Web site--http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm; at ERI's
headquarters office located at 774 Highway 320, Carnesville, Georgia
30521; and two Franklin County Public Library locations:

Lavonia Carnegie Library, 28 Hartwell Road, Lavonia, Georgia 30553.
Royston Public Library, 684 Franklin Springs Street, Royston, Georgia
30662.

    Written comments should be sent to: Ms. Stephanie Strength,
Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities
Programs, Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, or e-mail: 
Stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Strength, Environmental
Protection Specialist, USDA, Rural Development, Utilities Programs,
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Mail Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (202) 720-0468.
Ms. Strength's e-mail address is stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project area is located in
Franklin County, Georgia. The proposal will be sited on a previously
graded five acre portion of a 139-acre property zoned Commercial and
Industrial. The proposal includes the generation plant and accessory
structures, fuel storage and handling areas, traffic circulation and
parking areas, waste holding areas, and stormwater management features.
Approximately ten additional acres will be devoted to a spray
application water treatment system for which no new clearing and
grading will be required. The remaining acres will be maintained as
natural area buffers.
    Alternatives considered by the USDA Rural Development and ERI
included: (a) No action, (b) alternate locations, (c) alternate methods
to provide service, (d) alternate construction methods and materials,
(e) alternate designs, (f) load management and energy conservation
options, and (g) alternate generation technologies. An Environmental
Report that described the proposed project in detail and discussed its
anticipated environmental impacts has been accepted by USDA Rural
Development as the EA for the proposed project. The EA is available for
public review at addresses provided above in this Notice.
    Questions and comments should be sent to Ms. Stephanie Strength,
USDA Rural Development at the mailing or e-mail addresses provided
above in this Notice. The USDA Rural Development should receive
comments on the EA in writing by February 12, 2007 to ensure that they
are considered in the environmental impact determination.
    Should the USDA Rural Development determine, based on the EA, that
the impacts of the construction and operation of the project would not
have a significant environmental impact, it will prepare a Finding of
No Significant Impact. Public notification of a Finding of No
Significant Impact would be published in the Federal Register and in
newspapers with circulation in the project area.
    Any final action by the USDA Rural Development related to the
proposed project 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 the USDA Rural Development's Environmental Policies and
Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).

Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-217 Filed 1-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

 
 

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