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Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative; Notice of Intent To Hold a Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment 

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[Federal Register: August 27, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 167)]
[Notices]
[Page 50592]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au08-18]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative; Notice of Intent To Hold
a Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare
an Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs,
hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, intends to
hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an Environmental Assessment
(EA) in connection with potential impacts related to a proposal by
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), with headquarters in
Hughesville, Maryland. The proposal consists of the construction of
approximately 30 miles of 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line, a new
230/69 kV switching station, a 230/69 kV switching station expansion,
and a river crossing located in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties in
Maryland.

DATES: USDA Rural Development will conduct a scoping meeting in an open
house format, seeking the input of the public and other interested
parties. The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., on
September 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The September 11, 2008 meeting will be held at the SMECO
office located at 901 Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick, Maryland.
The SMECO phone number is 888-440-3311.
    An Electric Alternatives Evaluation and Macro Corridor Study Report
will be available at the public scoping meeting, at USDA Rural
Development's address provided in this notice, at their Web site:
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ea.htm, and at SMECO, 15035 Burnt
Store Road, Hughesville, Maryland 20637.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie A. Strength, Environmental
Protection Specialist, USDA Rural Development, Utilities Programs,
Engineering and Environmental Staff, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Stop
1571, Washington, DC 20250, or e-mail stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
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 comprises five segments and includes (1) The installation of
approximately 20 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 Southern Calvert 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 will be
removed and the existing 69 kV conductors will be installed on the new
230 kV poles along with the new 230 kV conductors. This configuration
will allow the use of the existing 69 kV transmission line right-of-way
and preclude the need for additional right-of-way land acquisition.
    The proposed location of the new switching station will be in
southern Calvert County, possibly near Lusby, Maryland, along the
existing 69 kV transmission line right-of-way. The site is anticipated
to be approximately 25 acres to accommodate the switching station
equipment and a buffer. Switching station sites will be further
assessed in the Environmental Assessment.
    The Patuxent River crossing will be approximately two miles, in the
vicinity of the existing 69 kV underground transmission line, near the
Thomas Johnson Bridge. Alternative crossing locations as well as
construction alternatives were considered in order to improve
maintenance capabilities, mitigate environmental impact, and reduce
proposal costs. Alternatives include (1) installation of a submarine
cable jetted into the bottom of the Patuxent River, and (2) attaching
the 230 kV underground cable circuit to the existing bridge or a future
bridge planned near the existing Thomas Johnson Bridge. Construction of
the proposal is anticipated for completion in 2015.
    Government agencies, private organizations, and the public are
invited to participate in the planning and analysis of the proposed
project. Representatives from USDA Rural Development and Southern
Maryland Electric Cooperative will be available at the scoping meeting
to discuss the environmental review process, describe the proposal,
answer questions, and receive comments. Comments regarding the proposed
action may be submitted (orally or in writing) at the public scoping
meeting or in writing by October 11, 2008 at the USDA Rural Development
address provided in this notice.
    From information provided in the Electric Alternatives Evaluation
and Macro Corridor Study Report, from government agencies, private
organizations, and the public, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
will prepare an environmental analysis to be submitted to USDA Rural
Development for review. USDA Rural Development will review the
environmental analysis and determine the significance of the impacts of
the proposal. If accepted, the document will be adopted as the
environmental assessment (EA) for the proposal. USDA Rural
Development's EA would be available for review and comment for 30 days.
Should the USDA Rural Development determine, based on the EA for the
proposal, that impacts associated with the construction and operation
of the proposal would not have a significant 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 USDA Rural Development related to the proposal
would be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with environmental
review requirements as prescribed by the USDA Rural Development' s
environmental policies and procedures (7 CFR 1794).

    Dated: August 22, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-19792 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

 
 

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