17448 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 15, 2009 / Notices 

1976 National Forest Management Act 

(NFMA) (16 U.S.C., Sec. 1600–1614), 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

of 1969, and the proposed 2008 NFMA 

Planning Rule (36 CFR, part 219) to 

collect information pertaining to 

national forest values for use in the 

preparation of land management plans. 

The purpose of landscape value and 

special-place mapping as a part of the 

public participation process is to 

provide national forest land managers 

and planners with scientifically credible 

information about forest values from a 

broad representation of the public and 

from citizens who express interest in a 

national forest’s planning process. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

national forests will invite the public to 

share values regarding specific forest 

landscapes and special places. Forest 

planners and managers will use the 

information in the revision of specific 

national forest plans and to develop 

land management plans that are 

consistent with public values, while 

working within the regulatory 

framework. This information will be 

collected using an Internet-based 

geographic information system (GIS) 

and a comparable paper-based system 

provided to individuals without access 

to the Internet. 

Description of Respondents: 

Individuals or households. 

Number of Respondents: 5,500. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

One time. 

Total Burden Hours: 2,685. 

Charlene Parker, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–8648 Filed 4–14–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

PowerSouth Energy Cooperative 

Incorporated: Notice of Availability of 

an Environmental Assessment 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of an 

Environmental Assessment for Public 

Review. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) has prepared an Environmental 

Assessment (EA) to meet its 

responsibilities under the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 

the Agency’s environmental policies 

and procedures (7 CFR 1794) related to 

possible financial assistance to 

PowerSouth Energy Cooperative 

Incorporated (PowerSouth). PowerSouth 

is requesting financial assistance for the 

construction of a new 360-megawatt 

(MW) peaking-load gas-fired generation 

facility at the existing McIntosh Power 

Plant in Washington County, Alabama. 

The proposed new unit is needed to 

provide additional electric generating 

capacity that would allow PowerSouth 

to meet its projected electrical peaking 

demand in 2010. 

DATES: Written comments on this Notice 

must be received on or before May 15, 

2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact Stephanie Strength, 

Environmental Protection Specialist, 

USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Room 

2244, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 

20250–1571, or e-mail 

stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be 

submitted to Stephanie Strength, 

Environmental Protection Specialist, 

USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Room 

2244, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 

20250–1571, or e-mail 

stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov. 

A copy of the EA may be viewed 

online at the Agency’s Web site: 

http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ 

ea.htm or at PowerSouth Energy 

Cooperative, Inc., 2027 East Three 

Notch Street, Andalusia, Alabama 36420 

and at the following libraries: 

McIntosh Branch Library, 83 Olin Road, 

McIntosh, AL 36553, (251) 944–2047. 

Washington Public Library, 14102 St. 

Stephens Avenue, Chatom, AL 36515, 

(251) 847–2097. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, Inc. 

proposes to construct a new 360- 

megawatt peaking-load gas-fired 

generation facility at the existing 

McIntosh Power Plant in Washington 

County, Alabama with an in-service 

date of late 2010. The existing plant 

includes a compressed air energy 

storage (CAES) unit and two gas-fired 

combustion turbines (CTs) with a 

combined total capacity of 348 MW. The 

proposed 360 MW generating facility 

will consist of two simple-cycle 

combustion turbines, Siemens SCT6– 

5000F units, and generators plus 

associated support facilities. The site 

will be connected to the existing on-site 

transmission system. The existing 

substation will be rebuilt on the existing 

plant site to handle the three existing 

units and the two new units. The 

existing plant plus the new equipment, 

structures and other facilities will 

occupy the majority of the existing 42- 

acre power plant site. The CTs would 

operate on natural gas as a fuel source. 

The construction of the proposal is 

tentatively scheduled to begin in 2009 

with an estimated duration of two years. 

A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EA 

and Hold a Scoping Meeting was 

published in the Federal Register at 73 

FR 65830, on November 5, 2008, Mobile 

Press Register on November 6, 2008, 

The Washington County News on 

November 6, 2008, The South 

Alabamian on November 6, 2008, and 

The Clarke County Democrat on 

November 6, 2008. A public meeting 

was held on November 20, 2008, at the 

McIntosh Elementary School, 8945 

Highway 43 North, McIntosh, Alabama. 

A summary of public comments can be 

found at the Web site listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

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 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 submitted in 

response to this notice will assist RUS 

in meeting its section 106 review 

obligations. Any party wishing to 

participate more directly with RUS as a 

‘‘consulting party’’ in the section 106 

review process may submit a written 

request to the contact provided in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

Alternatives considered by RUS and 

PowerSouth included for the CTs were: 

(a) No action, (b) alternate sources of 

power, (c) load management, (d) 

renewable energy sources, (e) nonrenewable energy sources, and (f) 

alternate sites. An Environmental 

Report that describes the proposal in 

detail and discusses its anticipated 

environmental impacts has been 

prepared by PowerSouth. The Rural 

Utilities Service has independently 

reviewed and accepted the document as 

its EA of the proposal. The EA is 

available for public review at the 

addresses provided in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice. 

Questions and comments should be 

sent to RUS at the mailing or e-mail 

addresses provided in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice. RUS should 

receive comments on the EA in writing 

by May 15, 2009 to ensure that they are 

considered in its environmental impact 

determination. 

Should RUS determine, based on the 

EA, that the impacts of the construction 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 15, 2009 / Notices 17449 

and operation of the proposal 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 

will 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 

the RUS Environmental Policies and 

Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). 

Dated: March 30, 2009. 

Mark S. Plank, 

Director, Engineering and Environmental 

Staff, USDA/Rural Development/Utilities 

Programs. 

[FR Doc. E9–8546 Filed 4–14–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Raccoon Island Shore Protection/ 

Marsh Creation Project—Phase B (TE– 

48–B) Terrebonne Parish, LA 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of finding of no 

significant impact. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102 (2) 

(C) of the National Environmental 

Policy Act of 1969; the Council on 

Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 

CFR Part 1500); and the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service 

Guidelines (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, gives notice 

that an environmental impact statement 

is not being prepared for the Phase B 

portion of the Raccoon Island Shore 

Protection/Marsh Creation Project (TE– 

48–B), Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kevin D. Norton, State Conservationist, 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

3737 Government Street, Alexandria, 

Louisiana 71302; telephone (318) 473– 

7751. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A 

supplemental environmental assessment 

of the Federally assisted action indicates 

that the project will not cause 

significant local, regional, or national 

impacts on the environment. As a result 

of these findings, Kevin D. Norton, State 

Conservationist, has determined that 

preparation and review of an 

environmental impact statement is not 

needed for this project. 

The project will protect the Raccoon 

Island rookery and seabird colonies 

threatened by a retreating shoreline by 

reducing the rate of erosion along the 

northern end of the island by creating 

additional wetlands and avian habitat 

within the back bay area. The proposed 

project consists of creating 

approximately 68 acres of new habitat 

for bird species on the northeast portion 

of the island by backfilling open water 

areas with suitable dredged material and 

planting appropriate woody and 

herbaceous species. 

The Notice of Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 

forwarded to the Environmental 

Protection Agency and to various 

Federal, State, and local agencies and 

interested parties. A limited number of 

copies of the FONSI are available to fill 

single copy requests at the above 

address. Basic data collected during the 

environmental assessment are on file 

and may be reviewed by contacting 

Kevin D. Norton. 

No administrative action on 

implementation of the proposal will be 

taken until 30 days after the date of this 

publication in the Federal Register. 

Kevin D. Norton, 

State Conservationist. 

[FR Doc. E9–8534 Filed 4–14–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Ravalli County Resource Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Ravalli County Resource 

Advisory Committee will be conducting 

two monthly meetings for project 

presentations and will hold a short 

public forum (question and answer 

session). The meetings are being held 

pursuant to the authorities in the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. 

L. 106–939) and under the Secure Rural 

Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106– 

393). The meetings are open to the 

public. 

DATES: The meetings will be held on 

April 27–28, 2009, 6:30 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at 

the Bitterroot National Forest, 

Supervisor Office, Conference Room, 

1801 North First Street, Hamilton, 

Montana. Send written comments to 

Daniel Ritter, District Ranger, 

Stevensville Ranger District, 88 Main 

Street, Stevensville, MT 59870, by 

facsimile (406) 777–7423, or 

electronically to dritter@fs.fed.us. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Daniel Ritter, Stevensville District 

Ranger and Designated Federal Officer, 

Phone: (406) 777–5461. 

Dated: April 8, 2009. 

Julie K. King, 

Deputy Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E9–8469 Filed 4–14–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Notice of Meeting of the Agricultural 

Air Quality Task Force 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS). 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Air Quality 

Task Force (AAQTF) will meet to 

continue discussions on air quality 

issues relating to agriculture. 

DATES: The meeting will convene at 8 

a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, May 

6–7, 2009, and conclude at 5:15 p.m. 

and 6 p.m., respectively. A public 

comment period will be held on May 6, 

2009. Individuals making oral 

presentations should register in person 

at the meeting site and must bring 50 

copies of any material they would like 

distributed. Written materials for 

AAQTF’s consideration prior to the 

meeting must be received by Michele 

Laur (address given below) no later than 

April 20, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Radisson Hotel located at 2233 

Ventura Street, Fresno, California 

93721; telephone: (800) 617–1335 or 

(559) 268–1000. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions and comments should be 

directed to Michele Laur, Designated 

Federal Official. Ms. Laur may be 

contacted at NRCS, Post Office Box 

2890, Room 6165–S, Washington, DC 

20013; telephone: (202) 720–1858; email: michele.laur@wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of 

this meeting is given under the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 

2. Additional information concerning 

AAQTF, may be located on the Web site 

at http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/ 

AAQTF/. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS