Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 118 / Monday, June 22, 2009 / Notices 29465 

public scoping meeting, at the Agency’s 

address provided in this notice, at the 

Agency’s Web site: http:// 

www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/eis.htm at 

Oglethorpe Power Corporation, 2100 

East Exchange Place, Tucker, Georgia, 

and at the following locations: 

Appling County Public Library, 244 E. 

Parker Street, Baxley, GA 31513, 

Phone: (912) 367–8103. 

Warren County Public Library, 10 

Warren Street, Warrenton, GA 30828, 

Phone: (706) 465–2656. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Oglethorpe proposes to construct a new 

100-MW biomass power plant in 

Appling County near Baxley, Georgia. 

The proposal is to meet, in part, the 

future demand of Oglethorpe’s Members 

to provide a reliable, long-term supply 

of renewable and sustainable energy. 

Oglethorpe is seeking financing from 

RUS for its investment. The proposal is 

classified in 7 CFR 1794.25 as requiring 

an EIS. 

Prior to making a financial decision 

about whether to provide financial 

assistance for a proposal, RUS is 

required to conduct an environmental 

review under the NEPA in accordance 

with the Agency policies and 

procedures codified in 7 CFR part 1794. 

These regulations require the Agency to 

consider engineering alternatives 

including no action, load management, 

conservation measures, and reactive 

power supply. 

Government agencies, private 

organizations, and the public, are 

invited to participate in the planning 

and analysis of the proposed projects. 

Representatives from the Agency and 

Oglethorpe will be available at the 

scoping meetings to discuss the 

environmental review process, describe 

the proposals, discuss the scope of 

environmental issues to be considered, 

answer questions, and accept 

comments. As part of its broad 

environmental review process, the 

Agency 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), 

the Agency 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 

scoping will inform Agency decision 

making in Section 106 review. Any 

party wishing to participate more 

directly with the Agency as a 

‘‘consulting party’’ in Section 106 

review may submit a written request to 

do so to the Agency contact at the above 

address. 

Using information from the 

Alternatives Report and considering 

input provided by government agencies, 

private organizations, and the public, 

RUS and Oglethorpe, in consultation 

with the cooperating agencies, will 

determine the scope of the EIS. Notices 

announcing the availability of the Draft 

EIS will be published in the Federal 

Register and local newspapers. 

Any final action by the Agency 

related to the proposal will be subject 

to, contingent upon, and in compliance 

with environmental review 

requirements and will be conducted as 

prescribed by the Agency’s 

environmental policies and procedures 

(7 CFR part 1794). 

Dated: June 12, 2009. 

Mark S. Plank, 

Director, Engineering and Environmental 

Staff, USDA Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–14561 Filed 6–19–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Inc.: 

Notice of Intent To Hold Public 

Scoping Meetings and Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold public 

scoping meetings and prepare two 

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) intends to hold public scoping 

meetings and prepare an Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its 

responsibilities under the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 7 

CFR part 1794 in connection with 

potential impacts related to projects 

proposed by Oglethorpe Power 

Corporation (Oglethorpe) of Tucker, 

Georgia. The proposal consists of the 

construction of a 100-MW biomass 

power plant in Appling County near 

Baxley, Georgia. Oglethorpe is 

requesting RUS to provide financial 

assistance for the proposed action. 

DATES: RUS will conduct a public 

scoping meeting in an open house 

format in order to provide information 

and solicit comments for the 

preparation of the EIS. The public 

meeting will be held on Wednesday, 

July 8, 2009 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at 

(Courthouse Annex at 69 Tippins Street, 

Baxley, Georgia 31513; telephone (912) 

367–8100) in Baxley, Georgia. All 

written questions and comments must 

be received by RUS by July 22, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for 

further information, contact Stephanie 

Strength, Environmental Protection 

Specialist, USDA Rural Development 

Utilities Programs, at 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, 

Washington, DC 20250–1571, or e-mail 

stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov. 

An Alternatives Report (AR) prepared 

by Oglethorpe will be available at the 

public scoping meeting, at the Agency’s 

address provided in this notice, at the 

Agency’s Web site: http:// 

www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/eis.htm, at 

Oglethorpe Power Corporation, 2100 

East Exchange Place, Tucker, Georgia, 

and at the following locations: 

Appling County Public Library, 244 E. 

Parker Street, Baxley, GA 31513, 

Phone: (912) 367–8103. 

Warren County Public Library, 10 

Warren Street, Warrenton, GA 30828, 

Phone: (706) 465–2656. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Oglethorpe proposes to construct a new 

100-MW biomass power plant in 

Appling County near Baxley, Georgia. 

The proposal is to meet, in part, the 

future demand of Oglethorpe’s Members 

to provide a reliable, long-term supply 

of renewable and sustainable energy. 

Oglethorpe is seeking financing from 

RUS for its investment. The proposal is 

classified in 7 CFR 1794.25 as requiring 

an EIS. 

Prior to making a financial decision 

about whether to provide financial 

assistance for a proposal, RUS is 

required to conduct an environmental 

review under the NEPA in accordance 

with the Agency policies and 

procedures codified in 7 CFR part 1794. 

These regulations require the Agency to 

consider engineering alternatives 

including no action, load management, 

conservation measures, and reactive 

power supply. 

Government agencies, private 

organizations, and the public, are 

invited to participate in the planning 

and analysis of the proposed projects. 

Representatives from the Agency and 

Oglethorpe will be available at the 

scoping meetings to discuss the 

environmental review process, describe 

the proposals, discuss the scope of 

environmental issues to be considered, 

answer questions, and accept 

comments. As part of its broad 

environmental review process, the 

Agency 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 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
29466 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 118 / Monday, June 22, 2009 / Notices 

800). Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), 

the Agency 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 

scoping will inform Agency decision 

making in Section 106 review. Any 

party wishing to participate more 

directly with the Agency as a 

‘‘consulting party’’ in Section 106 

review may submit a written request to 

do so to the Agency contact at the above 

address. 

Using information from the 

Alternatives Report and considering 

input provided by government agencies, 

private organizations, and the public, 

RUS and Oglethorpe, in consultation 

with the cooperating agencies, will 

determine the scope of the EIS. Notices 

announcing the availability of the Draft 

EIS will be published in the Federal 

Register and local newspapers. 

Any final action by the Agency 

related to the proposal will be subject 

to, contingent upon, and in compliance 

with environmental review 

requirements will be conducted as 

prescribed by the Agency’s 

environmental policies and procedures 

(7 CFR part 1794). 

Dated: June 12, 2009. 

Mark S. Plank, 

Director, Engineering and Environmental 

Staff, USDA Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–14563 Filed 6–19–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Ketchikan Resource Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Ketchikan Resource 

Advisory Committee will meet in 

Ketchikan, Alaska, July 23, 2009. The 

purpose of this meeting is to discuss 

potential projects under the Secure 

Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2008. 

DATES: The meeting will be held July 23, 

2009 at 6 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center 

Learning Room (back entrance), 50 Main 

Street, Ketchikan, Alaska. Send written 

comments to Ketchikan Resource 

Advisory Committee, c/o District 

Ranger, USDA Forest Service, 3031 

Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK 99901, or 

electronically to Diane Daniels, RAC 

Coordinator at ddaniels@fs.fed.us. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Diane Daniels, RAC Coordinator 

Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District, 

Tongass National Forest, (907) 228– 

4105. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. 

Committee discussion is limited to 

Forest Service staff and Committee 

members. However, public input 

opportunity will be provided and 

individuals will have the opportunity to 

address the Committee at that time. 

Dated: June 3, 2009. 

Forrest Cole, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E9–14311 Filed 6–19–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

AGENCY: Notice of Resource Advisory 

Committee, Custer, South Dakota, USDA 

Forest Service. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to authorities in the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Law 

92–463) and Public Law 110–343, 

enacted on October 3, 2008, 

reauthorizing and amending the Secure 

Rural Schools and Community Self 

Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106– 

393), the Black Hills National Forest 

Custer County Resource Advisory 

Committee will meet on Wednesday, 

June 24, 2009 in Custer, South Dakota. 

The meeting is open to the public. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting on June 24, 2009 will begin at 

5:30 p.m. at the Black Hills National 

Forest Supervisor’s Office at 25041 

North Highway 16, Custer, South 

Dakota. Agenda topics will be Project 

status update and general business. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lynn Kolund, Hell Canyon District 

Ranger and Designated Federal Official, 

at 605–673–4853. 

Lynn Kolund, 

District Ranger. 

[FR Doc. E9–14619 Filed 6–19–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Plan Revision for the Kooentai 

National Forest, Montana and the 

Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 

Idaho 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of adjustment for 

resuming the land management plan 

revision process. 

SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service is 

resuming preparation of the Kootenai 

and Idaho Panhandle National Forests 

revised land management plans as 

directed by the National Forest 

Management Act (NFMA). The Kootenai 

and Idaho Panhandle National Forests 

comprise the Kootenai and Idaho 

Panhandle Planning Zone (KIPZ). 

Preparation of the revised plan was 

halted when the 2005 Forest Service 

planning rule was enjoined. A new 

planning rule (36 CFR part 219) took 

effect on April 21, 2008, allowing the 

planning process to be resumed. This 

notice marks the resumption of the 

Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National 

Forests plan revision process under the 

new planning rule. 

ADDRESSES: Information on this revision 

is available at Kootenai and Idaho 

Panhandle National Forests revision 

Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/kipz. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Linda Clark, Interdisciplinary Team 

Leader, Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle 

Planning Zone (KIPZ), 83815 Schreiber 

Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815, (208) 

765–7417 or laclark@fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use telecommunication 

devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the 

Federal Information Relay Service 

(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 

a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday 

through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Notification of adjustment of plan 

revision process for the Kootenai and 

Idaho Panhandle National Forests 

planning zone (KIPZ) land management 

plan was provided in the Federal 

Register, 70 FR 28901, May 19, 2005. 

The plan revision was initiated under 

the planning procedures contained in 

the 2005 Forest Service planning rule 

(36 CFR part 219 (2005)). On March 30, 

2007, the Federal district court for the 

Northern District of California enjoined 

the Department from implementing and 

using the 2005 planning rule until the 

Agency complied with the court’s order 

regarding the National Environmental 

Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, 

and the Administrative Procedure Act 

(Citizens for Better Forestry v. USDA, 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES