97-17465. Georgia Transmission Corp.; Finding of No Significant Impact

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35786-35787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17465]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Georgia Transmission Corp.; Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to a 
request by Georgia Transmission Corporation for approval to construct 
the proposed 115/25 kV St. George Substation and 115 kV St. George 
Transmission Line. The FONSI is based on a borrower's environmental 
report (BER) submitted to RUS by Georgia Transmission Corporation. RUS 
conducted an independent evaluation of the report and concurs with its 
scope and content. In accordance with RUS Environmental Policies and 
Procedures, 7 CFR 1794.61, RUS has adopted the BER as its environmental 
assessment for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Quigel, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Engineering and Environmental Staff, RUS, Stop 1571, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-1571, telephone (202) 
720-0468, E-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The substation and transmission line are 
proposed to be located in Charlton County, Georgia. The transmission 
line will interconnect with Georgia Power Company's existing 115 kV 
Kettle Creek to Folkston Transmission Line at a point northwest of the 
town of Homeland, traverse south past the west side of Folkston, and 
terminate east of St. George just south of Highway 94 and west of the 
St. Mary River at the site of the proposed St. George Substation. 
Approximately 1.7 acres of land will be disturbed to accommodate 
placement of the St. George Substation. The length of the transmission 
line is approximately 27.5 miles. The width of the proposed 
transmission line right-of-way will be 75 feet for most of the route 
with the right-of-way being expanded to 100 feet in wetland areas where 
maintenance access will need to be increased so that adverse impacts to 
wetland areas can be avoided.
    RUS considered the alternatives of no action, constructing a 230/25 
kV substation at the proposed St. George Substation site and the 
construction of 65 miles of 230 kV transmission line from Waycross to 
the proposed substation site. Under the no action alternative, RUS 
would not approve construction of the substation and transmission line. 
Since RUS believes that Georgia Transmission Corporation has a need to 
upgrade its transmission facilities to relieve overloading on two of 
Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation's existing circuits in 
the area and to allow Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation 
to serve a new wood chip mill near St. George, the no action 
alternative is not considered acceptable. Construction of the proposed 
115/25 kV substation and 115 kV transmission line is preferred to

[[Page 35787]]

the alternative of constructing a 230/25 kV substation and a 230 kV 
transmission line which would be over twice a long. This is due 
primarily to additional project cost and the greater amount of 
environmental impact that would likely result from a longer 
transmission line. Three substation sites and three transmission line 
routes were considered. The preferred substation site will require the 
least amount of vegetation clearing and least impact to land use. The 
preferred transmission line route is longer than the two alternative 
routes considered; however, it is preferred because it avoids impacts 
to the more densely developed areas around the cities of Folkston and 
St. George and it would affect fewer residential properties and 
historic resources known to occur in the project area.
    Copies of the BER and FONSI are available for review at, or can be 
obtained from, RUS at the address provided herein or from Mr. Clayton 
M. Doherty, Construction and Project Management Department, Georgia 
Transmission Corporation, P.O. Box 2088, 2100 East Exchange Place, 
Tucker, Georgia 30085-2088, telephone [phone], E-mail 
[e-mail].

    Dated June 30, 1997.
Blaine D. Stockton, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator, Electric Program.
[FR Doc. 97-17465 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P