Draft Environmental Assessment; Giant Miscanthus in Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, 19741 [2011-8421]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2011 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Draft Environmental Assessment;
Giant Miscanthus in Arkansas,
Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
Commodity Credit Corporation
and Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
availability of a draft environmental
assessment (EA) for the proposed
establishment and production of giant
miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) as
a dedicated energy crop to be grown in
the Aloterra Energy and MFA Oil
Biomass Company (project sponsors)
proposed project areas in Arkansas,
Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania as
part of the Biomass Crop Assistance
Program (BCAP). This notice provides a
means for the public to submit
comments to voice concerns about the
proposed BCAP project areas.
DATES: We will consider comments that
we receive by May 7, 2011. The Farm
Service Agency (FSA) will consider
comments received after that date to the
extent possible.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit
comments on the draft EA. In your
comment, include the volume, date, and
page number of this issue of the Federal
Register. You may submit comments by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-Mail: GiantMiscanthusEA
Comments@intenvsol.com.
• Fax: 972–562–7673 ATTN: Giant
Miscanthus EA Comments.
• Mail: Giant Miscanthus EA
Comments, Integrated Environmental
Solutions, LLC, 2150 S Central Expy Ste
110, McKinney, TX 75070.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver
comments to the above address.
Comments may be inspected in the
Office of the Director, CEPD, FSA,
USDA, Room 4709 South Building,
Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays.
You may request copies of the draft
EA for Giant Miscanthus by writing to:
Giant Miscanthus EA Copies, Integrated
Environmental Solutions, LLC, 2150 S
Central Expy, Ste 110, McKinney, TX
75070, or by e-mail to: rschneider@
intenvsol.com, with the subject:
‘‘Request for copy draft Giant
Miscanthus EA.’’
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:41 Apr 07, 2011
Jkt 223001
Matthew Ponish, (202) 720–6853.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication
(braille, large print, audio tape, etc.)
should contact the USDA Target Center
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Aloterra Energy and MFA Oil Biomass
Company submitted a proposal to FSA
to establish BCAP project areas in
Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania. The proposal is to
establish and produce giant miscanthus
as a dedicated energy crop. The draft EA
analyzes the environmental impacts of
growing giant miscanthus in those areas.
FSA will review comments submitted
on the draft EA in response to this
notice and use the additional input in
developing the final EA and decision
document about whether to approve the
project or not. This notice announces
the availability of the draft EA and the
opening of the comment period; it does
not discuss the contents of the draft EA.
The draft EA for the proposed BCAP
project areas supporting the
establishment and production of Giant
Miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) in
Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania sponsored by Aloterra
Energy LLC and MFA Oil Biomass LLC
is now available to review for the
environmental impact.
The draft EA was prepared in
accordance with the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347); the
regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR
parts 1500–1508); and FSA regulations
for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR 799).
As specified in the CEQ regulation, an
EA is ‘‘ * * * a concise document for
which a Federal agency is responsible
that serves to (1) briefly provide
sufficient evidence and analysis for
determining whether to prepare an
environmental impact statement [EIS] or
(2) a finding of no significant impact’’
(40 CFR 1508.9). Additionally, since
this document falls under the guidance
of the BCAP final programmatic EIS
(PEIS), which was a broad national-level
program document, CEQ guidance
allows for ‘‘tiering.’’ The CEQ regulation
states that tiering ‘‘refers to the coverage
of general matters in broader
environmental impact statements with
subsequent narrower statements or
environmental analyses incorporating
by reference the general discussions and
concentrating solely on the issues
specific to the statement subsequently
prepared’’ (40 CFR 1508.28).
Section 9001 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19741
(Pub. L. 110–246, commonly referred to
as the 2008 Farm Bill) authorizes BCAP.
BCAP is administered by the FSA
Deputy Administrator for Farm
Programs, on behalf of the Commodity
Credit Corporation (CCC), with the
support of other Federal and local
agencies. BCAP is intended to assist
agricultural and forest land owners and
operators with the establishment and
production of eligible crops in selected
project areas for conversion to
bioenergy, and the collection, harvest,
storage, and transportation of eligible
material for use in a biomass conversion
facility.
On October 27, 2010, CCC published
the Record of Decision (ROD) for the
BCAP final PEIS (75 FR 65995–66007)
and BCAP final rule (76 FR 66202–
66243) in the Federal Register. As part
of the mitigation measures detailed in
the ROD, each project proposal is
subject to a NEPA analysis prior to
approval of the project area proposal.
The initial environmental evaluation of
a project area proposal is based on
information contained in specific forms:
BCAP–19, BCAP–20, BCAP–21, and
BCAP–22, with supporting information.
After this initial evaluation FSA can
conclude either that:
(1) No additional environmental
analyses are applicable due to no
potential for the proposed BCAP activity
to significantly impact the environment,
or
(2) Additional environmental analyses
in the form of an EA or EIS are
necessary, depending upon the potential
level of significance.
Due to inconclusive results in the
initial environmental evaluation, FSA is
required to do an EA to make a
determination whether there could be
significant environmental impacts.
The draft EA can be reviewed online
at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/
webapp?area=home&subject=ecrc
&topic=nep-cd.
Signed in Washington, DC on April 5,
2011.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation, and Acting
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011–8421 Filed 4–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 2011–0004]
Exemption for Retail Store Operations
Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM
08APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 19741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8421]
[[Page 19741]]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Draft Environmental Assessment; Giant Miscanthus in Arkansas,
Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a draft
environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed establishment and
production of giant miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) as a dedicated
energy crop to be grown in the Aloterra Energy and MFA Oil Biomass
Company (project sponsors) proposed project areas in Arkansas,
Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance
Program (BCAP). This notice provides a means for the public to submit
comments to voice concerns about the proposed BCAP project areas.
DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by May 7, 2011. The
Farm Service Agency (FSA) will consider comments received after that
date to the extent possible.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on the draft EA. In your
comment, include the volume, date, and page number of this issue of the
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
E-Mail: GiantMiscanthusEAComments@intenvsol.com.
Fax: 972-562-7673 ATTN: Giant Miscanthus EA Comments.
Mail: Giant Miscanthus EA Comments, Integrated
Environmental Solutions, LLC, 2150 S Central Expy Ste 110, McKinney, TX
75070.
Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above
address.
Comments may be inspected in the Office of the Director, CEPD, FSA,
USDA, Room 4709 South Building, Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
You may request copies of the draft EA for Giant Miscanthus by
writing to: Giant Miscanthus EA Copies, Integrated Environmental
Solutions, LLC, 2150 S Central Expy, Ste 110, McKinney, TX 75070, or by
e-mail to: rschneider@intenvsol.com, with the subject: ``Request for
copy draft Giant Miscanthus EA.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Ponish, (202) 720-6853.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication (braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact
the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Aloterra Energy and MFA Oil Biomass
Company submitted a proposal to FSA to establish BCAP project areas in
Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The proposal is to
establish and produce giant miscanthus as a dedicated energy crop. The
draft EA analyzes the environmental impacts of growing giant miscanthus
in those areas. FSA will review comments submitted on the draft EA in
response to this notice and use the additional input in developing the
final EA and decision document about whether to approve the project or
not. This notice announces the availability of the draft EA and the
opening of the comment period; it does not discuss the contents of the
draft EA.
The draft EA for the proposed BCAP project areas supporting the
establishment and production of Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus X
giganteus) in Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania sponsored by
Aloterra Energy LLC and MFA Oil Biomass LLC is now available to review
for the environmental impact.
The draft EA was prepared in accordance with the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347); the
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR parts
1500-1508); and FSA regulations for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR 799).
As specified in the CEQ regulation, an EA is `` * * * a concise
document for which a Federal agency is responsible that serves to (1)
briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining
whether to prepare an environmental impact statement [EIS] or (2) a
finding of no significant impact'' (40 CFR 1508.9). Additionally, since
this document falls under the guidance of the BCAP final programmatic
EIS (PEIS), which was a broad national-level program document, CEQ
guidance allows for ``tiering.'' The CEQ regulation states that tiering
``refers to the coverage of general matters in broader environmental
impact statements with subsequent narrower statements or environmental
analyses incorporating by reference the general discussions and
concentrating solely on the issues specific to the statement
subsequently prepared'' (40 CFR 1508.28).
Section 9001 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(Pub. L. 110-246, commonly referred to as the 2008 Farm Bill)
authorizes BCAP. BCAP is administered by the FSA Deputy Administrator
for Farm Programs, on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC),
with the support of other Federal and local agencies. BCAP is intended
to assist agricultural and forest land owners and operators with the
establishment and production of eligible crops in selected project
areas for conversion to bioenergy, and the collection, harvest,
storage, and transportation of eligible material for use in a biomass
conversion facility.
On October 27, 2010, CCC published the Record of Decision (ROD) for
the BCAP final PEIS (75 FR 65995-66007) and BCAP final rule (76 FR
66202-66243) in the Federal Register. As part of the mitigation
measures detailed in the ROD, each project proposal is subject to a
NEPA analysis prior to approval of the project area proposal. The
initial environmental evaluation of a project area proposal is based on
information contained in specific forms: BCAP-19, BCAP-20, BCAP-21, and
BCAP-22, with supporting information. After this initial evaluation FSA
can conclude either that:
(1) No additional environmental analyses are applicable due to no
potential for the proposed BCAP activity to significantly impact the
environment, or
(2) Additional environmental analyses in the form of an EA or EIS
are necessary, depending upon the potential level of significance.
Due to inconclusive results in the initial environmental
evaluation, FSA is required to do an EA to make a determination whether
there could be significant environmental impacts.
The draft EA can be reviewed online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ecrc&topic=nep-cd.
Signed in Washington, DC on April 5, 2011.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation, and
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-8421 Filed 4-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P