Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of a Public Meeting, 30805-30806 [2014-12454]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 103 / Thursday, May 29, 2014 / Notices (2) Grazing on Black Hills National Forest—Program Overview/ Coordination; (3) 50th Anniversary Wilderness Celebration—Significance and Plans; (4) Sheridan Lake Valve Update; (5) Plan August Field Trip; and (6) Prepare for September Elections The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should submit a request in writing by June 9, 2014 to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the Board may file written statements with the Board’s staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and time requests for oral comments must be sent to Scott Jacobson, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 1019 North Fifth Street, Custer, South Dakota 57730; by email to sjjacobson@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 605–673–9208. A summary/ minutes of the meeting will be posted on the Web site listed above within 45 days after the meeting. Meeting Accommodations: If you are a person requiring reasonable accommodation, please make requests in advance for sign language interpreting, assistive listening devices or other reasonable accommodation for access to the facility or proceedings by contacting the person listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case by case basis. Dated: May 19, 2014. Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2014–12413 Filed 5–28–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of a Public Meeting Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Central Electric Power Cooperative’s (Central Electric) proposed McClellanville 115-kV Transmission Project (Project) in South SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:19 May 28, 2014 Jkt 232001 Carolina. RUS is issuing the DEIS to inform the public and interested parties about the proposed Project and to invite the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, and other issues addressed in the DEIS. The DEIS addresses the construction, operation, and maintenance of Central Electric’s proposed Project. The Project includes construction, operation, and maintenance of approximately 15–20 miles of new 115-kV transmission line, 1 new substation, temporary construction roads, river crossings, temporary construction staging sites, and other facilities described in the DEIS. The overall project area encompasses parts of Georgetown and Charleston counties in coastal South Carolina. Portions of Central Electric’s proposed routes may affect floodplains, wetlands, cultural, historical and paleontological resources. Once a final right-of-way (ROW) is selected within the preferred route, coordination with the federal and state agencies and other interested parties would occur to identify, evaluate and if needed mitigate any adverse effects. RUS will hold a public hearing meeting to share information and receive comments on the DEIS. DATES: The public comment period on the DEIS starts with the publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental impact statement (EIS) receipt notice in the Federal Register and will continue for 45 days. RUS will consider all substantive written comments on the DEIS received or postmarked by that date. Agencies, interested parties, and the public are invited to submit comments on the DEIS at any time during the public comment period. An open house public hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2014. The time and location of the meeting will be well-advertised in local media outlets a minimum of 15 days prior to the time of the meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed Project, the DEIS process, and RUS financing, contact Ms. Lauren McGee Rayburn, Environmental Scientist, Rural Utilities Service, 84 Coxe Ave., Suite 1E, Ashville, North Carolina 28801, Telephone: (202) 695–2540, Facsimile: (202) 690–0649, or email: Lauren.McGee@wdc.usda.gov. Parties wishing to be placed on the Project mailing list for future information and to receive copies of the DEIS and the Final EIS when available should also contact Ms. McGee Rayburn. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS is authorized to make loans and loan guarantees that finance the construction PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30805 of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacements required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Central Electric is an electric transmission cooperative that provides transmission service from the bulk transmission system to South Carolina’s 20 retail electric cooperatives. Berkeley Electric, a member distribution electric cooperative of Central Electric, was formed in 1940 to bring electric service to rural areas of coastal South Carolina. Berkeley Electric owns and operates more than 5,000 miles of distribution line serving more than 80,000 accounts in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. Project Description: Central Electric has identified the need for additional electric transmission capacity in coastal South Carolina to meet reliability and system stability requirements for the region. Investigations and analyses conducted for the overall power delivery systems found that without improvements, the flow of power along existing lines may result in local line overloads and power outages. To resolve these issues, Central Electric is proposing to construct, own and operate a new 115-kV transmission line and associated supporting infrastructure. The entire Project will consist of constructing approximately 15–20 miles of new single circuit 115kV, the construction of 1 new substation, improvements to temporary off-ROW construction roads, river crossings, and a single, temporary, 5-to 10-acre construction staging site. The proposed Project would connect from either the Belle Isle Substation or at a tap point on the Winyah-Belle Isle 115 kV transmission line to McClellanville. The proposed Project would be located in portions of Georgetown and Charleston counties in coastal South Carolina and considers six possible Alternative Routes for the transmission line. Central Electric has requested financial assistance for the proposed Project from RUS. Completing the EIS is one of RUS’s requirements in processing Central Electric’s application, along with other technical and financial considerations. In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.5(b) of the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Regulation for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, RUS will serve as the lead agency in the preparation of the EIS. E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 30806 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 103 / Thursday, May 29, 2014 / Notices RUS has prepared a DEIS and intends to issue a Final EIS to analyze the impacts of its respective federal actions and the proposed Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, Council on Environmental Quality Regulation for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508) and RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). Because the proposed Project may involve action in floodplains or wetlands, this Notice also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action. The DEIS will include a floodplain/wetland assessment and, if required, a floodplain/wetland statement of findings will be issued with the Final EIS. RUS has determined that its action regarding the proposed Project would be an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470 and its implementing regulations, ‘‘Protection of Historic Properties’’ (36 CFR Part 800). As part of its broad environmental review process, RUS must take into account the effect of the proposed Project on historic properties in accordance with Section 106. 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 inform RUS decision-making in its Section 106 review process. Any party wishing to participate more directly with RUS as a ‘‘consulting party’’ in Section 106 review may submit a written request to the RUS contact provided in this Notice. Agency Responsibilities: RUS is serving as the lead Federal agency, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5, for preparation of the DEIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service are participating as cooperating agencies and will be issuing decisions relevant to the project under separate authorities. RUS is also serving as the lead Federal agency for the Section 106 and Section 7 review processes. Public Participation: Public participation and full disclosure are planned for the entire EIS process. The EIS process has included a scoping comment period to solicit comments from interested parties; consultation and involvement with appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal governments. In addition, a 45-day review/comment period of the DEIS, with an open house public hearing is scheduled on June 3, 2014. The time and location of the meeting will be well-advertised in local VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:19 May 28, 2014 Jkt 232001 media outlets a minimum of 15 days prior to the time of the meeting. Attendees will be welcome to come and go at their convenience and provide written or oral comments on the Project. In addition, attendees may provide written comments by letter, fax, or email. The process will be followed by publication of a Final EIS and publication of a Record of Decision. The expected environmental project review completion date is expected to be spring 2015. Dated: May 6, 2014. James F. Elliot, Acting Assistant Administrator—Electric Programs, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2014–12454 Filed 5–28–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Wholesale Trade Survey U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before July 28, 2014. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Bill Abriatis, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K081, Washington, DC 20233–6500, (301) 763–3686, (or via the Internet at william.m.abriatis@ census.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) covers employer firms with PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 establishments located in the United States and classified in the wholesale trade and/or Manufacturers’ Sales Branches and Offices and Agents, Brokers, Representatives, and Electronic Markets sectors as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Firms are selected for this survey using a stratified random sample where strata are defined by industry and annual sales size. The sample, consisting of wholesale businesses classified in the Wholesale Trade and/ or Manufacturers Sales Branches and Offices and Agents, Brokers, Representatives and Markets sector as defined by the 2007 North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS), is drawn from the Business Register (BR). The BR is the Census Bureau’s master business list and contains basic economic information for over 7.4 million employers businesses and over 22.5 million nonemployer businesses. The BR obtains information through direct data collections and administrative record information from federal agencies. The sample is updated quarterly to reflect employer business ‘‘births’’ and ‘‘deaths’’ by adding new employer businesses identified in the Business and Professional Classification Survey and deleting firms and EINs when it is determined they are no longer active. The survey request firms to provide annual sales, annual e-commerce sales, year-end inventories held inside and outside the United States, total operating expenses, purchases, and, for selected industries, commissions, and sales on their own account. These data are used to satisfy a variety of public and business needs such as economic market analysis, company performance, and forecasting future demands. Results will be available, at the United States summary level, for selected wholesale trade, and/or manufacturers’ sales branches and offices and agents, brokers, representatives and electronic markets, industries approximately fifteen months after the end of the reference year. Every 5 years, AWTS requests data on detailed operating expenses. During the next three years, detailed operating expenses will not be collected. The last time AWTS collected detailed operating expenses was in 2013 for the 2012 survey year. The plan is to reinstate these questions in 2018 as part of the 2017 AWTS data collection. II. Method of Collection We collect this information by Internet, fax, mail, and telephone. E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30805-30806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12454]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Availability 
of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of a Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency within the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), has issued a draft environmental 
impact statement (DEIS) for Central Electric Power Cooperative's 
(Central Electric) proposed McClellanville 115-kV Transmission Project 
(Project) in South Carolina. RUS is issuing the DEIS to inform the 
public and interested parties about the proposed Project and to invite 
the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, and other issues 
addressed in the DEIS.
    The DEIS addresses the construction, operation, and maintenance of 
Central Electric's proposed Project. The Project includes construction, 
operation, and maintenance of approximately 15-20 miles of new 115-kV 
transmission line, 1 new substation, temporary construction roads, 
river crossings, temporary construction staging sites, and other 
facilities described in the DEIS. The overall project area encompasses 
parts of Georgetown and Charleston counties in coastal South Carolina.
    Portions of Central Electric's proposed routes may affect 
floodplains, wetlands, cultural, historical and paleontological 
resources. Once a final right-of-way (ROW) is selected within the 
preferred route, coordination with the federal and state agencies and 
other interested parties would occur to identify, evaluate and if 
needed mitigate any adverse effects. RUS will hold a public hearing 
meeting to share information and receive comments on the DEIS.

DATES: The public comment period on the DEIS starts with the 
publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's environmental 
impact statement (EIS) receipt notice in the Federal Register and will 
continue for 45 days. RUS will consider all substantive written 
comments on the DEIS received or postmarked by that date. Agencies, 
interested parties, and the public are invited to submit comments on 
the DEIS at any time during the public comment period. An open house 
public hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2014. The time and location of 
the meeting will be well-advertised in local media outlets a minimum of 
15 days prior to the time of the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed 
Project, the DEIS process, and RUS financing, contact Ms. Lauren McGee 
Rayburn, Environmental Scientist, Rural Utilities Service, 84 Coxe 
Ave., Suite 1E, Ashville, North Carolina 28801, Telephone: (202) 695-
2540, Facsimile: (202) 690-0649, or email: Lauren.McGee@wdc.usda.gov. 
Parties wishing to be placed on the Project mailing list for future 
information and to receive copies of the DEIS and the Final EIS when 
available should also contact Ms. McGee Rayburn.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS is authorized to make loans and loan 
guarantees that finance the construction of electric distribution, 
transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements 
and replacements required to furnish and improve electric service in 
rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation 
programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Central 
Electric is an electric transmission cooperative that provides 
transmission service from the bulk transmission system to South 
Carolina's 20 retail electric cooperatives. Berkeley Electric, a member 
distribution electric cooperative of Central Electric, was formed in 
1940 to bring electric service to rural areas of coastal South 
Carolina. Berkeley Electric owns and operates more than 5,000 miles of 
distribution line serving more than 80,000 accounts in Berkeley, 
Charleston, and Dorchester counties.
    Project Description: Central Electric has identified the need for 
additional electric transmission capacity in coastal South Carolina to 
meet reliability and system stability requirements for the region. 
Investigations and analyses conducted for the overall power delivery 
systems found that without improvements, the flow of power along 
existing lines may result in local line overloads and power outages.
    To resolve these issues, Central Electric is proposing to 
construct, own and operate a new 115-kV transmission line and 
associated supporting infrastructure. The entire Project will consist 
of constructing approximately 15-20 miles of new single circuit 115-kV, 
the construction of 1 new substation, improvements to temporary off-ROW 
construction roads, river crossings, and a single, temporary, 5-to 10-
acre construction staging site. The proposed Project would connect from 
either the Belle Isle Substation or at a tap point on the Winyah-Belle 
Isle 115 kV transmission line to McClellanville. The proposed Project 
would be located in portions of Georgetown and Charleston counties in 
coastal South Carolina and considers six possible Alternative Routes 
for the transmission line.
    Central Electric has requested financial assistance for the 
proposed Project from RUS. Completing the EIS is one of RUS's 
requirements in processing Central Electric's application, along with 
other technical and financial considerations. In accordance with 40 CFR 
1501.5(b) of the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Regulation 
for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act, RUS will serve as the lead agency in the 
preparation of the EIS.

[[Page 30806]]

    RUS has prepared a DEIS and intends to issue a Final EIS to analyze 
the impacts of its respective federal actions and the proposed Project 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as 
amended, Council on Environmental Quality Regulation for Implementing 
the Procedural Provisions of the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and RUS 
Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794).
    Because the proposed Project may involve action in floodplains or 
wetlands, this Notice also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or 
wetland action. The DEIS will include a floodplain/wetland assessment 
and, if required, a floodplain/wetland statement of findings will be 
issued with the Final EIS.
    RUS has determined that its action regarding the proposed Project 
would be an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470 and its implementing 
regulations, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' (36 CFR Part 800). 
As part of its broad environmental review process, RUS must take into 
account the effect of the proposed Project on historic properties in 
accordance with Section 106. 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 inform RUS decision-making in its Section 106 review 
process. Any party wishing to participate more directly with RUS as a 
``consulting party'' in Section 106 review may submit a written request 
to the RUS contact provided in this Notice.
    Agency Responsibilities: RUS is serving as the lead Federal agency, 
as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5, for preparation of the DEIS. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service are participating as 
cooperating agencies and will be issuing decisions relevant to the 
project under separate authorities. RUS is also serving as the lead 
Federal agency for the Section 106 and Section 7 review processes.
    Public Participation: Public participation and full disclosure are 
planned for the entire EIS process. The EIS process has included a 
scoping comment period to solicit comments from interested parties; 
consultation and involvement with appropriate Federal, State, local, 
and tribal governments. In addition, a 45-day review/comment period of 
the DEIS, with an open house public hearing is scheduled on June 3, 
2014. The time and location of the meeting will be well-advertised in 
local media outlets a minimum of 15 days prior to the time of the 
meeting. Attendees will be welcome to come and go at their convenience 
and provide written or oral comments on the Project. In addition, 
attendees may provide written comments by letter, fax, or email. The 
process will be followed by publication of a Final EIS and publication 
of a Record of Decision. The expected environmental project review 
completion date is expected to be spring 2015.

    Dated: May 6, 2014.
James F. Elliot,
Acting Assistant Administrator--Electric Programs, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-12454 Filed 5-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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