Energy Answers Arecibo Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Project: Notice of Cancellation of a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Scoping and Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, 70846-70847 [2014-28101]

Download as PDF 70846 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 229 / Friday, November 28, 2014 / Notices H. Selected agricultural air quality research presentations I. Public Input (Individual presentations limited to 5 minutes) Please note that the timing of events in the agenda is subject to change to accommodate changing schedules of expected speakers and or extended discussions. Procedural This meeting is open to the public. On December 5 the public will have an opportunity to provide up to 5 minutes of input to the AAQTF. Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact Greg Johnson (contact information listed above). USDA prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Additionally, discrimination on the basis of political beliefs and marital or family status is also prohibited by statutes enforced by USDA. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s Target Center at (202) 720–2000 (voice and TDD). Signed this 21st day of November 2014, in Washington, DC. Jason A. Weller, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2014–28067 Filed 11–26–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Energy Answers Arecibo Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Project: Notice of Cancellation of a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Scoping and Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of cancellation of a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement and notice of public scoping and intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: ACTION: On April 12, 2013, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Nov 26, 2014 Jkt 235001 Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing its intent to prepare a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) in association with a financial assistance request for a proposal submitted to the Agency by Energy Answers Arecibo, LLC (Energy Answers). RUS is cancelling its NOI for the SFEIS. RUS intends to conduct public scoping and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), and RUS’s Environmental and Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794) in connection with potential impacts related to the Energy Answers proposal. The proposal consists of constructing a waste-to-energy generation and resource recovery facility in the Cambalache Ward of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. RUS is providing notice of the intention to conduct public scoping and prepare an EIS related to the proposal submitted by Energy Answers. RUS is considering funding this application, thereby making the proposal an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470(f), and its implementing regulation, ‘‘Protection of Historic Properties’’ (36 CFR part 800). Any party wishing to participate directly with RUS as a ‘‘consulting party’’ in Section 106 review may submit a written request to the RUS contact provided below. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.3(f)(3), RUS will consider, and provide a timely response to, any and all requests for consulting party status. RUS will publish a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register and in local newspapers to announce its review period. DATES: Written requests to participate as a ‘‘consulting party’’ and/or comments concerning the public scoping or about this Notice of Intent must be received on or before December 29, 2014. A notice of availability of a Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register and local newspapers announcing its review period. ADDRESSES: Project-related information will be available at RUS’s Web site located at: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ UWP-AreciboPuertoRico.html. To request ‘‘consulting party’’ status, submit comments or for further information, please contact: Ms. Stephanie Strength, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA/RUS, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2244–S, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250– PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1571, Telephone: (970) 403–3559, fax: (202) 690–0649, or email: stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 12, 2013, RUS published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Supplemental Final Impact Statement (SFEIS) in the Federal Register. RUS is canceling the SFEIS published on April 12, 2013, and is soliciting public comments on the scope of an EIS that it intends to prepare for Energy Answers’ proposal. In accordance with 7 CFR 1794.74 and 40 CFR 1502.21, RUS intends to incorporate by reference the environmental impact analyses and documentation prepared by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO). PRIDCO served as a lead agency in preparation of an EIS prepared under the Puerto Rico Environmental Public Policy Act, Article 4(B)(3), (Law No. 416, September 22, 2004). RUS has copies of this EIS and all associated appendices posted on this Web site: https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWPAreciboPuertoRico.html. RUS also intends to incorporate by reference all of the environmental impact and air quality analyses and responses to public comments prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as part of its Clean Air Act, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit. USEPA issued a final PSD permit on June 11, 2013, and information related to the PSD permit can be found on USEPA’s Web site— see: https://www.epa.gov/region02/air/ permit/energyanswers/. RUS is in receipt of all past public involvement activities, public comments, and responses to public comments from both PRIDCO and USEPA actions. While RUS understands the concerns expressed in the past by the public, the Agency strongly encourages all interested parties to submit scoping comments to the RUS contact listed the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. Energy Answers proposes to construct a waste-to-energy generation and resource recovery facility in the Cambalache Ward of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The proposed facility would process approximately 2,100 tons of municipal waste per day and generate a net capacity of 77 megawatts (MW). The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority will purchase the power generated from the facility. The preferred location of the facility is the former site of the Global Fibers Paper Mill and would encompass approximately 79.6 acres of the 90-acre parcel. The proposal would include the following facility components: a E:\FR\FM\28NON1.SGM 28NON1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 229 / Friday, November 28, 2014 / Notices municipal solid waste receiving and processing building; processed refuse fuel storage building; boiler and steam turbine; emission control system; ash processing and storage building; and other associated infrastructure and buildings. Two other connected actions, which would be constructed by other utilities, include installation of an approximately 2.0-mile raw water line and construction of a 38 kilovolt (kV) transmission line approximately 0.8 miles in length. The connected actions will be addressed in the EIS. Among the alternatives that RUS will address in the EIS is the No Action alternative, under which the proposal would not be undertaken. In the EIS, the effects of the proposal will be compared to the existing conditions in the proposal area. Public health and safety, environmental impacts, and engineering aspects of the proposal will be considered in the EIS. RUS is the lead Federal agency, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5, for preparation of the EIS. With this Notice, Federal and State agencies and federally recognized Native American Tribes with jurisdiction or special expertise are invited to be cooperating agencies. Such agencies or tribes may make a request to RUS to be a cooperating agency by contacting the RUS contact provided in this Notice. Designated cooperating agencies have certain responsibilities to support the NEPA and scoping process, as specified at 40 CFR 1501.6(b). 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 (Section 106) 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 inform RUS decision-making during Section 106 review. As applicable, the EIS will document changes in the affected environment and environmental consequences that may have occurred since the PRIDCOprepared Final EIS was published in 2010 and USEPA’s PSD permit action. The PRIDCO-prepared Final EIS is available in both Spanish and English for review at the addresses provided in this Notice. USEPA PSD permit actions are available for review at the address provided in this notice. RUS’s EIS will incorporate this documentation by reference and focus on those topics that VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Nov 26, 2014 Jkt 235001 have changed since PRIDCO’s Final EIS was published. RUS’s Draft EIS will be available for review and comment for 45 days. Following the 45-day review period, RUS will prepare a Final EIS. After a 30-day review period, RUS will publish a Record of Decision (ROD). Notices announcing the availability of the Draft EIS, Final EIS and the ROD will be published in the Federal Register and in local newspapers. Any final action by RUS related to the proposal will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant executive orders and federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in addition to the completion of the environmental review requirements as prescribed in RUS’s Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR part 1794, as amended. Dated: November 19, 2014. Mark S. Plank, Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2014–28101 Filed 11–26–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Environmental Review of Telecommunications Program Projects Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Request for public comment. AGENCY: ACTION: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, hereinafter referred to as ‘‘agency,’’ seeks public and Federal agency comments regarding the preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the development of a more efficient and effective environmental review process for the RUS Telecommunications Program—an environmental review process that is commensurate with the potential environmental impacts of both wired and wireless projects financed by the agency. RUS is seeking comment from interested stakeholders to contribute to the development of agency procedures for implementing the environmental review procedures of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program, Community Connect Grant Program, and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. The proposed review process will support the agency’s mission of facilitating the development of affordable, reliable utility infrastructure to improve the quality of life and promote economic development in rural America. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70847 Interested parties must submit written comments on or before January 27, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by docket number RUS–14– Telecom–0008, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow instructions for submitting comments. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery/ Hand Delivery: Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5159, Washington, DC 20250–1522. RUS will post all comments received without change, including any personal information that is included with the comment, on https:// www.regulations.gov. Comments will be available for inspection online at https://www.regulations.gov and at the address listed above between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. A copy of this publication is also available through the Rural Development homepage at https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDU_ FederalRegisterPubs.html. Additional information about the Agency and its programs is available on the Internet at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/home.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Orler, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Room 2244–S, Washington, DC 20250–1570, Telephone (202) 720–1414 or email to: Emily.Orler@wdc.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: Background The RUS Telecommunications Program provides a variety of loans and grants to build and expand broadband networks in rural America. Loans to build broadband networks and deliver service to households and businesses in rural communities provide a necessary source of capital for rural telecommunications companies, broadband, wireless companies, and fiber-to-the-home providers. Grant funding is awarded based on a number of factors relating to the benefits to be derived from the proposed broadband network project, as specified in applicable program regulations. Eligible applicants for RUS loans and grants include for-profit and non-profit entities, tribes, municipalities, and cooperatives. The agency particularly encourages investment in tribal and economically disadvantaged areas. Through low-cost funding for broadband infrastructure, rural residents E:\FR\FM\28NON1.SGM 28NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70846-70847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28101]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Energy Answers Arecibo Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Project: 
Notice of Cancellation of a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact 
Statement and Notice of Public Scoping and Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation of a Supplemental Final Environmental 
Impact Statement and notice of public scoping and intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: On April 12, 2013, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing its intent to prepare a Supplemental 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) in association with a 
financial assistance request for a proposal submitted to the Agency by 
Energy Answers Arecibo, LLC (Energy Answers). RUS is cancelling its NOI 
for the SFEIS. RUS intends to conduct public scoping and prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet its responsibilities under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on 
Environmental Quality's regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), and RUS's Environmental and Policies and Procedures (7 CFR 
part 1794) in connection with potential impacts related to the Energy 
Answers proposal. The proposal consists of constructing a waste-to-
energy generation and resource recovery facility in the Cambalache Ward 
of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. RUS is providing notice of the intention to 
conduct public scoping and prepare an EIS related to the proposal 
submitted by Energy Answers.
    RUS is considering funding this application, thereby making the 
proposal an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470(f), and its 
implementing regulation, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' (36 CFR 
part 800). Any party wishing to participate directly with RUS as a 
``consulting party'' in Section 106 review may submit a written request 
to the RUS contact provided below. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.3(f)(3), RUS 
will consider, and provide a timely response to, any and all requests 
for consulting party status. RUS will publish a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register and in local newspapers 
to announce its review period.

DATES: Written requests to participate as a ``consulting party'' and/or 
comments concerning the public scoping or about this Notice of Intent 
must be received on or before December 29, 2014. A notice of 
availability of a Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register 
and local newspapers announcing its review period.

ADDRESSES: Project-related information will be available at RUS's Web 
site located at: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-AreciboPuertoRico.html. 
To request ``consulting party'' status, submit comments or for further 
information, please contact: Ms. Stephanie Strength, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USDA/RUS, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2244-
S, Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, Telephone: (970) 403-3559, 
fax: (202) 690-0649, or email: stephanie.strength@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 12, 2013, RUS published a Notice of 
Intent (NOI) to prepare a Supplemental Final Impact Statement (SFEIS) 
in the Federal Register. RUS is canceling the SFEIS published on April 
12, 2013, and is soliciting public comments on the scope of an EIS that 
it intends to prepare for Energy Answers' proposal. In accordance with 
7 CFR 1794.74 and 40 CFR 1502.21, RUS intends to incorporate by 
reference the environmental impact analyses and documentation prepared 
by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO). PRIDCO 
served as a lead agency in preparation of an EIS prepared under the 
Puerto Rico Environmental Public Policy Act, Article 4(B)(3), (Law No. 
416, September 22, 2004). RUS has copies of this EIS and all associated 
appendices posted on this Web site: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-AreciboPuertoRico.html. RUS also intends to incorporate by reference 
all of the environmental impact and air quality analyses and responses 
to public comments prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(USEPA) as part of its Clean Air Act, Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration (PSD) permit. USEPA issued a final PSD permit on June 11, 
2013, and information related to the PSD permit can be found on USEPA's 
Web site--see: https://www.epa.gov/region02/air/permit/energyanswers/.
    RUS is in receipt of all past public involvement activities, public 
comments, and responses to public comments from both PRIDCO and USEPA 
actions. While RUS understands the concerns expressed in the past by 
the public, the Agency strongly encourages all interested parties to 
submit scoping comments to the RUS contact listed the ADDRESSES section 
of this Notice.
    Energy Answers proposes to construct a waste-to-energy generation 
and resource recovery facility in the Cambalache Ward of Arecibo, 
Puerto Rico. The proposed facility would process approximately 2,100 
tons of municipal waste per day and generate a net capacity of 77 
megawatts (MW). The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority will purchase 
the power generated from the facility. The preferred location of the 
facility is the former site of the Global Fibers Paper Mill and would 
encompass approximately 79.6 acres of the 90-acre parcel. The proposal 
would include the following facility components: a

[[Page 70847]]

municipal solid waste receiving and processing building; processed 
refuse fuel storage building; boiler and steam turbine; emission 
control system; ash processing and storage building; and other 
associated infrastructure and buildings. Two other connected actions, 
which would be constructed by other utilities, include installation of 
an approximately 2.0-mile raw water line and construction of a 38 
kilovolt (kV) transmission line approximately 0.8 miles in length. The 
connected actions will be addressed in the EIS.
    Among the alternatives that RUS will address in the EIS is the No 
Action alternative, under which the proposal would not be undertaken. 
In the EIS, the effects of the proposal will be compared to the 
existing conditions in the proposal area. Public health and safety, 
environmental impacts, and engineering aspects of the proposal will be 
considered in the EIS.
    RUS is the lead Federal agency, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5, for 
preparation of the EIS. With this Notice, Federal and State agencies 
and federally recognized Native American Tribes with jurisdiction or 
special expertise are invited to be cooperating agencies. Such agencies 
or tribes may make a request to RUS to be a cooperating agency by 
contacting the RUS contact provided in this Notice. Designated 
cooperating agencies have certain responsibilities to support the NEPA 
and scoping process, as specified at 40 CFR 1501.6(b).
    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 
(Section 106) 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 inform RUS decision-making during Section 106 review.
    As applicable, the EIS will document changes in the affected 
environment and environmental consequences that may have occurred since 
the PRIDCO-prepared Final EIS was published in 2010 and USEPA's PSD 
permit action. The PRIDCO-prepared Final EIS is available in both 
Spanish and English for review at the addresses provided in this 
Notice. USEPA PSD permit actions are available for review at the 
address provided in this notice. RUS's EIS will incorporate this 
documentation by reference and focus on those topics that have changed 
since PRIDCO's Final EIS was published. RUS's Draft EIS will be 
available for review and comment for 45 days. Following the 45-day 
review period, RUS will prepare a Final EIS. After a 30-day review 
period, RUS will publish a Record of Decision (ROD). Notices announcing 
the availability of the Draft EIS, Final EIS and the ROD will be 
published in the Federal Register and in local newspapers.
    Any final action by RUS related to the proposal will be subject to, 
and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant executive orders and 
federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in 
addition to the completion of the environmental review requirements as 
prescribed in RUS's Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR part 
1794, as amended.

    Dated: November 19, 2014.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA, Rural Utilities 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-28101 Filed 11-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

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