SR Bolivar Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Business Cooperative Service, USDA

ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by SR Bolivar LLC (SR Bolivar), of Bolivar, TN to construct an up to 3.45 MW (AC) Solar Photovoltaic Facility near Bolivar, TN. SR Bolivar has submitted an application to RBCS for consideration of a guaranteed loan funding of the proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roe Hughes, Area Specialist, Rural Development 3007 Greystone Square, Jackson, TN 38305 (Roe.Hughes@USDA.gov) phone: 731.574.3432. In this continued period of COVID-19 pandemic, the Agency especially encourages contact to be made through electronic methods.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposal is for construction of an up to 3.45 MW (AC) Solar Photovoltaic Facility on an 80 acres site located immediately west of the City of Bolivar on property adjacent to the TVA-owned substation. Approximately 23.25 acres of the project site will be cleared and graded for construction and placement of solar panel, gravel access roads, and accompanying electrical components while 17.8 acres will be cleared of trees and maintained as grass for shade control. The reset of the property will remain unchanged. The electrical power generated by the facility will be sold to the Bolivar Electric Authority (BEA) and would connect to the BEA 12.47-kV distribution powerline adjacent to the TVA-owned substation.

HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR), an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for RBCS that describes the project, assesses the proposed project’s environmental impacts, and summarizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. RBCS has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental assessment and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of the construction of the project.

Questions and comments should be sent to RBCS at the address provided. RBCS will accept questions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of the first publication of this notice.

Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental review procedures as prescribed by 7 CFR Part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures.

DATED: SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.