FIRST INSERTION

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Development

Florida Renewable Partners (FRP): Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a request for financing assistance to Florida Renewable Partners (FRP)to construct a 562-acre (412-acres fenced) solar project. The solar project is planned to be located near the junction of Yelvington and East End Roads in unincorporated Putnam and Flagler Counties, Florida.

FURTHER INFORMATION: To obtain copies of the EA and FONSI, or for further information, contact: Robert Deems, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA Rural Development, Rural Utilities Service via email Robert.Deems@usda.gov. The EA and FONSI are also available for public review at:

https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/environmental-studies/assessment/frp-tupelo-solar-project.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project will consist of the construction of a new 74.5-Megawattsolar power generating facility with the electric generated onsite delivered to Florida Power & Light Companys (FPLs) existing Korana-Putnam 230 kV transmission line via a new, 0.68-mile overhead gen-tie line located on the east side of Yelvington Road. The availability of the EA for public review was announced on November 4 and 9, 2023 in the Palatka Daily News, published in Putnam County, Florida, with circulation Putnam County. The availability of the EA for public review was also announced on November 9 and 16, 2023 in the Palm Coast Observer, published in Flagler County, Florida, with circulation Flagler County. A 14-day comment period was announced in the local newspaper notices which ended on November 17 and November 22, 2023, respectively. The EA was also available for public review at the USDA Rural Development office and website athttps://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/environmental-studies/assessments. Two comments were received but were determined to be non-substantive.

Based on its EA, commitments made by FRP, and public comments received, RUS has concluded that the project would have no significant impact to water quality, wetlands, floodplains, land use, aesthetics, transportation, or human health and safety.

The proposed project will have no adverse effect on resources listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Agency has also concluded that the project will not adversely affect federally listed threatened and endangered species or designated critical habitat thereof. The proposed project would not disproportionately affect minority and/or low-income populations.

No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposed project have been identified. Therefore, RUS has determined that this FONSI fulfills its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and USDA Rural Developments Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1970) for its action related to the project.

RUS is satisfied that the environmental impacts of the proposed project have been adequately addressed. RUS federal action would not result in significant impacts to the quality of the human environment, and as such it will not prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for its action related to the proposed project.

Dated: February 29, 2024

March 7, 2024 24-00063F

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