DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Development Walking Horse LLC:
Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment – Walking Horse, LLC SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 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 Walking Horse, LLC (Walking Horse), of City of Loudon, Tennessee.
The proposal is for construction of a solar facility and for the connection to Loudon Utilities’ electric grid. Walking Horse has submitted an application to RUS for funding of the proposal. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Environmental and Historic Preservation Division, USDA Rural Development, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-1570. Questions and Comments should be emailed to RUS at RUSPublicComments@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Walking Horse proposes to include the development of a solar farm. The plans for the proposed facility include the installation of photovoltaic arrays and the necessary components to make the facility operational. The facility will provide a renewable energy source for Loudon County and the surrounding counties. The purpose and need of this project are based on the need for a renewable energy source to be located within the rural area of Loudon County.
The proposed solar development site consists of a portion of a parcel identified by the Loudon County Tax Assessor as parcel 040 164.00 for a total site area of approximately 42.7 acres. The approximate center for the proposed solar farm is located at approximate latitude 35°43’31.073” N and longitude 84°21’39.64” W using WGS84 datum. The location of the site is illustrated on a map located below. Based on a review of historical aerial photographs on Google Earth Pro, the site has historically consisted of agricultural farmland to the east, and forested land to the west since the early 1970s. There is a power line easement bisecting the property in the western portion of the site dating back to 1997.
Based on a review of the Loudon, TN 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle map dated 1984, the site ranges in elevation from approximately 800 feet to 900 feet above mean sea level with topography sloping in all directions. The surrounding region is generally characterized by undeveloped or agricultural and wooded areas to the west, residential to the north, industrial to the northeast, commercial to the south and west, and the City of Loudon located further to the northeast of the site.
The proposed project will include the development of a solar farm. The plans for the proposed facility include the installation of photovoltaic arrays, inverters, battery storage, an access road, and fencing around the site. Terracon, an environmental consultant, has prepared an environmental assessment for RUS that describes the project, assesses the proposed project’s environmental impacts, and summarizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. RUS 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.
Written questions and comments should be emailed to RUS at the email address provided above. RUS will accept questions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of publication of this notice.
Copies of the environmental assessment and supporting documentation will be available for public review at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/environmentalstudies/assessments 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. A general location map of the proposal is shown below Dated: February 28, 2024
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