MOBILE, Ala. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District (USACE) will grant an easement to the Georgia Transmission Corporation for a Proposed Transmission Line across Carters Lake Project, Gilmer County, Ga. The District Commander, Colonel Jon J. Chytka, signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed easement on April 13, 2015. This paves the way for granting an easement that will follow the preferred Eastern Route across Carters Lake Project lands.
This decision comes after a month-long evaluation process that featured a public workshop held at the Gilmer County Civic Center Sept. 4, 2014 and a 30-day public comment period on the draft EA that ended Feb. 17, 2015.
USACE considered a wide range of concerns in selecting the preferred route, including physical impacts; historic usage patterns; collocation opportunities; maintenance plans; visibility to users and neighbors; and long-term facility operation plans. In balancing all of these concerns on behalf of all stakeholders who have an interest in Carters Lake, the District Commander believes this decision is in the best interest of the public.
“The primary concern raised in the public comments was the aesthetics of the power line crossing,” said E. Patrick Robbins, Public Affairs Officer, Mobile District. “To alleviate those concerns as much as physically possible, the Georgia Transmission Corporation agreed to lower the pole height along certain sections to tree top level keeping the visibility of the line to a minimum.”
The FONSI and EA are posted on the Mobile District website. Visit the following link: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/PlanningEnvironmental/EnvironmentalAssessments/tabid/7953/Article/584950/outgrant-to-georgia-transmission-corporation-for-transmission-line-across-carte.aspx
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Release no. 15-007