To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals
This is to give notice that the Buckeye Hills Regional Council has conducted an evaluation of the following proposed action as required by Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection.
Noble County Grid Modernization and Make Ready Project.
The proposed project work will fall into one of three categories:
- Rearrangement of Existing Facilities – this work will involve moving and rearranging existing facilities installed on a pole to allow for adequate room to accommodate a new fiber attachment. No disturbance to the surrounding area is required as part of this work. The pole will be accessed via the existing established right-of-way.
- Replacement of Pole – this work will involve replacing an existing pole with a new one to increase strength/capacity and/or to obtain additional clearances required to accommodate a new fiber attachment. In most cases of pole replacement, the new pole will be placed next to, or in the same hole as the pole to be removed. In some cases, the pole may be moved a few feet to better divide the existing span; however, in no case will the new pole be installed outside of the existing established right-of-way.
- Install New Mid-Span Pole – this work will involve installing a new pole between two existing poles in the established right-of-way to shorten span lengths to allow adequate clearances to be maintained with a new fiber attachment.
ARC Funded
The affected electrical distribution routes are primarily in Noble county within the Center, Elk, Stock, Marion, Jefferson, Enoch, Olive, Jackson, and Sharon townships but will also extend into adjacent areas of Morgan county’s Center Township, Monroe county’s Franklin and Bethel townships, and Washington county’s Adams, Aurelius, Liberty, and Salem townships, reaching additional unserved or underserved areas. This project will upgrade 215 miles of main-line electrical routes to increase grid resiliency and enable an internet service provider to cost effectively deploy fiber along these routes.
Buckeye Hills Regional Council has determined that approval of the project will have no significant impact on the environment for the following reasons:
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No responses to Flood Plain Notices published on February 11, 14, 16, and 17, 2022
Project information and environmental records that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) may be obtained by contacting Buckeye Hills Regional Council by U.S. mail at Broadband Coordinator Buckeye Hills Regional Council 1400 Pike St, Marietta, OH 45750 740-336-2042.
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments for consideration to Buckeye Hills Regional Council by U.S. mail or email at the addresses above before March 22, 2022, which is at least 7 days after the publication of this notice.
Other agencies involved with this evaluation include:
ODNR, OSHPO, USFWS, OEPA