Final Public Notice for Potential Impacts to Floodplains AFTW Storage, LLC intends to seek financial assistance from USDA, Rural Business Service (RBS), for construction of a solar battery storage system. The proposed action consists of a system designed to store renewable electrical energy on approximately 13,400 square feet, which will include the stand- alone battery energy storage system and associated equipment, including a transformer pad. The project will be located at (35.095226, -119.065075) in Bakersfield, Kern County, California, on approximately 1.1 acres of a larger 115-acre parcel identified as 296-120-29 by Kern County online GIS Database. RBS has assessed the environmental impacts of this proposal and determined that the 1.1-acre project will convert or effect a floodplain Zone A. In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy, the Agency is notifying the interested public of this land conversion. It has been determined that there is no practicable alternative to avoiding this conversion or effect and that there is a significant need for the proposal. The basis of this determination is that the proposed action is a solar battery storage system that will provide the surrounding community with a zero-carbon resource to help improve grid reliability and resilience. Construction of the facility within adjacent parcels is not practicable due to the landowners' unwillingness to lease the land. Alternate site layouts were also impracticable due to the need to accommodate interconnecting to the Pacific Gas and Electric's distribution system via a primary meter at the proposed location. No comments were received during the 14-day public comment period. For information regarding this notice, contact Jennifer Gooler, State Environmental Coordinator via email at Jennifer.gooler@usda.gov or 707-526-6797. Final Public Notice for Potential Impacts to Floodplains AFTW Storage , LLC intends to seek financial assistance from USDA , Rural Business Service ( RBS ) , for construction of a solar battery storage system . The proposed action consists of a system designed to store renewable electrical energy on approximately 13,400 square feet , which will include the stand alone battery energy storage system and associated equipment , including a transformer pad . The project will be located at ( 35.095226 , -119.065075 ) in Bakersfield , Kern County , California , on approximately 1.1 acres of a larger 115 - acre parcel identified as 296-120-29 by Kern County online GIS Database . RBS has assessed the environmental impacts of this proposal and determined that the 1.1 - acre project will convert or effect a floodplain Zone A. In accordance with Executive Order 11988 , Floodplain Management and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3 , Land Use Policy , the Agency is notifying the interested public of this land conversion . It has been determined that there is no practicable alternative to avoiding this conversion or effect and that there is a significant need for the proposal . The basis of this determination is that the proposed action is a solar battery storage system that will provide the surrounding community with a zero - carbon resource to help improve grid reliability and resilience . Construction of the facility within adjacent parcels is not practicable due to the landowners ' unwillingness to lease the land . Alternate site layouts were also impracticable due to the need to accommodate interconnecting to the Pacific Gas and Electric's distribution system via a primary meter at the proposed location . No comments were received during the 14 - day public comment period . For information regarding this notice , contact Jennifer Gooler , State Environmental Coordinator via email at Jennifer.gooler@usda.gov or 707-526-6797 .