[Federal Register: July 12, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 132)]
[Notices]
[Page 40015]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12jy05-60]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. EA-63-C]
Application to Export Electric Energy; Northern States Power
Company
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of application.
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SUMMARY: Northern States Power Company (NSP) has applied to amend its
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to
Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.
DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on
or before July 27, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be
addressed as follows: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability (Mail Code OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-586-1472).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Mintz (Program Office) 202-586-
9506 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C.
824a(e)).
On March 6, 1979, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued
Presidential Permit PP-63 authorizing NSP to construct, operate,
maintain, and connect a 500,000-volt (500-kV) electric transmission
line that extends from Roseau County, Minnesota, across the U.S. border
with Canada, and connecting to similar facilities owned by Manitoba
Hydro Electric Board, the Provincial electric utility of Canada's
Province of Manitoba. In a related proceeding, on August 13, 1979, in
Order No. EA-63, DOE authorized NSP to export electric energy to Canada
using the PP-63 facilities. The Presidential permit and electricity
export authorization have each been subsequently amended and NSP is now
authorized to export electric energy to Canada, using the PP-63
facilities, at a rate not to exceed an instantaneous rate of
transmission of 500 megawatts (MW).
On February 6, 2002, in Order No. PP-231, DOE authorized NSP (doing
business as Excel Energy Incorporated (Xcel)) to construct, operate,
maintain and connect a 230-kV transmission line that extends
approximately 53 miles from a new substation built in Rugby, North
Dakota, to the U.S. border with Canada. At the border the PP-231
facilities connect to similar facilities of Manitoba Hydro and continue
an additional 50 miles into Canada to an existing substation located in
Glenboro, Manitoba. A separate electricity export authorization was not
issued in association with this transmission facility.
In OE Docket EA-63-C, NSP has now applied to DOE to further amend
Order EA-63 to authorize electricity exports to Canada using a
combination of the PP-63 and PP-231 transmission lines, at a maximum
transmission rate of 700 MW on a firm (e.g., non-interruptible) basis
and at 1050 MW on a non-firm (e.g., as available) basis.
Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to this
proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to these
applications should file a petition to intervene, comment or protest at
the address provided above in accordance with Sec. Sec. 385.211 or
385.214 of the FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211,
385.214). Fifteen copies of each petition and protest should be filed
with the DOE on or before the date listed above.
Comments on the NSP application to export electric energy to Canada
should be clearly marked with Docket EA-63-C. Additional copies are to
be filed directly with Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel Energy
Inc., Attn: Director, Contract Administration, 1099 18th Street, Suite
3000, Denver, CO 80202 and Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel
Energy Inc., Attn: James P. Johnson, 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 2900,
Minneapolis, MN 55401 and Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel
Energy Inc., Attn: James Alders, 414 Nicollet Mall--5th Floor,
Minneapolis, MN 55401 and Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel
Energy Inc., Attn: Thomas R. McDonough, 414 Nicolle Mall--RSQ 5,
Minneapolis, MN 55401.
A final decision will be made on this application after the
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and a determination is made by the
DOE that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the
reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system.
Copies of this application will be made available, upon request,
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by
accessing the program's home page at http://www.fe.doe.gov. Upon
reaching the program's home page select ``Electricity Regulation'',
then ``Pending Proceedings'' from the options menus.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 6, 2005.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 05-13632 Filed 7-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P