[Federal Register: September 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 173)]
[Notices]
[Page 52783-52784]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se06-36]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. EA-98-J]
Application To Export Electric Energy; Western Systems Power Pool
AGENCY: Office Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Western Systems Power Pool (WSPP) has applied, on behalf
of certain of its members, to renew their authority 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 September 22, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be
addressed as follows: Office Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability (Mail Code OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-586-5860).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 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 September 5, 1996, in docket EA-98-C, the Office of Fossil
Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) authorized 42 members of
the WSPP to export electric energy to Canada. In several subsequent
proceedings in the EA-98 docket, the list members authorized to export
was modified to add, delete, or reflect corporate name changes. The
most recent order in the docket, EA-98-I, was issued on August 6, 2002,
and authorized 26 WSPP member companies individually to transmit
electric energy to Canada. The international transmission facilities
utilized for these exports are owned by the Bonneville Power
Administration, also a WSPP member. The facilities consist of two 500-
kV transmission lines and one 230-kV transmission line that
interconnect with facilities of BC Hydro, and one 230-kV line that
[[Page 52784]]
interconnects with West Kootenay Power, Limited. The construction and
operation of these international transmission facilities was previously
authorized by Presidential Permits PP-10, PP-46, and PP-36,
respectively. The current WSPP authorization to export electric energy
to Canada will expire on September 5, 2006.
On August 1, 2006, WSPP submitted an application on behalf of 13
member companies to renew the export authority contained in Order EA-
98-I. The following WSPP member companies are the only WSPP members
that now seek authorization to export electric energy to Canada: Avista
Corporation; Candela Energy Corporation; Edison Mission Marketing and
Trading, Inc.; Idaho Power Company; Kansas City Power & Light; Northern
States Power Company; Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative;
PacifiCorp; Powerex Corporation; Portland General Electric Company;
Public Service of Colorado; Puget Sound Energy; and TransCanada Energy
Ltd.
WSPP has also requested DOE expedite the processing of its
application in order to avoid a lapse in the export authority of its
members. Accordingly, DOE has shortened the public comment period to 15
days.
Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to this
proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to this
application 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 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each
petition and protest should be filed with DOE on or before the date
listed above.
Comments on the WSPP application to export electric energy to
Canada should be clearly marked with Docket EA-98-J. Additional copies
are to be filed directly with Michael E. Small, General Counsel to the
WSPP and Matthew K. Segers, Associate, Wright & Talisman, P.C., 1200 G
Street, NW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005-3802.
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 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, by
emailing Odessa Hopkins at odessa.hopkins@hq.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 30, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E6-14798 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P