[Federal Register: May 19, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 97)]
[Notices]               
[Page 29137]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my06-34]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. PP-107 and EA-107]

 
Application To Rescind Presidential Permit and Electricity Export 
Authorization; Arizona Public Service Company

AGENCY: Office Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Arizona Public Service Company (APS) has applied to rescind 
Presidential Permit No. PP-107 and electricity export Order No. EA-107.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before June 19, 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: The construction, operation, maintenance, 
and connection of facilities at the international border of the United 
States for the transmission of electric energy between the United 
States and a foreign country is prohibited in the absence of a 
Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 10485, as 
amended by EO 12038. In addition, 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 November 28, 1995, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued 
Presidential Permit No. PP-107 to APS for the construction, operation, 
maintenance, and connection of a 34.5-kilovolt (kV) electric 
transmission facility at the U.S.-Mexico border in the vicinity of 
Douglas, Arizona. The line originates at APS's Fairview substation in 
Douglas, Arizona, and extends south approximately two miles to the 
U.S.-Mexico border. On December 5, 1995, DOE issued Order No. EA-107 
authorizing APS to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico using the transmission facilities authorized in Presidential 
Permit No. PP-107.
    On March 21, 2006, APS applied to DOE to rescind Presidential 
Permit PP-107 and the associated electricity export authorization 
contained in Order No. EA-107. At the time of the original permit and 
export applications, APS had anticipated that the PP-107 facilities 
would be used for the exchange of emergency power between APS and the 
Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), the national electric utility 
of Mexico. However, no sales occurred during either 2004 or 2005, and 
APS now asserts that the line could be better utilized for domestic 
purposes. APS proposes to accomplish this by removing the span of 
conductor that crosses the international border, reducing the voltage 
from 34.5-kV to 12-kV, and using the remaining U.S. portion of the line 
to supply domestic load in the Douglas area.
    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 the DOE on or before the date 
listed above. Additional copies are to be filed directly with Antoine 
P. Cobb, Law Department, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, 400 North 
Fifth Street, P.O. Box 53999, Mail Station 8695, Phoenix, AZ 85072-
3999.
    Before DOE takes action on APS's application to rescind its 
Presidential permit and electricity export authorization, DOE must 
determine that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the 
reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system and must consider 
the environmental impacts of the proposed action pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by 
emailing Odessa Hopkins at Odessa.hopkins@hq.doe.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E6-7673 Filed 5-18-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P