[Federal Register: April 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 82)]
[Notices]
[Page 22938-22939]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ap08-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[OE Docket No. EA-196-C]
Application to Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Application.
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SUMMARY: ALLETE, Inc., d/b/a/ Minnesota Power has applied to renew its
authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada
pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA).
DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on
or before May 28, 2008.
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 202-586-8008).
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 by the Department of Energy
(DOE) pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require
authorization under section 202(e) of the FPA (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).
On February 11, 1999, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order
No. EA-196 authorizing Minnesota Power to transmit electric energy from
the United States to Canada for a two-year term. That Order was renewed
for a two-year term on May 23, 2001, and again, for a five-year term on
April 8, 2003. The current export authorization will expire on May 23,
2008. On April 18, 2008, Minnesota Power filed an application with DOE
to renew the export authority contain in Order No. EA-196-B for an
additional five-year term.
Minnesota Power will arrange for the delivery of exports to Canada
over the international transmission facilities currently owned by Basin
Electric Power Cooperative, Bonneville Power Administration, Eastern
Maine Electric Cooperative, International Transmission Co., Joint
Owners of the Highgate Project, Long Sault, Inc., Maine Electric Power
Company, Maine Public Service Company, Minnesota Power, Inc., Minnkota
Power Cooperative, Inc., New York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk Power
Corp., Northern States Power Company, and Vermont Electric Transmission
Co.
The construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of each of
the international transmission facilities to be utilized by Rainbow has
previously been authorized by a Presidential permit issued pursuant to
Executive Order 10485, as amended.
DOE notes that the electricity export authorization held by
Minnesota Power in Order No. EA-196-B will expire on May 23, 2008,
prior to the close of the public comment period in this proceeding.
Minnesota Power has advised DOE that it will cease all electricity
export activities after May 23rd until such time as it has obtained a
valid export authorization. Minnesota Power is aware that continuing to
export in the absence of such an Order is a violation of the FPA and
may result in a denial of its authorization to export
[[Page 22939]]
and subject it to sanctions and penalties under the FPA.
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 Minnesota Power application to export electric
energy to Canada should be clearly marked with Docket No. EA-196-C.
Additional copies are to be filed directly with Christopher D.
Anderson, Associate General Counsel, ALLETE, Inc., 30 West Superior
Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
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://oe.energy.gov/permits.htm.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2008.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E8-9211 Filed 4-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P