[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 151 (Monday, August 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 40618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19800]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Dockets No. PP-118 and EA-118]


Application for Presidential Permit and Electricity Export 
Authorization Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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SUMMARY: Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Hill County) has 
applied for a Presidential permit in order to construct a new 
transmission facility at the U.S. border with Canada. In addition Hill 
County has requested authorization to export electric energy to Canada 
using the proposed facilities.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before September 4, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Electricity (FE-52), Office of 
Fuels Programs, Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0350.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William H. Freeman (Program Office) 
202-586-5883 or Michael T. Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-6667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, connection, operation, and 
maintenance of facilities at the international border of the United 
States for the transmission of electric energy is prohibited in the 
absence of a Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 
12038. Exports of electric energy from the United States to a foreign 
country are regulated and require authorization under section 202(e) of 
the Federal Power Act.
    In an application filed on July 12, 1996, and amended on July 25, 
1996, (FE Docket PP-118), Hill County filed an application with the 
Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a 
Presidential permit. In its application, Hill County proposes two 
routing alternatives to construct, operate, and maintain a 69-kV 
transmission line. The first alternative would tap Hill county's 
facilities at the North Gildford Substation in Montana and extend north 
(crossing the Milk River adjacent to the Express Pipeline right-of-way 
on lands owned by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)) approximately 17.5 
miles to the United States border with Canada. The second alternative 
would tap Hill County's facilities five (5) miles west of the North 
Gildford Substation in Montana and extend 22 miles north (crossing the 
Milk River on private and state-owned lands to the west of the BOR 
right-of-way). Both alternatives would cross the international border 
at the same point.
    In FE Docket EA-118, Hill County proposes to export electric energy 
to Canada using these proposed facilities. The purpose of the proposed 
line and electricity export is to supply electric energy to a pump 
station in Canada owned by Express Pipeline Ltd. (Express Pipeline). 
The pump station will serve a crude oil pipeline that will transport 
Canadian-produced oil from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Casper, 
Wyoming. The pipeline is scheduled to begin operation in January 1997, 
and will supply crude oil to refineries in Wyoming and the midwest.

Procedural Matters

    Any persons desiring to be heard or to protest this application 
should file a petition to intervene or protest at the address provided 
above in accordance with Secs. 385.211 or 385.214 of the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 
385.211, 385.214).
    Fifteen copies of such petitions and protests should be filed with 
the DOE on or before the date listed above. Additional copies of such 
petitions to intervene or protest also should be filed directly with: 
Mr. Burl Miner, General Manager, Hill County Electric Cooperative, 
Inc., P.O. Box 2330, Havre, Montana 59501-2330.
    Before a Presidential permit or electricity export authorization 
may be issued or amended, 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 and the environmental impacts of the 
proposed DOE action must be evaluated pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 30, 1996.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Office of Coal & Electricity, Office of Fuels Programs, 
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 96-19800 Filed 8-02-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P